Kuusisto, Ilkka
Ilkka Kuusisto (born on 26 April 1933) is a versatile figure in Finnish musical life: a composer, conductor and arts administrator. The son of composer Taneli Kuusisto, he studied at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki with Aarre Merikanto, Nils Eric Fougstedt and others. He was the publishing director of Fazer Music in 1981–84 and director of the Finnish National Opera in 1984–92. As a choral conductor, he has led many choirs, including Laulu-Miehet and the Finnish Radio Chorus.
Kuusisto’s compositions range from jazz and film music to vocal music and operas. They retain a tonal basis, and the melodic quality is enhanced by a homophonic accompanying texture. Kuusisto also displays a keen sense of humour in works such as the Moomin Opera (1974). In his five-act opera Sota valosta (The Battle for the Sun, 1980) he combines themes from the national epic, the Kalevala, and uses archaic elements borrowed from medieval and folk music. Jääkäri Ståhl (Ensign Ståhl, 1981), drawing widely on Ostrobothnian minor-key melodies, is, according to Kuusisto, a more direct ‘folk opera’. Aino Ackté is an opera about the first international star of the Finnish opera scene. Other popular stage works include Gabriel, tule takaisin! (Gabriel, come back!, 1998) and Nainen kuin jäätynyt samppanja (1999).
Ilkka Kuusisto has also written several solo songs and song cycles such as Do not stand at my grave and weep for soprano and piano is composed in 2020. Other vocal works include songs to text by various Finnish poets such as L. Onerva, Aale Tynni, Einari Vuorela, Helena Anhava and Lassi Nummi. Kuusisto’s pedagogical piano collections Ekat Jazzit (Jazz for Kiddies) and My First Latin American (Ekat latttarit) have been popular among young pianists. Kuusisto has also arranged 24 Finnish Christmas carols for voice small orchestra including the songs in Jean Sibelius’ Opus 1.
24 Finnish Christmas Carols
Sales material 1. J Sibelius: Nu står jul vid snöig port / Joulu saapuu portin luo / Now Stands Yule at the Snowy Gate (Sw/Fin/Eng) 2’ (2fl/str) 2. J Sibelius: Nu så kommer julen / Tervehtii jo meitä / Now is Christmas Coming (Sw/Fin/Eng) 3’ (2fl/str) 3. J Sibelius: Det mörknar ute / Jo joutuu ilta / O’er Hill and Dale (Sw/Fin/Eng) 2’ (2fl/str) 4. J Sibelius: Giv mig ej glans / En etsi valtaa, loistoa / Gib mir nicht Glanz / We Ask for Nothing Rich or Rare (Sw/Fin/Eng/Ger) 4’ (2fl/str) 5. J Sibelius: On hanget korkeat / Visst drivor höga som skyn vi ha /The Shining Snows are Driven High (Sw/Fin/Eng) 3’ (2fl/str) 6. K Collan: Sylvian joululaulu / Sylvias julvisa (Sylvia’s Carol) (Fin/Sw) 4’ (2fl/str) 7. P J Hannikainen: Hiljaa, hiljaa helkkyellen / Lyss till kvällens milda toner (Softly, Softly Ringing) (Fin/Sw) 3’ (hp/str) 8. P J Hannikainen: Tuikkikaa, oi joulun tähtöset (Twinkle, Little Christmas Stars) (Fin) 2’ (str) 9. P J Hannikainen: Kautta tyynen, vienon yön / I den stilla nattens fred (Through the Soft and Tranquil Night) (Fin/Sw) 2’ (str) 10. O Merikanto: joulu tullut on (Christmas is Here) (Fin) 2’ (fl/str) 11. E Melartin: Yön keskellä tähtönen loisti / Du strålande Betlehemsstjärna (A Star Shone in the Night) (Fin/Sw) 2’ (str) 12. S Palmgren: Ja neitsyt pikkupoijuttansa / Och jungfrun gömmer troget (The Virgin MaryRocks Her Child) (Fin/Sw) 2’ (str) 13. H Kaski: Mökit nukkuu lumiset / Skog och fält i snöskrud stå (The Snowbound Cabins Sleep) (Fin/Sw) 4’ (hp/str) 14. L Madetoja: Arkihuolesi kaikki heitä / Vardagssorgerna glöm dem alla(Cast off All Care) (Fin/Sw) 2’ (hp/str) 15. L Madetoja: Enkelien joululaulu (The Angels’ Carol) (Fin) 2’ (2fl/str) 16. I Hannikainen: Odotan jouluvierasta (I Await a Christmas Guest) (Fin) 2’ (str) 17. J Pohjanmies: Talvi-iltana (On a Winter’s Evening) (Fin) 2’ (str) 18. V Hannikainen: On maassa hanget puhtahat / På marken ligger dunnmjuk snö (Snow Lies Fresh upon the Ground) (Fin/Sw) 2’ (str) 19. M Turunen: Me käymme joulun viettohon / Vi gå att fira julens fest (We Go to Celebrate Christmas) (Fin/Sw) 3’ (hp/str) 20. T Kuusisto: Oi saavu, rauhan juhla (Come Festival of Peace) (Fin) 3’ (hp/str) 21. A Sonninen: Rauhaa, vain rauhaa / Hör, julens klockor ringa i frid(Peace, Perfect Peace) (Fin/Sw) 3’ (str) 22. J Parviainen: Betlehem (Bethlehem) (Fin) 3’ (str) 23. O Kotilainen: Kun joulu on (Now that it is Christmas) (Fin) 2’ (2fl/str) 24. O Kotilainen: Varpunen jouluaamuna / Sparven på julmorgonen (A Sparrow on Christmas Morning) (Fin/Sw) 4’ (hp/str)
Duration: 0
Aaron Ykkönen
valikoima sovituksia solistille ja orkesterille
2(II+picc).1.1.1(+cfg)-2.1.1.1-1.2-str
Duration: 0
Divertimento
for strings
str
Duration: 10
Dolmatovskin laulu
oopperasta Taipaleenjoki
voice and orchestra
2.2.2.2-2.0.1.0-1.0-str
Duration: 3
Fjäriln vingad eller qvinnokunst och mannamod
Musik till sångspelet av Erik Söderblom
for orchestra
0.0.1.1-1.0.0.0-1(+perc: Maracas, Marimba, Piatto sospeso, Glockenspiel, Triangolo, Tamburo militare)-keyboard(Cembalo/Lute/Guitar/Teorbi or other)-str
Duration: 0
Fröken Julie / Miss Julie
Ooppera / Opera in 2 acts (1993)
3 roles, 2222/22 10/11, strings
Duration: 90
Gabriel, tule takaisin!
Nelinäytöksinen ooppera (1995)
Opera in Four Acts
2S-MS-A-T-Bar-SSAA 1111-2110-01-pf(+keyb)-str Percussione: 2 Timpani, Tamburo militare, Tom-toms, Gran cassa, 2 Bongos, Piatti (medio & piccolo), Tamtam (grande), Glockenspiel, Xilofono, Vibrafono, Triangolo, 2 blocchi di legno, Guiro, 2 Maracas, Cabasa, Vibraslap, Drum set
Duration: 110
Iloista joulua - sikermä joululauluja
Versio suurelle orkesterille
for large orchestra
3(III=picc)3(III=ca)3(III=bcl)3(III=cfg)-4331-11-hp-str Percussion: Snare Drum, Bass Drum, Cymbals, Xylophone, Tubular Bells, Triangle, Sleigh Bells Ensimmäinen joulu - The First Nowell Jouluilta (Taivahalla syttyi juuri) Kilisee kilisee kulkunen Joulukirkkoon (Kello löi jo viisi) Oi sä riemuisa - O du fröhliche
Duration: 0
Iloista joulua -sikermä joululauluja
Versio sinfoniaorkesterille
for orchestra
2222-2210-11-hp-str Percussion: Snare Drum, Bass Drum, Cymbals, Xylophone, Tubular Bells, Triangle, Sleigh Bells Ensimmäinen joulu - The First Nowell Jouluilta (Taivahalla syttyi juuri) Kilisee kilisee kulkunen Joulukirkkoon (Kello löi jo viisi) Oi sä riemuisa - O du fröhliche
Duration: 7
Isänmaan tyttäret / Daughters of the Fatherland
Ooppera / Opera in 3 acts (1996)
21 major and minor roles, 2222/2231/11, strings
Duration: 120
Jääkäri Ståhl / Jaeger Ståhl
Ooppera / Opera in 6 acts with epilogue (1981-1982)
14 major and minor roles,2222/4330/12, strings
Duration: 110
Kiljusten Kalevala / Kalevala after the Kiljunen Family
Musikaali / Musical (1998)
children's musical in two acts
6 major roles piano; double bass, percussion
Duration: 0
Kotia kohti
pohjautuu Z. Topeliuksen tarinaan "Koivu ja tähti" (2005 / 2009)
church opera in 2 acts
vl(mandolin)-accordeon-organ(pf)
Duration: 60
Kuninkaan sormus
Kaksinäytöksinen ooppera / Opera in two acts (2001)
6 major roles, ca 20 minor roles, 2222/2210/11/0, keyboard, strings
Duration: 130
Matilda ja Nikolai / Matilda and Nikolai
Ooppera 12 kohtauksessa / Opera in 12 scenes (2003-2004)
10 major and minor roles, mixed choir, 2222-2210-01-pf-str
Duration: 90
Meren lauluja
The Sea Songs (1991)
for children’s or juvenile choir and orchestra
2000-0000-01-str 1. Meren laulu (The Sea Song) 4’ 2. Pääskyn aika (The Time of the Swallow) 3’ 3. Meri on sininen (The Sea is Blue) 3’ 4. Satamahinaaja (The Tugboat) 4’
Duration: 14
Miehen kylkiluu / The Rib of a Man
Ooppera / Opera in 3 acts (1977-1978)
9 major and minor roles, 1011/1000/01, accordion, strings
Duration: 105
Miehen kylkiluu / The Rib of a Man
Ooppera / Opera in 3 acts (1977-1978)
9 major and minor roles, 2222/4231/12, strings
Duration: 105
Muumiooppera / Die Muminoper
The Moomin Opera (1974)
Soloists: 7 singing roles, female non-singin role, male speaking-role playing mouth-organ, dancers (4-10, maybe children)
1(+picc)11(+ebcl+bcl)1-2111-02-hp-str Percussion: Timpani, Snare drum, Tom-tom, Bass Drum, Cymbals, Gong, Bell plates, Marimba, Xylophone, Triangle, Tambourines, Maracas, Wood blocks, Penal, Rattle, Flexatone, Cow bell, Car horn
Duration: 65
Nainen kuin jäätynyt samppanja [A Woman Like Frozen Champagne]
Kaksinäytöksinen monologiooppera /Chamber opera in 2 acts (1999)
1 major role, 1 dancer, piano, violin, cello
Duration: 80
Pelle Svanslös
laulu ja piano, stemmoja ainakin in Bb
Duration: 0
Pierrot eller nattens hemligheter
Pierrot ja yön salaisuudet (1990)
3 major roles, piano+synthesizer (1 player), percussion, strings
Duration: 60
Postineiti / The Postmistress
Ooppera / Opera in 2 acts (1991)
18 major and minor roles, 0022/2110/11, piano, strings
Duration: 100
Pula!
Ooppera Konikapinasta / opera in 2 acts with epilogue (2002)
21 major and minor roles, mixed choir, 2220/2230/11/0, piano, strings
Duration: 120
Pyhä yö [libretto: Panu Rajala]
joulukohtaus oopperasta Taipaleenjoki
2222/2221/00/solistit(SATB)+lapsikuoro/str
Duration: 5
Sarja Suzuki-sovituksia
for orchestra (1st mov with piano solo)
2(II+picc).2.2.2-2.2.2.0-1.1(Piatto sospeso, Tamburino, Tam-tam)-str 1. Kuutamolla (pf & orch) 2. Arabialainen laulu 3. Allegretto 4. Musette
Duration: 0
Soi, virteni, kiitosta Herran
Kalajokilaaksosta ((arr.Ilkka Kuusisto)
for voice and orchestra
0.0.2.0-0.0.0.0-str
Duration: 2
Sota valosta / War for the Light
Ooppera / Opera in 5 acts (1980)
19 major and minor roles, actors, mixed choir, 2(II+alto/picc)2(II+cor.ing)2(II+Eb/bcl)2(II+cbn)/433(III+btbn)1/12/1, accordion, strings
Duration: 150
Symphony No. 1
(1998)
for symphony orchestra
3(III=picc).3(III=c.ing).3(III=bcl).3(III=cfg)- 4.3.3.1-1.2(Silofono, Glockenspiel, Tam-tam, Gran cassa, Wooden block, Tamburo militare, Triangolo, Tamburino)-hp-str
Duration: 27
Symphony No. 2
(2005)
for symphony orchestra
3(III=picc).3(III=c.ing).3(III=bcl).3(III=cfg)-4.3.3.1-1.2(Timpani, Glckenspiel, Silofono, Tamburo militare, Triangolo, Guiro, Piatti a due, Gran cassa), Tam-tam, Lastra di metallo)-str
Duration: 32
Taipaleenjoki
Ooppera / Opera in 2 acts (2010)
2222/2221/11-str
Duration: 150
Tule hiutale
for mixed choir and orchestra
2.2.2.2-2.0.0.0-0.2(Triangle, Glockenspiel, Tubular Bells)-str
Duration: 5
Vapauden vanki / The Prisoner of Freedom
Monologiooppera / Monologue opera in 2 acts (2006)
monologue opera in 2 acts
solo baritone and ensemble: oboe (doubling cor anglais and oboe d'amore), violin, viola, cello, harp and piano
Duration: 85
