What is Pekka Kuusisto's "Willows" album about?

Pekka Kuusisto's "Willows" album features a reimagined 'The Lark Ascending' connected to English folk roots, explores themes of grief, and includes traditional American folk songs.

How does Pekka Kuusisto approach 'The Lark Ascending' on the "Willows" album?

Kuusisto strips back 'The Lark Ascending' to reveal its English folk tradition roots, creating a 'convincingly honest' account that moves from grief to transcendence.

Which artists are featured on the "Willows" album?

The "Willows" album features the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra and vocals and instruments from Sam Amidon, alongside the work of violinist-conductor Pekka Kuusisto.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Violinist's Lark Soars: Folk Roots Revealed

Violinist's Lark Soars: Folk Roots Revealed

26 Feb

•

Summary

Kuusisto reveals The Lark Ascending's English folk roots.
Album reflects on grief, dedicated to Kuusisto's late brother.
Features traditional American folk songs arranged by Muhly.

Violinist's Lark Soars: Folk Roots Revealed

Finnish conductor and violinist Pekka Kuusisto has released "Willows," an album featuring the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, which offers a penetrating reimagining of Ralph Vaughan Williams' "The Lark Ascending." Kuusisto emphasizes connecting the piece to its English folk tradition rather than simplifying it, resulting in an account described as "convincingly honest." This recording moves through "searing grief to radiant, folk-infused transcendence."

The album delves into themes of loss, including Ellen Reid's "Desiderium," a solo violin piece dedicated to Kuusisto's brother Jaako, who passed away in 2022. Another featured work is Caroline Shaw's "Plan & Elevation," an orchestral piece inspired by Dumbarton Oaks and drawing from composers like Mozart and Ravel.

Concluding the album, Sam Amidon joins with guitar, banjo, and vocals to perform six traditional American folk songs. These selections, arranged by Nico Muhly, serve as expressions of faith, sorrow, ritual, and resistance, providing a moving end to this creative musical project.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.