in Reviews

Spacious sound worlds

by Anna Pulkkis

"Maija Hynninen creates spacious, original sound worlds and narratives that leave room for the listeners’ imagination."

Maija Hynninen (b. 1977) creates spacious, original sound worlds and narratives that leave room for the listeners’ imagination. Each work on the new Ravello recording combines acoustical instruments or voice with electronics.

Inspired by birds, Winnowing (2010) for piano (Jaana Kärkkäinen) is full of colourful timbral details and sparkling textures. In …sicut aurora procedit: As the dawn breaks (2015), Mirka Malmi’s violin solo is woven into a beautiful duet with an antiphon by Hildegard von Bingen (soprano Tuuli Lindeberg on tape). 

Freedom from fear (2017) bases its material on speeches by Aung San Suu Kyi, a highly controversial figure. The wild oboe solo (Kyle Bruckmann) and voices of tumultuous crowds have a disquieting effect. 

Orlando-fragments (2010) – a reference to Virginia Woolf – is composed for an instrument ensemble, female voice (Lindeberg), and electronics. A close cooperation with poet Henriikka Tavi has contributed to an intimate relationship between the music and the text. 

HYNNINEN: Dawn Breaks
Ravello Records RR8021