Although the Finnish composer Kalevi Aho is best
known as a symphonist, his constantly expanding
catalogue includes numerous concertos as well as
countless chamber works and arrangements of
works by other composers. This album brings
together works from these three genres.
The Guitar Concerto, dedicated to Ismo Eskelinen,
posed many challenges for Aho, who is not a
guitarist himself. It is a seven-movement work
exploring the different ways the guitar can be used
– sometimes with far from traditional techniques –
and exploring its sonic possibilities.
The Quintet for Horn and String Quartet was
commissioned by Ilkka Puputti, who had previously
premièred Aho’s Solo X for horn. Particularly
demanding for the soloist, the quintet explores
various atmospheres, in turns mysterious,
whimsical, dramatic and dance-like.
Contrapunctus XIV from Johann Sebastian Bach’s
Art of the Fugue was left unfinished owing to the
composer’s declining health. As he was dissatisfied
with previous attempts to complete it, Aho decided
to write his own, aiming to remain true to Bach’s
style. This completion exists in several versions,
including the one for string orchestra heard here,
expertly performed by the Lapland Chamber
Orchestra conducted by John Storgårds.
