Composer

:

Einojuhani Rautavaara

Genre

:

Orchestral

Compose Date

:

2012

Average_duration

:

13:15

Canto 5 ('Into the Heart of Light') is a choral work composed by Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara in 1999. The piece was premiered in Helsinki, Finland in 2000 by the Finnish Radio Chamber Choir under the direction of Timo Nuoranne. The work is divided into three movements, each with its own distinct character and musical language. The first movement, titled "The Sun Is but a Morning Star," is a setting of a poem by American poet Emily Dickinson. The music is ethereal and mystical, with the choir singing in a hushed, almost whispered tone. The harmonies are rich and complex, with dissonances resolving into moments of sublime beauty. The second movement, "The Heart of Light," is a setting of a poem by English poet and mystic William Butler Yeats. The music is more rhythmic and energetic than the first movement, with the choir singing in a more declamatory style. The harmonies are still rich and complex, but there is a sense of urgency and forward motion in the music. The final movement, "The Great Invocation," is a setting of a prayer that was first given to the world by the Tibetan Master Djwhal Khul in 1945. The music is grand and majestic, with the choir singing in a full-throated, exultant style. The harmonies are still complex, but there is a sense of resolution and transcendence in the music. Overall, Canto 5 ('Into the Heart of Light') is a deeply spiritual work that explores themes of light, transcendence, and the human quest for meaning and purpose. Rautavaara's music is lush, complex, and deeply expressive, and the work is a testament to his skill as a composer and his deep understanding of the human spirit.

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