The Eyes of Tapio

 

The Eyes of Tapio
My starting point was this painting by Sue Cordingley, which I see as a dark mysterious forest. The black 'holes' are portals into the inner soul of the forest. Or perhaps trombones. Or perhaps the eyes of Tapio, the Finnish god of the forest. I set out to interpret the painting in music as a static object, but in the end it turned out to be an exploration of how the image might evolve if it was alive.

The music starts in a restless and mysterious forest in the middle of the night. After a while in the early hours of the morning the forest quietens and becomes more peaceful. Then suddenly the portals open with a fanfare, followed by a short period of nervous anticipation, before the inner spirit appears and the forest is bathed in light. Finally the music ends in a riot of colour, incorporating some of the soundscapes heard earlier in the piece.

I first learned about Tapio when I bought an LP 50 years ago of the tone poem Tapiola by Sibelius. Recently while listening to Tapiola I realised that it had subconsciously inspired this piece. The basso profundo, the swirling strings and the outbursts of raucous brass in Tapiola all find echoes in The Eyes of Tapio.

There are quiet passages and quite a few subtle interplays between various sound textures, so it's recommended that you listen on a sound system that enables you to hear the full range of the music.


© Alan Wrigley Feb 2016  

 

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