Isola (2007)
(for orchestra)

Several years ago I visited an island called Själö in the southwest archipelago of Finland. The island has, despite its tranquility and beauty, a dark and tragic history. This feeling of grandness and beauty with underlying dark currents made a deep impression on me.

The music is not in any way a description of the island itself, though the impression stayed in my mind and came to act as a sort of abstract inspiration for this piece.

The piece consists of two large movements wich are linked to each other. The first movement; Largamente espressivo starts of with a rhythmical and agressive introduction (Agitato e violento) where the material of the piece is presented. The agressive flow of the music soon changes to the actual slow tempo of the first movement. The musical expression is melodic, intense and expressive.

The rhythmically agressive musical character which was introduced in the beginning of the piece returns with full force in the second movement; Agitato capriccioso. The music has a wild and flowing character from which ritualistic danslike elements break off.

Sebastian Fagerlund