Räihälä's Cello Concerto was a result of a difficult process, during which he wrote six or seven beginnings between the spring of 2004 and summer 2006 before he was finally satisfied. The concerto is written for Martti Rousi and it is formed by six movements. These have titles that at first glance seem programmatic, but Räihälä denies any extra-musical meanings. After the introduction, the first proper movement is Goldmund In The World Of Wanton, a title that points into the direction of a Herman Hesse novel. The music is colourful and pacy whereas the following movement is titled House Of Drowse, and the general atmosphere of the movement is sleepy and relaxed. Then follows the short Here And Back Again before the soloist goes into a cadenza, titled Piper At The Gates Of Delirium - here of course the influence of songs by Pink Floyd and Yes is clear in the name. The speedy finale is titled Milky Way Messiah.
The concerto lasts about 24 minutes and is scored for a sinfonietta-sized orchestra.