Search - Jouni Kaipainen, Sakari Oramo, Helen Jahren :: Symphony 2 / Oboe Concerto / Sisyphus Dreams

Kaipainen (b. 1956) is a young Finnish composer who whole-heartedly embraces a heterogeneous approach to music, particularly when it comes to disassociating himself from the intimidating figure of Sibelius. His polystylism appears, fully mature, in his Symphony 2, where he employs post-serialist techniques along with neotonal modes. The music is dark, similar to Finland in winter, and Sibelius is nowhere nearby. His Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra (1994) combines a series of hectic virtuoso passages with a Bach-like Arioso slow movement. Sisyphus Dreams (1994) does evoke Sibelius, but rather affectionately. --Paul Cook