Mielck Ernst: Orchestral And Choral Music

Juha Kotilainen, Baritone Academic Male-Voice Choir of Helsinki Lyran Academic Female-Voice Choir Kampin Laulu Chamber Choir Helsinki University Symphony Orchestra / Mikk Murdvee The early death of the Finnish composer Ernst Mielck, in October 1899, two days before his 22nd birthday, robbed music of an extraordinarily gifted musician - he was also a fine pianist - and perhaps one of the major voices of the next generation: the rapid evolution in his language in the three years covered by this CD is striking. The two overtures and cantatas make clear that he was already a gifted composer in the post-Schumann Romantic tradition, and the Finnish Suite written in the last year of his life brings a striking simplification of his textures and what seems to have been a nascent nationalism.