Finland’s contribution to the 2009 Academy Awards, The Home of Dark Butterflies, features an astonishingly beautiful orchestral score penned by newcomer Panu Aaltio, a composer who has been working on many of Tuomas Kantelinen’s scores as an assistant and orchestrator.

Aaltio’s score for The Home of Dark Butterflies is a deeply emotional work, recorded with a string-dominated orchestra in London, conducted by Matt Dunkley.

26-year old Aaltio makes prominent use of solo piano in his score, while his string writing has a stroke of minimalism that perhaps will remind some listeners of the work of Michael Nyman.

1. Main Title 0:56
2. Big Plans 1:57
3. Fever and Nightmares 1:55
4. Unwelcome Visit 2:04
5. The Butterfly Project 1:54
6. Boys Decide to Stay 1:35
7. Juhani’s Great Loss 0:53
8. Memories in Water 2:40
9. Jealous Christmas 4:39
10. Alone 3:39
11. The Farewell 2:43
12. Spring Arrives 0:56
13. Glimpse of Happiness 2:02
14. The Past Revealed 4:01
15. We Can Be Just As Fragile 1:56
16. Point of No Return 4:44
17. Forgiveness 2:55
18. Saying Goodbye 1:50