Einar Englund (1916-1999) was a major Finnish composer of symphonies, concertos and film music. His first symphony (1946) bears the title "War Symphony", not given by the composer. He preferred to think think of it rather as a euphoric shout of joy at living to survive the hells of war.

The first movement Tempo di marcia depicts seemingly never-ending marching through Karelia during the Soviet-Finnish war. Influences from Sibelius and Shostakovich are present. American conductor Robert J. Amb...