Carpe Diem #1096 The Great Wall of China by Einar Englund,

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

Welcome at a new episode of Carpe Diem's daily haiku-meme. This month we are trying to find inspiration in classical music of all ages and of all over the world. Today I have that "all over the world" taken very literal, because this composition by Einar Englund is titled "The Great Wall of China".

The Great Wall of China (photo taken from the Internet)

Must be awesome to walk that Great Wall, maybe it is an once in a life time trip, but not for me. So why not listen to the music titled with this Great Wall? Maybe I can imagine walking there while listening to the music, we will see and hear.

Einar Englund (1916-1999)

Let me first tell you a little bit more about Einar Englund, before we listen to this beautiful composition "The Great Wall of China".

Sven Einar Englund (1916 – 1999) was a Finnish composer. Sven Einar Englund was born at Ljugarn in Gotland, Sweden. He married twice: in 1941 to Meri Mirjam Gyllenbögel, who died 1956 (they had one son and two daughters including the ballerina and choreographer Sorella Englund); and in 1958 he married Maynie Sirén, a singer, with whom he had one son.

One of the most important Finnish symphonists since Jean Sibelius, Englund was a native Swedish speaker who often felt that his career was sidelined from the mainstream of Finnish music.
He was 17 when he began studies at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki in 1933. Already a considerable pianist, he continued his studies with Martti Paavola and Ernst Linko while studying composition with Bengt Carlson and Selim Palmgren.
Following his graduation in 1941, Englund was conscripted into military service. During his time in the Finnish Continuation War he was wounded in his hand, which almost brought to an end his hopes of pursuing a career as a concert pianist. He would often recall the bizarre, though life-threatening incident, with a smile. Einar Englund died June 27, 1999 in Visby, Sweden. He has created a lot of music sure worth listening to. (Video by Wellesz Opus)

Enjoyed? Inspired? I am looking forward to your responses inspired on this beautiful piece of music.

This episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until December 19th at noon (CET). I will try to publish our new episode, Serenade in D major by Ethel Smyth, later on.