Kuula and Suolahti

[HerbieG]

Following on from Melartin, has anyone come across the works of Kuula or Suolahti?  Both died young and both were formidable composers.  I have a couple of orchestral works by Kuula in recordings from the radio and a piano trio, recorded by BIS. 

Hekki Suolahti was only 16 when he died - complications of a hernia, I think - and the only work I have ever heard was written the year before he died - the Sinfonia piccola, which has been broadcast several times on 'Through the Night' on Radio 3.  It begins just like Sibelius's First Symphony - two solo clarinets - but it's an amazingly compact and masterly work for someone of that age - most memorable. He left several other works but I have never been able to get hold of any of them.  Have any of you heard this work, and if so, what do you think?

[Mark Thomas]

Kuula is unknown to me but I did come across Suolahti about nine months ago and I agree with everything which you say about his Symphony. A really impressive piece of work.

[Syrelius]

Finnish label Alba has released a CD containing works for choir and orchestra by Kuula. I haven't heard them yet, though.

I have never heard of Suolahti before. Sounds like a very interesting composer, though.