ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses nature and rawness in works by the Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara, with special focus on the orchestral work Cantus Arcticus and the operas Thomas and Rasputin. Rautavaara uses nature as a compositional element both in direct and indirect ways. He makes his own birdsong recordings on the vast bogs of Northern Finland. The example shows how Rautavaara creates a feeling of Russian nature in the opera by using a folk tone-like melody in combination with words describing nature. Architecture can be seen as a way to prevent chaos in human surroundings, and in a similar manner, Rautavaara's composing system prevents chaos in his music. The chapter presents how syntax or structure the architecture of music is related first and foremost to the elements of texture and form. Rautavaara is known to seek inspiration from nature, and connections between nature and music can be detected in some of his works.
