Arctic Hysteria

Wind Quintet Arktinen Hysteria · Atso Almila · Pehr Henrik Nordgren · Joonas Kokkonen

2009 · ABCD 307

Credits

Performers: Wind Quintet Arktinen Hysteria
Composers: Atso AlmilaPehr Henrik NordgrenJoonas Kokkonen

About this release

Almila - Nordgren - Kokkonen
Arctic Hysteria
Wind quintet Arctic Hysteria
Matti Närhinsalo flute
Anni Haapaniemi oboe
Christoffer Sundqvist clarinet
Tommi Hyytinen horn
Ann-Louise Wägar bassoon
The best Finnish wind quintet music of our time, interpreted by our leading musicians
The new album Arctic Hysteria features interesting works by three Finnish composers, Atso Almila, Pehr Henrik Nordgren and Joonas Kokkonen, as interpretations of Arctic Hysteria for wind quintet.
Atso Almilan's (b. 1953) Wind quintet II Arctic Hysteria (2006) is dedicated to the Arctic Hysteria quintet. The English names of the parts contain hidden meanings and enigmas, which are difficult and, according to the composer, unnecessary to put into the Finnish language (New Thousand and Six, Neither and Nor, Name of the Blame, No One's Lullaby, Never Never Everland, Arctic Hysteria). The Good Samaritan by Pehr Henrik Nordgren (1944-2008) for wind quintet Op. 141 (2007) is a late example of Nordgren's desire to tell strong stories with his music, born in the 1970s. Nordgren's Wind Quintet No. 2 Op. 22 (1975) has distanced itself far from Finnishness. It has no separate name, neither do its three parts. The work was created at a time when, in addition to Japanese influences, minimalism had entered the composer's resources. Joonas Kokkonen (1921-1996) said that he trained himself by composing chamber music, and Quintetto for flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn and bassoon from 1973 can be considered a concrete example of this.
Wind quintet In addition to the classical basic works of wind quintets, Arctic Hysteria's repertoire also includes music of our time from around the world as well as from home. It has presented e.g. P. H. Nordgren's 3rd wind quintet and Atso Almila's Arctic Hysteria, a quintet commissioned for the Crusell week, owned by Atso Almila for this band, which also plays on this recording.

Tracks

Wind Quintet II Arctic Hysteria (2006)
1.New Thousand and Sixcomp. Atso AlmilaISRC FIABA10001154:44
2.Neither and Norcomp. Atso AlmilaISRC FIABA10001162:04
3.Name of the Blamecomp. Atso AlmilaISRC FIABA10001173:27
4.No One’s Lullabycomp. Atso AlmilaISRC FIABA10001183:31
5.Never Never Everlandcomp. Atso AlmilaISRC FIABA10001192:31
6.Arctic Hysteriacomp. Atso AlmilaISRC FIABA10001203:36
Puhallinkvintetto II Arctic Hysteria (2006)
7.Th e Good Samaritan for Wind Quintet Op. 141 (2007)comp. Pehr Henrik Nordgren (1944-2008)ISRC FIABA10001219:49
Quintet for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn and Bassoon (1973)
8.I Andantecomp. Joonas Kokkonen (1921-1996)ISRC FIABA10001223:48
9.II Allegro vivacecomp. Joonas Kokkonen (1921-1996)ISRC FIABA10001232:27
10.III Moderato, quasi allegrettocomp. Joonas Kokkonen (1921-1996)ISRC FIABA10001242:14
11.IV Allegrocomp. Joonas Kokkonen (1921-1996)ISRC FIABA10001252:27
Quintet No. 2 for Winds Op. 22 (1975)
12.Icomp. Pehr Henrik Nordgren (1944-2008)ISRC FIABA10001263:20
13.IIcomp. Pehr Henrik Nordgren (1944-2008)ISRC FIABA10001275:13
14.IIIcomp. Pehr Henrik Nordgren (1944-2008)ISRC FIABA10001287:50

Reviews

“Despite its name, the Quintet’s attitude to music-making…is anything but hysterical.” So say the notes, and it’s good to know, but then the Arktinen Hysteria Wind Quintet says about itself that it “sings, growls, echoes, screams, muses, crows, and warbles like virtuosos...with oodles of vim and vigour and jolly harmony”. They seem to be a fun-loving group of young woodwind players. Are they any good?
Yes, very. These Finnish players have been together for more than a decade, and in this album…
American Record Guide · Barry Kilpatrick · December 1, 2015
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Arctic Hysteria – Puhallinkvintetti parhaimmillaan
” Atso Almilan Arktinen hysteria -kvintetto on malliesimerkki, kuinka vähäeleisesti mutta rikkaasti neljä puupuhallinta ja yksi vaskipuhallin soivat yhdessä. Teos on sävelletty Arktinen Hysteria -puhallinkvintetille, joka antaa näytteen viimeistellyn tyylikäästä osaamisestaan myös Joonas Kokkosen klassisen keskittyneessä kvintetossa sekä Pehr Henrik Nordgrenin myöhäisessä Laupiaassa samarialaisessa op. 141 ja varhaisessa kvintetossa op. 22.”
Jukka
Helsingin Sanomat · Jukka Isopuro