Search - Jouni Kaipainen, Hannu Lintu, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra :: Jouni Kaipainen: Horn Concerto; Cello Concerto

Fans of Bartok/Hindemith/Berg will love this one!

Patrick W. Crabtree | Lucasville, OH USA | 09/24/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first heard this played on WOSU FM 91.5 (Columbus, Ohio, simulcast at Portsmouth, Ohio). I was traveling in my car and as quickly as I got home I ordered the CD online -- it's that good.



Kaipainen, born in 1956, is a Finnish composer -- I've only ever known of one other which was Sibelius. In any case, Kaipainen wrote his first symphony in 1985.



The first cut on the CD, Concerto for Horn and Orchestra, op. 61, will generally remind the listener of Bartok's Bartók: The Miraculous Mandarin; Janácek: Sinfonietta... or perhaps of Hindemith's Paul Hindemith: Orchestral Works, Vol. 3 (The Nusch-Nuschi Dances, op. 20, in particular).



The concerto features three movements and I have inserted some adjectives to convey the ambiance of the meter:



1. Allegro maeotoso - Cadenza ("quick," 10:06)

2. Larghetto ("flowing," 11:01)

3. Vivace ("brisk," 6:47)



The stacatto horn in the third movement seems a particularly difficult musical maneuver and is very tight and well-done.



The second cut on the CD is the Concerto for Cello and Orchestra No. 1, op. 65 and is also conveyed in three movements:



1. Andante febbrile, possibilmente rubato -- Allegro con brio ("slow, then brisk," 17:38)

2. Largo -- Cadenza attacca ("plodding," 13:20)

3. Allegretto ("paced," 5:47)



This is a moody, atmospheric composition with atonal inferences. While it is orchestral, I was still reminded of Berg's Berg: Wozzeck. The second movement, I noticed, is very early Stravinsky-ish with some brief melodic features. This is one of those generally non-melodic pieces which grows on one quickly.



For those new to Classical Music, I will caution you that this is Modern [Classical] Music and not what one could ever laud as "beautiful music," albeit it's beautifully performed by the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Hannu Lintu. Esa Tapani is featured on the horn and Marko Ylönen is the cellist, respectively.



Produced by Ondine, the CD includes detailed liner notes in multiple languages (including English). This is a found treasure, not minimalist, and any lover of either Modern or Contemporary Classical Music should latch on to this one. I give it my highest recommendation."