Einojuhani Rautavaara was born in Helsinki, Finland, on October 9, 1928, and died there on July 27, 2016. The first performance of Cantus arcticus took place at the University of Oulu, Finland, on October 18, 1972, with Stephen Portman conducting the Oulu Symphony Orchestra. Cantus arcticus is scored for two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, two horns, two trumpets, trombone, tape recorder (two channels), timpani, cymbals, tam-tam, harp, celesta, and strings. Approximate performance time is eighteen minutes.

Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara’s Cantus arcticus was commissioned by the Oulu University for its 1972 degree ceremony. The usual composition for such an event is a festive cantata for chorus and orchestra. Rautavaara decided upon another approach for Finland’s northernmost university. Rautavaara traveled to the Arctic Circle and marshlands of Liminka, where he taped the songs of various birds. From these songs, Rautavaara, composed a Concerto for Birds and Orchestra.

The Marsh, the first movement of Cantus arcticus, features the voices of bog birds in springtime. The second movement, Melancholy, spotlights a shore lark, but with its voice transposed down two octaves to create the effect of a “ghost bird.” The final movement, Swans migrating, features multiple orchestral and solo voices, “until finally the sound is lost in the distance.”