Description
"Bryce Dessner’s Tuusula reflects the contrasting moods of a Finnish lakeside town—its peaceful serenity and sudden bursts of energy—echoing the cycles and rituals of nature itself. The piece was composed for cellist Nicolas Altstaedt during Bryce’s residency at Pekka Kuusisto’s Meidän Festivaali, a chamber music festival held in Tuusula, the hometown of Jean Sibelius. Surrounded by the untouched beauty of the lake and the historic homes of 19th- and 20th-century artists, Bryce found inspiration in the woods, water, and light. He would write a bit of the piece every day, which accounts for its improvisatory feeling. At the end of the week, Nicolas premiered it in the lakeside chapel where Sibelius was baptized."
— Maya Fridman
