Kaija Saariaho is internationally recognized as a leading figure in contemporary music, enjoying a well-deserved reputation for works that are both creatively original and of considerable appeal. Uncovering the compositional, historical, cultural and sociological issues that have resulted in such critical acclaim lies at the heart of this collection of essays. '... a refreshing departure from the norm... carefully edited and interesting...' Finnish Music Quarterly '... the versatile assemblage of perspectives, critiques, and analyses in Kaija Saariaho: Visions, Narratives, Dialogues offers readers the opportunity to make an extensive journey into Saariaho's aesthetic world, or to go only a short way down such a path; to travel directly, or with many fascinating diversions and detours.' International Alliance for Women in Music '... this volume, as the first substantial engagement in English with Saariaho's music from an analytic-theoretical point of view, is a welcome and useful one.' Music and Letters