Einojuhani Rautavaara
| Einojuhani Rautavaara | |
|---|---|
Rautavaara in the 1950's
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| Born |
9 October 1928 Helsinki, Finland |
| Died | 27 July 2016 (aged 87) Helsinki, Finland |
| Notable work |
Cantus Arcticus Symphony No. 7 |
| Spouse(s) | Mariaheidi Rautavaara (nee Suovanen) Sini Rautavaara (nee Koivisto) |
Einojuhani Rautavaara (Finnish: [ˈɛi̯nɔjuhɑni ˈrɑu̯tɑvɑːrɑ]; 9 October 1928 – 27 July 2016) was a Finnish composer of classical music. He is among the most notable Finnish composers since Jean Sibelius (1865–1957).
Rautavaara wrote a great number of works spanning various styles. These include 8 symphonies, 9 operas and 12 concerti, as well as numerous vocal and chamber works.
Having written early works using 12-tone serial techniques, his later music may be described as Neo-romantic and mystical. His major works include Cantus Arcticus and Symphony No. 7 "Angel of Light".
Rautavaara was born in Helsinki in 1928. His father Eino was an opera singer and cantor, and his mother Elsa was a doctor. Both of his parents died before he reached his 16th birthday, and he went to live with his aunt Hilja Teräskeli in a Helsinki suburb.
Rautavaara studied at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki under Aarre Merikanto from 1948 to 1952. He first came to international attention when he won the Thor Johnson Contest for his composition A Requiem in Our Time in 1954, and the work prompted Jean Sibelius to recommend him for a scholarship to study at the Juilliard School in New York City. There he was taught by Vincent Persichetti, and he also took lessons from Roger Sessions and Aaron Copland at Tanglewood. He graduated from the Sibelius Academy in 1957.
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