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 Once
again the Finnish accordionist, Mika
Väyrynen, proves beyond all doubt that he is a phenomenal
musician, an artist whose technical and interpretative resources
seem to have no limits! This is one of those milestone recordings
which no accordionist should be without; in fact, no musician
should be without it.
Väyrynen always seems to select exactly the "correct"
repertoire for a CD representing the works of various composers.
Every composer, every piece, every movement is perfect and they
provide innumerable challenges which are superbly met by the performer.
There are many instances when the listener cannot believe the
sound is being made only by one performer and emanating from one
instrument. Mika
Väyrynen knows this instrument like he knows his own
body! The technical balance of hands, the exceedingly well controlled
dynamics at both extremes, the exquisite phrasings, and the crucially
important bellows manipulations performed with an artistry causing
one to forget they must ever change directions; these are just
some of the attributes which once again prove Mika Väyrynen
the true musical artist he has shown many times in the past.
The most important repertoire from an accordionist's standpoint
is undoubtedly the final piece recorded, the Sonata No. 7 Misterium
by Anatoly Kuzyakov. But that is difficult to say since there
are other very important original pieces included, and these pieces
are no less important to the instrument and to serious musicians.
They have great musical qualities throughout. The Jouni Kaipainen
Placido, Op. 68 is described perfectly by the composer! Listen,
then read, then listen again! The Paavo Korpijaakko Sonata No
1 Ultra is very exciting and gives the listener wonderful surprises.
Thanks to the Finnish Accordion Institute for the commissioning
of it. Anatoly Kuzyakov's final composition Sonata No. 7 Misterium
provides the title, of course, for this CD and it rightfully ends
the recording. It is a magnificent composition and one we must
imagine will remain for all time in the accordion repertoire,
long after all of us are gone. It is a monumental work of great
historical importance, a piece which may be described as superb
but it is also one which we will enjoy hearing over and over again
in the future. We must thank the Finnish Accordion Institute for
the commissioning of the composer.
The notes on the CD are very well written and helpful to the listener;
they will lead you through the accordion originals by Kaipainen,
Korpijaakko, and Kuzyakov. I will only comment that it would be
even more interesting to have notes regarding the other composers
also included. The liner notes are included in this review.
One would believe the Janácek, Scriabin and Hannikainen
pieces were indeed written for the accordion. Often times piano
pieces do not fare well when performed on the accordion, perhaps
more due to the performer than to the piece, but these are wonderful.
Jánacek ranked along with Dvorák and Smetana in
importance as a Czech composer. These two pieces from a set of
15 pieces originally written for piano in 1901-08 are little gems.
They are contemplative, requiring beautiful phrasing and interpretation.
Scriabin is represented with four pieces from his 24 Preludes
Op 11 and again they are beautifully interpreted on the accordion
by Mika Väyrynen. Scriabin was a prolific composer and wrote
many preludes for piano such as these short dramatic pieces. His
melodic idiom became very distinctive with often complex rhythms,
characterized by many upward leaps, powerful expression of the
most passionate moods and with sometimes overwhelming climaxes.
Even while these four pieces are short, they give credence to
that description of his compositions.
Ilmari Hannikainen steered Finnish classical music from late Romanticism
towards Impressionism. His piano miniatures best illustrated this
development. He was the son and the brother of composers, studied
piano with several outstanding teachers, including Cortot in Paris,
and eventually became a Professor at the Sibelius Academy. The
two pieces represented on this CD are important additions, showing
the accordion in a fine light.
We have thanked the Finnish Accordion Institute for the commissions
they have given, but we must also thank the artist, Mika Väyrenen,
for his considerable contributions in making these pieces become
the realities they are today. This indeed proves that even great
composers often must have the cooperation and collaboration of
great artists, people with a musical knowledge of the accordion
and its possibilities, along with the ability to demonstrate and,
finally, to perform the repertoire in public in order for the
compositions to become all they can be and valuable to the instrument's
repertoire. This CD has shown such successful examples and we
must be thankful.
Needless to say, I found every single performance on this recording
to be inspirational. It is my suggestion that you include it in
your own special collection of accordion recordings.
Buy the Misterium
CD from the MusicForAccordion.com website.
Reviewed by Joan
Cochran Sommers, February, 2010.
The CD is FAICD-23 with a total time of 66:01
ISRC: FI-SJS-09-00001...00018
Suomen Harmonikkainstituutti/Finnish Accordion Institute 2009
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