Although he lived until 1958, Armas Järnefelt’s compositions cluster mostly in the two decades either side of 1900. The pretty Berceuse (1904) which concludes the programme is less ubiquitous than it used to be, like the little Praeludium (not included here) which was also once popular. It more or less single-handedly kept the composer’s name in the catalogue until Ondine released their excellent Lieder disc in 2003. Berceuse is neatly played here, with conductor Jaakko Kuusisto multi-tasking by taking up his violin.

The other works on the disc are much larger in scope and pre-date the turn of the century. The Symphonic Fantasy (1895) is the most impressive, a 21-minute single span cogently argued. The structure, however, is episodic, and while the treatment of the material point-to-point is symphonic, its organisation is distinctly not. That said, it is an effective concert piece (it was roundly slammed at its premiere), not wildly original in idiom and in debt to Wagner rather than Sibelius. The Suite in E flat was written two years later and casts its net wider in terms of influences (I will not spoil your fun in playing spot the composer). Once again, it is a viable concert piece, strong in appeal if a touch anonymous.

Järnefelt’s Serenade (1893) was the best-received of the three larger works and has some undeniably effective moments, but to my mind is not the sum of its parts. It is significantly longer (a touch too long) with the same stylistic magpie-like tendencies. The performances are splendid and BIS’s recorded sound is first-rate. Recommended.