in Reviews

The fascinating contemporary organ

by Anna Pulkkis

"Kujala’s new Alba recording includes an excellent and fascinating collection of works from five Finnish composers."

Organist Susanne Kujala, a frequent commissioner and performer of new music, has also taken on the task of introducing composers to the subtleties of her instrument.

Kujala’s new Alba recording includes an excellent and fascinating collection of works from five Finnish composers. In Trois Mondes for organ and electronics (2010–2011), Maija Hynninen takes inspiration from the auditory and visual illusions of Jean-Claude Risset and M.C. Escher. In Olli Virtaperko's Dawkins (2007–2008), the titles of the movements (Replicators, Towards polymorphism, Immortal coils) come from Richard Dawkins's book The Selfish Gene, and chains of DNA form winding melodies upon a deep pedal tone.

Cyclone (2006) by Veli Kujala gives a faithful description of the storm, with moments of deceptive calm. Minna Leinonen combines in Par Préférence (2009) fluctuating unison textures with thick masses of sound, while Singel Excelsis (2012) by Antti Auvinen grows twice from almost nothing into a violent roar.

Organ music of the 21st century
Susanne Kujala (organ)
Alba ABCD 440