This album includes a repertoire of Nordic composers influenced by French impressionism and Debussy’s music in particular. In Finland, both Toivo Kuula and Leevi Madetoja are known for taking influence from impressionism. After spending extensive time at the National Library in Oslo, Melis Jaatinen decided to add songs by Alf Hurumin and with the helpful advice from the principal of the Norwegian State Academy of Music, Astrid Kvalbein, Pauline Hall. Juho Alakärppä brought in Gösta Nystrom`s Sånger vid havet. This work was originally written for Finnish soprano Aulikki Rautava.
Melis Jaatinen's collaboration with Juho Alakärppä started after they both graduated from the Sibelius-Academy in Helsinki around 2010. In a truly collaborative manner, they often end up in passionate discussions about how to approach and interpret the music, songs and lyrics. The musical outcome is usually different from what they both had previously imagined, which illustrates the beauty of the process of making music! © Alba Records