if you can't listen to at as broadcast it's available online at the choir homepage for 7 days after broadcast.
The people's flag is deepest blue,
It shrouded oft our martyr'd rue,
And ere their limbs grew stiff and cold,
Their hearts' blue blood dyed its ev'ry fold.
Then raise the blue standard high,
Within its shade we'll live and die,
Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer,
We'll keep the Finnish flag flying here
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Rautavaara - 05/10/2008
05 Oct 2008 18:30 BBC Radio 3
Aled Jones talks to Kari Turunen, a Finnish choral conductor, writer and journalist about Einojuhani Rautavaara and the post-war choral scene in Finland.
Celebrating his 80th birthday on 9th October, Rautavaara has been a consistent producer of choral music since he began composing half a century ago.
The 1950s were a fascinating time in the choral history of Finland when there was a deliberate effort to increase and develop chamber choirs.
These new ensembles needed very different voices, ones without vibrato, and lighter in texture than was previously required and composers like Rautavaara were quick to respond to the demands for new repertoire.
The rise of childrens and youth choirs in the 1960s and the technical advancement of amateur choirs in general has resulted in a unique and thriving marketplace for new choral repertoire in Finland
Playlist:
Rautavaara: Credo
BBC Singers conducted by Paul Brough
BBC recording
Rautavaara: Sommarnatten (Summer Night)
Finnish Radio Chamber Choir conducted by Erik-Olof Söderström
ODE 851-2, track 8
Anna-Mari Kähärä: A song while the potatoes boil
Philomela conducted by Marjukka Riihimäki
Alba NCD 22, track 9
Rautavaara: Lorca Suite
Finnish Radio Chamber Choir conducted by Erik-Olof Söderström
ODE 851-2, tracks 10 to 13
Elämän kirja: A Book of Life
5. Hope Is The Thing With Feathers (Toivo on höyhenpukuinen)
6. Are You Ready? (Tahdotko?)
BBC Singers conducted by Paul Brough
BBC recording
Rautavaara: Ave Maria
Finnish Radio Chamber Choir conducted by Timo Nuoranne
ODE 935-2, track 15
Eric Bergman: Three Gallows Songs, op.51a
YL conducted by Matti Hyökki
Finlandia FACD 368, tracks 15 to 17
Rautavaara: The Carpenters Son
Soprano solo Olivia Robinson, with BBC Singers conducted by Paul Brough
BBC recording
Rautavaara: Magnificat
Finnish Radio Chamber Choir, Timo Nuoranne
ODE 935-2, track 6
Jukka Linkola: Ilo (Joy)
Emo Ensemble conducted by Pasi Hyökki
Alba NCD 26, track 14
Esa-Pekka Salonen: Kyss Min Mun from 2 Songs to Poems of Ann Jäderlund
Emo Ensemble conductd by Pasi Hyökki
Alba NCD 26, track 11
Rautavaara: Die erste Elegie (The first Elegy)
Johanna Almark (soprano) with Finnish Radio Chamber Choir conducted by Erik-Olof Söderström
ODE 851-2, track 19
Broadcast:
05 Oct 2008 18:30 BBC Radio 3