Einojuhani Rautavaara, Etudes Op. 42-Performance, analysis and commentary

[@nsk5282]

Cole, thank you for introducing a composer who's music I probably wouldn't have listened to on my own, but thanks to your terrific performance and the talent to analyze music my horizons are being expanded. I especially loved the "4ths" Etude, very impressive piece!

[@mitchcroskell8665]

Just wanted to let you know how much I am enjoying your channel. The presentation style of the videos with all the information regarding the history/background details of the composer and piece being played is incredibly engaging and one of the more compelling presentations of classical music that I've seen on KZbin. I'm slowly making my way thru your back catalog of prior videos, which is introducing me to some great new pieces (as well as some old favorites) Anyways, keep up the fantastic work man. I've signed up on your Patreon as I would love to see this channel continue to grow. As for the Rautavaara, the only piece of his I had previously been familiar with is the Piano Concerto No.1, Op.45. Listening to these pieces, I definitely heard echoes of a unique personal style that was reminiscent of some of the figuration and sound landscape of the concerto, especially in the first etude. So much so, that if I had heard that etude and had to guess who had composed it, Rautavaara would have been my guess!

[@TheIndependentPianist]

Thank you so much for your support! I'm so happy to see that this content seems to be worthwhile to music lovers out there. It's very satisfying to make these videos, as they really require me to get into such detail. Glad you enjoyed the Rautavaara. He definitely developed a highly distinctive sound. Also his piano pieces are not as difficult as they sound-he wrote them for himself to play for the most part (not being a virtuoso pianist himself), so they really fall under your hands, and sound very effective.

[@chrisogburn8240]

I've trying to find the title of the first piece for years after hearing it once in a car with a friend. Thank you!

[@gspianoguitar4369]

Excellent! Really like these etudes and I'm reminded of Debussy's incredible Douze Etudes nearly 50 years earlier in terms of the 'sound' of the pieces, although of course Debussy still found inspiration in the historical use of intervals in his studies a la Chopin. I like the 'link' if you will to the use of the modern piano and all that it offers in it's overall expansive feel. I now feel somewhat musically remiss 'uneducated' to not know more of Rautavaara. However this will now set me off exploring more about him, so thanks for bringing it to our attention. Brilliant work Mr Anderson!

[@ethanliu2762]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@stefanhaffner]

So many interesting sonorities in this music. I use symetrical inversion sometimes in technical passages so nice to see some composers use it. One of the first thing I teach students is the a flat mirror chromatic.

[@grahamtwist]

Usually, I find making a comment on your channel so very easy, Cole . . . but not this time. But, I'll deal with the easy remarks first. Your analysis and commentaries on the three Etudes you present by Einojuhani Rautavaara were both fascinating and most informative. Thank you so much for your explanations, which are always pitched just right - certainly for me with my very limited knowledge of musical structure. Secondly, your performances of these three Etudes were absolutely mesmerizing: your technical fluidity and interpretive playing never fail to deliver perfection and always leave me in awe. And now I hesitate. Your recording of these Etudes is my first encounter with the Finnish composer, Einojujani Rautavaara. I adore Sibelius, but having quoted Rachmaninoff at you last week, I must confess to struggling to "feel the musical manner" of many later 20th and 21st century composers. But you have, I feel, been very careful (maybe even cunning?) in your choices of what you presented here from Rautavaara. I have listened twice now to you playing these Etudes and I can . . . just . . . begin to connect. The harmonic language is accessible, but still challenges me! I remember hearing the organ music of Messiaen in my early teens many years ago and not understanding or liking it. And now it speaks to me like no other music and I adore his unique, creative genius. So I hesitate because you have made me confront my ignorance and bias - and the consequences of such ignorance and bias. I will explore more of Rautavaara's music because I can see how I need to be challenged in order to grow. So really I am not hesitating at all; I just need to say: 'thank you' for starting to ease away the blinkers!

[@TheIndependentPianist]

Thank you Graham! That is a very thoughtful reply to encountering a new and unfamiliar musical style. I think too often we tend to dismiss music that goes against our instincts, so to speak, and miss out on a remarkable experience as a result. You just have to imagine that you are going to another musical planet, and remain open to having a completely different and novel emotional experience. Your experience with Messiaen is a perfect example of something else about encountering new music-people don't always realize that music is quite abstract in nature, and it can take a long time to familiarize yourself with a new style. If you are not already familiar with the particular musical language at hand, it is going to sound like chaos to you, with no rhyme or reason. But if you give it a second, third, and fourth chance, you might start to like it, or at least, understand it! I always think of this quote from Stephen Sondheim: "...first time I heard the Berg violin concerto, I thought, what is this noise? And the third time I heard it, I thought, oh, that's interesting. And the fifth time I heard it, I was humming along with it."

[@CatkhosruShapurrjiFurabji]

I think Rautavaara's études are more in sense of music, of course, they improve one technically also (yes, musical studies) as opposed to the ones entirely technical (as in Mereaux or something, which are musical, but focus on the technical aspect of music)...

[@fryderyckchopin484]

Does any edition of his etudes with fingerings exist? I really struggle when it comes to finger pieces and I don't know if there is any edition with them for this type of pieces

[@AsrielKujo]

My favorite is the sevenths, but that's incredibly hard xD

[@TheIndependentPianist]

Probably I should upload the others as well at some point...But there is so much great music out there, I feel like I have to pick and choose!

[@AsrielKujo]

@@TheIndependentPianist you do what you want, anything you play will always be welcome!

[@CatkhosruShapurrjiFurabji]

Indeed :)

[@whaijorhujishkomunyk]

I love his solo piano works but i hate his orchestral works

[@TheIndependentPianist]

Interesting-I'll need to explore his orchestral works more. I quite enjoyed looking at one of his piano concertos but I haven't actually heard the orchestration yet. Is there anything in particular that you dislike about the way he handles the orchestra?

[@GUILLOM]

I think the exact opposite.

[@whaijorhujishkomunyk]

I want to know more about his orchestral works

[@GUILLOM]

@@whaijorhujishkomunyk symphony 7.

[@CatkhosruShapurrjiFurabji]

I love almost all of Rautavaara works, especially the concerti, symphonies and sonatas such as the "Fire Sermon" (the second one) (I love all of them anyway) and other so-called miniatures like Cantus Arcticus, Icons, Passionale, the 7 preludes (in fact, I chose Passionale for my TCL diploma exam) etc. They're really breathtaking works...