Sounds of Finland [Import]

Jean Sibelius (Composer), Pekka Juhani Hannikainen (Composer), Mooses Putro (Composer), Jukka Koskinen (Composer), Toivo Kuula (Composer), Jorma Panula (Composer), Traditional (Composer), Fredrik Pacius (Composer), Aulis Sallinen (Composer), Japanese Traditional (Composer), Christmas Traditional (Composer), Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer), George Frederick Handel (Composer), Michael Praetorius (Composer), Anonymous (Composer), Einojuhani Rautavaara (Composer), Erikki Pohja (Conductor), Erkki Pohjola (Conductor), Jaana Ikonen (Performer), Kati Bergman (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Jaana Ikonen, Kati Bergman
• Conductor: Erikki Pohja, Erkki Pohjola
• Composer: Jean Sibelius, Pekka Juhani Hannikainen, Mooses Putro, Jukka Koskinen, Toivo Kuula, et al.
• Audio CD (November 21, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Bis
• ASIN: B00000167F
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #395,106 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #15 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Languages > Scandinavian Languages

Track Listings

1. Finlandia Hymn (Finlandia Hymni), for chorus & organ (or harmonium), Op. 113/12

2. Hämyssä Kesäisen Yön (Summer Twilight)

3. Rukous (Prayer)

4. On Juhla Koittanut Meille (To Us A Festival Is Given)

5. Iltatunnelma (Eventide), for chorus, Op 27b/5

6. Iltalaulu (Evening Song)

7. Burro Matti, Lapin Joiku (Burro Matti Lappish Jojk)

8. Suomen laulu (The Song of Finland), for chorus

9. Winter was Hard, for chorus & orchestra, Op 20

10. Hotaur koi / Sakura / Kompira-Fune-Fune

11. Maria, Herran Piikanen (Maria, the Lord's Little Maiden), carol (Finnish)

12. Puer natus in Bethlehem, chorale prelude for organ (Orgel-Büchlein No. 5), BWV 603 (BC K32)

13. Work(s): Riemuitse, tytär Siionin (Rejoice, Daughter of Sion)

14. Veisatkaa (Let Us Chant)

15. Heinillä Härkien Kaukalon (In the Hay by the Oxen's Trough)

16. Joudu, Satakiel' (Oh Nightingale, Come!)

17. High Are the Snowdrifts (On hanget korkeat, nietokset), song for voice & piano, Op. 1/5

18. Nyt Seisahdun Mä Seimelles (I Kneel Down At Your Manger)

19. Marjatta matala neiti (Marjatta, the Lowly Maiden), mystery play in 1 act

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well trained children's choir - nice mix of music, September 6, 2000

By 

M. J. Smith (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sounds of Finland (Audio CD)

Several of the works on this album are composed by Finns, or so I assume by their names: Sibelius, Hannikainen, Putro, Koskinen, Kuula, Panula, Pacius, Sallinen and Rautavaara. There are common European works by Bach, Handel, Praetorius and an interesting group of Japanese Songs. There are a few traditional / anonymous pieces.

By topic there are several patriotic songs - "Finlandia Hymn", "Song of Findland", "Our Country". Several are Christmas season songs - To Us a Festival is Given, "A son Is Born in Bethlehem", "Marjatta, Lowly Maiden", "Maria, the Lord's Little Maiden". Several are on folk themes - the Lappish "Jojk", "Oh Nightingale, Come!" ...

The resulting album is a wonderful mix of unfamilar music that you will soon want to make familar. I personally find Rautavaara a difficult composer - I understand his appeal, I simply don't share it - but I find all the other music very accessible.

The children's choir has very clear tone and enunciation, their voices blend splendidly. Technically this is an excellent album.

Do give these composers a try - you'll find yourself searching the catalogues for more.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable choral CD, July 28, 2005

By 

Jamie Dido (Fort Worth, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sounds of Finland (Audio CD)

This is a lovely recording of mainly Finnish choral music, with a little Swedish, Japanese and Latin thrown in. The recording quality, while not great, is pretty good considering these were recorded in 1977 and 1979. The choir, the Tapiola Children's Choir, conducted by Erkki Pohjola, is really quite wonderful - nice tone, good tuning and very musical performances. I bought this CD for the recording of the traditional Japanese song, Hotaru Koi, arranged by Akira Ogura. It's a good performance of the piece: clean and precise with nice attention to dynamics. Once I listened to the rest of the CD, I found that it is all quite enjoyable. Some of the Finnish music is a little pedantic and nationalistic, but the CD as a whole is a very good recording by a very good children's choir.