Lied for baritone and piano, poem by Milka Luhtaniemi

On a broader scale, the song explores the nature of love, which is ever-changing. On a personal

level, it is a love story of my grandparents, who left their homes in different parts of the country

to flee the war from the areas which were ceded in 1940´s. During their travels they

met each other, fell in love and had a family. They never returned to their childhood

homes.

These stories continue, everything changes when people are forced to leave their homes. In every circumstance love has its way to create new traces.

Love moves like a trace was commissioned by Nordic Song Festival, where I was composer in residence in summer 2026.

Duration 6–7 minutes.

Love moves like a trace (poem by Milka Luhtaniemi)

Move from one place

to another, to the next open

space

like a memory it comes back

to mind, it doesn't end

and the wind blows

ahead of the previous wind

still

it goes so still

and love moves like

a trace

and everything changing

just like this

leaves something to grow

covers the traces of grass

and the wind blows

ahead of the previous wind

and love moves like a

trace

still it goes so

still

Performances

Love moves like a trace was first performed in the Nordic Song Festival Trollhättan Sweden 6th August 2026 by baritone Petteri Salomaa and pianist Niilo Ruotsala.