One of the most bodacious episodes in the Kalevala, the Finnish national epic tells how Joukahainen challenges the old, wise singer Vainamoinen to a competition, during which Vainamoinen sings him up to his neck into the swamp. This scene, combining stunning and comical elements, is a great subject for a musical composition, but also holds a certain risk: it would perhaps be too obvious to depict it through an abundant, romantically expressive cantilena. This would indeed be quite dull and conve...