The title of Sebastian Fagerlund’s Octet ‘Autumn Equinox’ derives from its links with his opera Autumn Sonata, based on the Ingmar Bergman film. Some of the moods and musical material of the opera appear in the octet, as a kind of reflection. With the instrumentation of Schubert’s famous Octet in mind, Fagerlund has created an intense, sometimes almost explosive work.

For Arcantio, a double bass concerto in variation form composed for and dedicated to Niek de Groot, Fagerlund imagined a musical atmosphere from some distant, archaic time. Throughout the concerto the soloist constantly guides the orchestra in new directions – at times a virtuoso, at times meditative, as if in a trance.

Sky II, originally composed for baroque ensemble, consists of a single movement that presents a fast and flowing, almost playful musical idiom. The musical expression combines dance-like rhythms, minimalism and field-like soundscapes that sweep over the listener. The fast flow of the music is interrupted only by a repeated translucent harmony, which also opens and closes the work.

No stranger to Fagerlund’s work, John Storgårds – who has also previously recorded the opera Autumn Sonata for BIS – conducts the Lapland Chamber Orchestra in two works, while the Octet is played by members of the orchestra.