Apart from Nielsen and Sibelius, what else is there up north?

Apart from Nielsen and Sibelius, what else is there up north?

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norman lebrecht

May 08, 2015

The Helsingin Sanomat has been worrying about turning into a one-symphonist state. According to assessments by Kalevi Aho, a living composer, Sibelius accounts for 40% of all Finnish classical music performed in concert halls, home and abroad.

So, what else is there?

The Sanomat offers seven [Finnish] symphonies from the shadow of Sibelius, here (with links):

1. Aarre Merikanto: Symphony No. 2 “War Symphony” (1918)

2. Erkki Melartin: Symphony No. 6 (1924)

3. Leevi Madetoja: Symphony No. 3 (1926)

4. Einar Englund: Symphony No. 2 “The Blackbird” (1947)

5. Einojuhani Rautavaara: Symphony No. 3 (1961)

6. Paavo Heininen: Symphony No. 2 “Petite symphonie joyeuse” (1962)

7. Joonas Kokkonen: Symphony No. 4 (1971)

Oddly, none of Aho’s 16 symphonies made the cut. Or Leif Segerstam’s 285.

leif segerstam

Anyone else they missed?

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