Throughout history, the open landscapes and mythic cultures of the Nordic countries have fired the imagination of artists.
Finnish horn player Markus Maskuniitty and pianist Martin Sturfält perform works which—though separated by more than a century—are all inspired by these themes.
The compositions gathered here approach Nordic ideas from different angles, blending traditional folk influences with contemporary classical techniques, while exploring the horn’s lyrical and dramatic capabilities and its rich sound palette.
Recent works by Piers Hellawell, Tryggvi M.
Baldvinsson, Albert Schnelzer, and Benjamin Staern are set alongside earlier pieces by Carl Nielsen, Hugo Alfvén, and Julius Röntgen, including the latter’s Aus Jotunheim: a suite with an irresistible Norwegian flavour across its five movements, quoting everything from cattle calls to lullabies, with plenty of rustic folk dancing in between.
This imaginative programme, designed by Maskuniitty and Sturfält, shines a spotlight on the distinctive character of Nordic musical identity.
