Leevi Madetoja (1887-1947)

[vandermolen]

Just thought I'd bump up this thread. I'm having a bit of a 'Madetoja weekend' having listened right through the Petri Sakari Chandos two CD set I'm now listening to the Segerstam/Rautio/Sarasate cycle on the Finlandia 'Meet the Composer' double CD set. Although Symphony two is the best I like symphonies 1 and 3 very much as well. Although writing in something of a conservative idiom I think that Madetoja and Klami are my two favourite Finnish composers after Sibelius, much as I like Rautavaara and Kokkonen as well. The Madetoja symphonies are conservative sounding but they are not without depth and slumbering power.
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[vandermolen]

I realise I'm responding to my own message here (not that unusual actually  ) but I've been really enjoying symphonies 1 and 2 on the same Chandos CD. I'm getting to appreciate Symphony 1 in particular. It is in places a rather dark, atmospheric work but elsewhere cheerful and uplifting. I'm sure that having been lucky enough to go to Finland and enjoy some of the beautiful scenery of lakes and forests makes me appreciate this music even more:
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By the way, the original Chandos issue featuring symphonies 1 and 2 with a fine painting on the front, booklet containing a photo of the gloomy looking composer as well as detailed notes is available on Amazon UK for under £3.00 which is incredibly cheap. I can't get the photo to appear but will do a link:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Madetoja-Syms-1-2-Various/dp/B000000AQM/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1495265102&sr=1-2&keywords=madetoja

[Christo]

By the way, the original Chandos issue featuring symphonies 1 and 2 with a fine painting on the front, booklet containing a photo of the gloomy looking composer as well as detailed notes is available on Amazon UK for under £3.00 which is incredibly cheap. I can't get the photo to appear

[vandermolen]

 

That's the one! Thank you. 

[SymphonicAddict]

I've had this composer a bit forgotten lately, so I remedied that by listening to his ballet Okon Fuoko. By judging for either the thematics, the name of the work or the cover art, one already detects that the music has a restrained nature, and certainly it is. Atmospheric, ritualistic, mystical, intimate and exotic are some adjectives that came to my mind when listened to this. It's not the typical ballet with soaring melodies, with full display of orchestral forces (though there are some intense passages in this work) or impassionate love themes, but it was worth listening, something different and deep to some extent.

[vandermolen]

This is my favourite Madetoja single CD for the wonderful 'Tragic episode and Rapids shooting from the opera Juha' (it packs in a great deal in under twelve minutes - a haunting, moving and poetic work) and the epic Symphony 2 as well as the Ostrobothnian Suite:

[Brian]

Cross-posting my thoughts from my recent first-ever listen to the Madetoja symphony cycle (Storgards/Ondine):

Madetoja's First Symphony, in a glowing F major, reminds me a little bit of Svendsen in its mood but its 20th century romanticism is a little more like Atterberg or Dag Wiren. Especially in the mysterious nocturnal slow movement, with mildly spooky doings and a haunting cor anglais solo. Interesting stuff.

His Second starts out with chirping pastoral flutes, but after only 45 seconds, we're already on notice that this is a turbulent soundworld that can change like the weather. Written from 1916-1918, the symphony's moods were affected by the Finnish Civil War, in which Madetoja's brother died. The first movement flows naturally into the second, with what sounds like an offstage oboe solo. Shades of Vaughan Williams' own wartime symphonies. There are more birdcalls, and a brief moment that sounds quoted from Sibelius 1 or 2, but really it's impressive how un-Sibelian the score is given that composer's huge shadow over Finnish music at the time. War really erupts with the arrival of the powerful, turbulent, violent third movement. The traumatized, shattered quiet postlude ends a remarkable piece that could be seen as a precursor to Vaughan Williams 6, or a wartime epic, or just a one-of-a-kind late romantic masterpiece.

The Third Symphony is a very strange piece, but in a fascinating way. It is as laid-back, pastoral, and peaceable as the Second is not; I am completely stumped in trying to name other composers it sounds like. The booklet says it is "Gallic," but clearly not impressionistic. It has been described as neoclassical, but not in the rhythmic, exaggerated manner of Roussel, Wiren, or Martinu. It's softer and fuzzier than Sibelius' Third, but more conventional than Vaughan Williams' Third. The frisky scherzo is the longest movement and the work's centerpiece. Maybe Nielsen offers a point of reference? Or even someone like Gounod? This is completely original and I am intrigued. What is he trying to say? Cool!

I suspect ultimately the Second might stick in my memory longest, but I will have to relisten to all of them a few more times to make sure 

[kyjo]

Cross-posting my thoughts from my recent first-ever listen to the Madetoja symphony cycle (Storgards/Ondine):

Totally agree with your thoughts on the Madetoja symphonies, Brian! Those looking for searing drama and huge climaxes in their symphonies might be disappointed by Madetoja's, but they have a subtle power and unforced "naturalness" that grows on you. I've gained much pleasure through discovering the music of that triumvirate of fine early-20th century Finnish composers whose surnames start with the letter "M": Madetoja, Melartin, and Merikanto.