Laura Hynninen: Botaurus Stellaris

Description

Alba Records announces the release of Botaurus stellaris, the new album by harpist-composer Laura Hynninen, winner of the Yle Record of the Year award and multiple Emma Award nominee. Botaurus stellaris is an extraordinary sonic journey that combines the mysteries of nature with profound humanity. In the album's opening track, "Tuliketun jaljilla" (In the Footsteps of the Fire Fox), the artist pursues the northern lights of ancient tales in search of a sound evoking the soft tread of fox paws, created on a prepared harp. Behind these works lies a deep connection to the cycles of nature and human themes: The Lux Musicae Festival commission "Maa ja virtaavat vedet" (Earth and Flowing Waters) depicts the boundaries between the permanence and impermanence of our planet's elements, while "Lammella" (At the Pond) invites the listener to pause at the threshold between the earthly and the otherworldly. The repertoire also reflects the presence of loved ones: the pieces "Tanssija" (The Dancer) and "Botaurus stellaris" are dedicated to Hynninen's daughters. Even the theme of death is treated with a light and airy touch, and the album's central theme radiates goodness--the yellow lantern on the album cover emits a flame of compassion that illuminates the path, flickering but never going out.