Einojuhani Rautavaara

From Wind Repertory Project
Einojuhani Rautaavara

Biography

Einojuhani Rautavaara (9 October 1928, Helsinki - 27 July 2016, Helsinki) was a Finnish composer and educator.

From 1948 to 1952 Rautavaara studied at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki under Aarre Merikanto, then moved to New York to study at the Juilliard School on the suggestion of fellow Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. At the Juilliard School he studied with Vincent Persichetti and took on additional studies with Aaron Copland and Roger Sessions at Tanglewood.

Rautavaara is among the most notable Finnish composers. He wrote a great number of works spanning various styles, including symphonies, operas, concerti, as well as vocal and chamber works. He embraced serialism very early in his life, becoming more mystical as time went by. His later music may be described as neo-romantic. His major works include Cantus Arcticus and Symphony No. 7 "Angel of Light".

In addition to composition, Rautavaara has kept a busy educational schedule, including service at the Sibelius Academy from 1957 to 1959 and again from 1966 to 1990, the Käpylä Music Institute in Helsinki from 1965 to 1966, and he served as a music archivist of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra from 1959 to 1961.


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