Chainsprings & Seeds of Time

Roland Pöntinen · Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra · Veli-Matti Puumala · Hannu Lintu

2009 · ABCD 319

Credits

Performers: Roland Pöntinen — PianoTampere Philharmonic Orchestra
Composers: Veli-Matti Puumala
Conductors and other contributors: Hannu Lintu — Conductor

About this release

Brother Matti Puumala
Chainsprings
Seeds of Time
Roland Pöntinen's piano
Tampere Philharmonic
Hannu Lintu conductor
Veli-Matti Puumala's Chainsprings and Seeds of Time are world premiere recordings
Veli-Matti Puumala's (b. 1965) new composition disc features world premieres of the orchestral work Chainsprings and the piano concerto Seeds of Time. These works for large ensembles open up horizons for Finnish orchestral and concerto literature. The Tampere Philharmonic and Hannu Lintu conjured up both views in their full color power for those listening to Puumala's production with their high-quality recording.
Chainsprings (1995/1997) belongs to the extensive Chains works series, which consists of orchestral works and chamber music. As the name suggests, Chainsprings chains together the most diverse musical elements, which come alive in surprising ways. In the composer's words, "Chainsprings tries to fuse together many ingredients, in this respect the work also represents my general way of handling musical material; the presence of all possibilities is important".
Seeds of Time (2004) is the largest of Puumala's concert works. The piano concerto, which won the Teosto prize in 2005, was jointly commissioned by four orchestras (Oulu Sinfonia, Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra, Sjaelland Symphony Orchestra, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra) and written for Swedish pianist Roland Pöntisen and conductors Hannu Linnu and Susanna Mälki. The relationship between the soloist and the orchestra is unusual in the work. Like a pianist, the orchestra also takes on different soloist roles.

Tracks

1.Chainsprings (1995/1997)comp. Veli-Matti Puumala (b.1965)ISRC FIABA100069225:02
2.Seeds of Time (2004)comp. Veli-Matti Puumala (b.1965)ISRC FIABA100069339:10

Reviews

Sävellysprofessori herkuttelee
”Puumalan modernistinen estetiikka on puhdasta, vaikka musiikin kirjavat ainekset kansanmusiikista ja jazzista spektriharmoniaan viittaisivatkin postmodernistiseen, sekoittuneeseen käsittelytapaan tai jopa kollaasiin.
[…] Sointi- ja sointuyhdistelmät on valikoitu pikkutarkasti siekailemattoman fyysisiä tehojakaan kaihtamatta. Ajankäyttö on keskittynyttä pysähtymisen rajalle asti.
Konserton kantaesittäjien Roland Pöntisen ja Hannu Linnun herkkä rekisteröintikyky…
Helsingin Sanomat · Jukka Isopuro
Vähitellen avautuvat teosjärkäleet
”[…] hauska, monityylinen ja lumoava. Chainsprings herää eloon suunnilleen viiden minuutin kohdalla, kun orkesteri alkaa kurotella kiehtoviin suuntiin. Korville ryöppyää viihdemusiikkiviitteitä, rytmistä draivia, myöhäisromanttista paatosta, lumoavia käyrätorvikuoroja ja gamelan-kolkuttelua, kaikki punottuna hengästyttäväksi jatkumoksi, joka lopulta rauhoittuu spektralistisiin yösointeihin.
Vuonna 2005 Teosto-palkittu pianokonsertto Seeds of Time (Ajan…
YLE Uudet levyt · Kare Eskola
Puumalan uusi musiikki avautuu pala palalta
”Tampere Filharmonia avaa Hannu Linnun johdolla teokset pala palalta johdonmukaisesti ja taiturillisesti. Myös äänitys on huippulaatua.”
Harri
Aamulehti · Harri Hautala
Sointinäkyjen loistoa
”[…] Soinnillisesti loistokkaassa ja kekseliäässä orkesterikappaleessa Chainsprings kohtaavat niin modernistiset sointipinnat, spektriharmoniat kuin kansanmusiikilliset alluusiotkin. […] musiikki on joka hetkessä inspiroivaa ja viihdyttävää kuultavaa. Pianokonsertossa Seeds of Time kuullaan repaleisia moderneja tekstuureja, jazzalluusiota, hälymusiikkia sekä runsaasti viittauksia romantiikan ajan pianokirjallisuuteen. […] Ruotsalaissolisti Roland Pöntisen esitys on…
Suomen Kuvalehti · Lauri Kilpiö
These are premiere recordings of two time-regarding orchestral works by Finnish composer Veli-Matti Puumala. Puumala is happy to be recognised as a modernist, and his music, consequently, is not for those looking for a good tune.
MusicWeb International
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For most listeners, Puumala’s music will be a great challenge, but surely a strong case is made for it in these superb performances that have been beautifully recorded with an exceptionally wide dynamic range.
SA-CD.net · Robert Benson · October 17, 2012
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For most listeners, Puumala's music will be a great challenge, but surely a strong case is made for it in these superb performances that have been beautifully recorded with an exceptionally wide dynamic range.
ClassicalCDReview.com · Robert Benson · October 24, 2012
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Pontinen, a brilliant pianist with a formidable repertoire, gives a fearless performance of this concerto in which often the pianist is not at all the centre of attention.
SA-CD.net · John Miller · October 24, 2012
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Roland Pöntinen, the pianist Puumala wrote the work for, brings tonal variety and expressive breadth to his performance; and the Tampere Philharmonic act as collaborators that are every bit the soloist’s equal.
American Record Guide · Rob Haskins · November 12, 2012
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That said, Pöntinen certainly plays superbly throughout this exacting work and that the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra supports him wholeheartedly.
MusicWeb International · Hubert Culot · February 15, 2013
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