The vocal works of Einojuhani Rautavaara have been inspired by poets both Finnish and foreign, but above all Rainer Maria Rilke. Rautavaara has himself written the texts for some of his songs. Volume 1 of the Solo Songs contains the early songs, such as the popular Three Sonnets of Shakespeare, Fünf Sonette an Orpheus and Die Liebenden. Volume 2 covers the period from the late 1970s to the 1990s and includes songs from the operas Thomas and Aleksis Kivi. All the texts in Finnish and Swedish have been translated into English.

Contents of Volume 1: Three Sonnets of Shakespeare: 1. That Time of Year, 2. When I Do Count the Clock, 3. Shall I Compare Thee. Pyhiä päiviä / Sacred Feasts: 1. Suuri pitkäperjantai / The Great Good Friday, 2. Iltarukous / Evening Prayer, 3. Kynttilänpäivä / Candlemas, 4. Joulun virsi - elämän virsi / Hymn of Christmas - Hymn of Life. Fünf Sonette an Orpheus: 1. Da stieg ein Baum, 2. Und fast ein Mädchen wars, 3. Ein Gott vermags, 4. O ihr Zärtlichen, 5. Errichtet keinen Denkstein. Die Liebenden: 1. Liebes-Lied, 2. Der Schauende, 3. Die Liebende, 4. Der Tod der Geliebten. Guds väg / God's Way: 1. Guds väg / God's Way, 2. Barnet / The Child, 3. Pingst / Pentecost, 4. Dröm i katedralen / Dream in the Cathedral. Maailman uneen / Dream World: 1. October, 2. Viatonten valssi / Waltz of the Innocents, 3. Tulen / I Approach Thee