Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Language available : english
Finnish composer Pehr Henrik Nordgren (1944-2008) is not as well-known as his contemporaries and those in the generation just following him, like Einojuhani Rautavaara, Aulis Sallinen, Kalevi Aho, Kaija Saariaho, Magnus Lindberg, and Esa-Pekka Salonen, but he was enormously prolific and had a distinctive voice and a maverick sensibility that make his work especially intriguing. Taivaanvalot (The Lights of Heaven) is a large-scale oratorio based on ancient Finnish creation myths. Because the material deals with such primal topics, Nordgren set out to compose a piece that ignored the sensibilities of contemporary rationality and logic, and he succeeded in creating a work with immense visceral power. Using a standard orchestra augmented with a wide array of traditional instruments like goats' horns, herdsman's flute, and bowed harp with their own unique tuning systems, he creates a unique, archaic instrumental sound that effectively communicates the imagery of the ancient texts. His use of a chorus, children's chorus, and soloists is persuasively elemental. The music is essentially modal, but Nordgren also uses a full range of modern compositional techniques, like Stravinsky in The Rite of Spring, to evoke a primitive culture. It is certainly a strange work, but it is strangely beautiful and makes a compelling emotional impact. It receives a committed and vigorous performance from Juha Kangas leading the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, the Central Ostrobothnian Chamber Choir, the Kaustinen Children's Choir, and an assortment of vocal soloists and folk musicians. The sound of the 1999 live recording is adequate -- clean and clear -- but without the spaciousness or sense of presence that would be ideal for a work of this scope. Taivaanvalot is a fascinating and immediately appealing piece that should be of interest to fans of new music, especially works characterized by colorful primitivism.
© TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From 12,49€/month
Taivaanvalot (The Lights of Heaven) (Pehr Henrik Nordgren)
Anssi Hirvonen, Performer - Merja Wirkkala, Performer - Ritva Talvitie, Performer - Juha Kangas, Conductor - Central Ostrobothnian Chamber Choir, Choir - Kaustinen Children's Choir, Choir - Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra - Finland Folk Orchestra, Orchestra - Traditional, Lyricist - Pehr Henrik Nordgren, Composer
(C) 2013 Alba (P) 2013 Alba
Anssi Hirvonen, Performer - Merja Wirkkala, Performer - Ritva Talvitie, Performer - Juha Kangas, Conductor - Central Ostrobothnian Chamber Choir, Choir - Kaustinen Children's Choir, Choir - Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra - Finland Folk Orchestra, Orchestra - Traditional, Lyricist - Pehr Henrik Nordgren, Composer
(C) 2013 Alba (P) 2013 Alba
Anssi Hirvonen, Performer - Merja Wirkkala, Performer - Ritva Talvitie, Performer - Juha Kangas, Conductor - Central Ostrobothnian Chamber Choir, Choir - Kaustinen Children's Choir, Choir - Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra - Finland Folk Orchestra, Orchestra - Traditional, Lyricist - Pehr Henrik Nordgren, Composer
(C) 2013 Alba (P) 2013 Alba
Anssi Hirvonen, Performer - Merja Wirkkala, Performer - Ritva Talvitie, Performer - Juha Kangas, Conductor - Central Ostrobothnian Chamber Choir, Choir - Kaustinen Children's Choir, Choir - Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra - Finland Folk Orchestra, Orchestra - Traditional, Lyricist - Pehr Henrik Nordgren, Composer
(C) 2013 Alba (P) 2013 Alba
Anssi Hirvonen, Performer - Merja Wirkkala, Performer - Ritva Talvitie, Performer - Juha Kangas, Conductor - Central Ostrobothnian Chamber Choir, Choir - Kaustinen Children's Choir, Choir - Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra - Finland Folk Orchestra, Orchestra - Traditional, Lyricist - Pehr Henrik Nordgren, Composer
(C) 2013 Alba (P) 2013 Alba
Anssi Hirvonen, Performer - Merja Wirkkala, Performer - Ritva Talvitie, Performer - Juha Kangas, Conductor - Central Ostrobothnian Chamber Choir, Choir - Kaustinen Children's Choir, Choir - Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra - Finland Folk Orchestra, Orchestra - Traditional, Lyricist - Pehr Henrik Nordgren, Composer
(C) 2013 Alba (P) 2013 Alba
Albumbeschreibung
Finnish composer Pehr Henrik Nordgren (1944-2008) is not as well-known as his contemporaries and those in the generation just following him, like Einojuhani Rautavaara, Aulis Sallinen, Kalevi Aho, Kaija Saariaho, Magnus Lindberg, and Esa-Pekka Salonen, but he was enormously prolific and had a distinctive voice and a maverick sensibility that make his work especially intriguing. Taivaanvalot (The Lights of Heaven) is a large-scale oratorio based on ancient Finnish creation myths. Because the material deals with such primal topics, Nordgren set out to compose a piece that ignored the sensibilities of contemporary rationality and logic, and he succeeded in creating a work with immense visceral power. Using a standard orchestra augmented with a wide array of traditional instruments like goats' horns, herdsman's flute, and bowed harp with their own unique tuning systems, he creates a unique, archaic instrumental sound that effectively communicates the imagery of the ancient texts. His use of a chorus, children's chorus, and soloists is persuasively elemental. The music is essentially modal, but Nordgren also uses a full range of modern compositional techniques, like Stravinsky in The Rite of Spring, to evoke a primitive culture. It is certainly a strange work, but it is strangely beautiful and makes a compelling emotional impact. It receives a committed and vigorous performance from Juha Kangas leading the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, the Central Ostrobothnian Chamber Choir, the Kaustinen Children's Choir, and an assortment of vocal soloists and folk musicians. The sound of the 1999 live recording is adequate -- clean and clear -- but without the spaciousness or sense of presence that would be ideal for a work of this scope. Taivaanvalot is a fascinating and immediately appealing piece that should be of interest to fans of new music, especially works characterized by colorful primitivism.
© TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 6 track(s)
- Total length: 00:53:41
- Main artists: Juha Kangas
- Composer: Pehr Henrik Nordgren
- Label: Alba
- Genre: Klassiek Vocale muziek (wereldlijk en religieus) Koormuziek
(C) 2013 Alba (P) 2013 Alba
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.