Kyllönen, Timo-Juhani
Timo-Juhani Kyllönen (born 1 December 1955) studied at the Gnesin Institute in Moscow, obtaining diplomas in the accordion, orchestral conducting and pedagogics. He then continued at the Tchaikovsky Conservatoire, studying composition, instrumentation and counterpoint with Aleksei Nikolayev, Yuri Fortunatov and Aleksander Chugayev.
Kyllönen is a prolific composer who has composed a large number of works including orchestral and chamber music, vocal and choral works. The core of his oeuvre consists of chamber, choral and vocal pieces for various combinations of voices and instruments. His aim is to communicate with people, and his music is indeed marked by a natural mode of expression in which melody often plays an important part. Examples of these are Ciclo de dos canciones Op. 6 for voice and piano to the inspiring words of the Peruvian poet Carmen Luz Bejerano (in Spanish), Tussilago for choir (SSA or mixed choir) and piano, Trio No. 4 for for flute, clarinet & accordion as well as Trio No. 5 for flute, violin & piano.
His works include several operas such as Tango Solo, a monologue opera in Spanish set in Buenos Aires by Night, premiered in 2011. Among his orchestral works are Lichtenthal (1998), the Accordion Concerto (2001), Concerto grosso (2002), Amor vivus for baritone and orchestra (2007), Missa festiva (2008), Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra ‘Cadiz’ (2012) and the Marimba Concerto (2017). One of his latest works is the monologue opera Ilona Irti (Release the Joy) Op. 100 to the libretto by Leena Lehtolainen. It was premiered at the Organ Night and Aria festival in Espoo on 18 August 2022 by soprano Aurora Marthens and the Trio Roozeman. You can watch the complete opera here.
Many of Kyllönen’s works have won an established position in the repertoire of musicians and choirs both in Finland and abroad. Concerts of his works have been given in New York, Moscow, Paris, Finland, Sweden, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Peru, Brazil and Cuba. His music has also been widely performed in Europe, Asia, Australia, North and Latin America. Kyllönen has taught music theory, composition and chamber music at the Sibelius Academy since 1986. He is also an active musician and choral conductor.
Accordion Concerto
(2000-01)
for accordion and orchestra
solo accordion + 2222-2210-12-str Perc.I: Marimba, Vibraphone, Xylophone Perc. II: 2 Wood-blocks, Triangolo, Castagnettes, Claves, Snare Drum, Slide stick, Cymbal, Bongos, Cow bell, Tom-toms, Bass drum, Vibraslap, Congas, Bell tree
Duration: 22
Amor vivus
(2007)
for baritone and orchestra
2222-4230-11-str Percussione: Xilofono, Marimba, Vibrafono, Glockenspiel, Snare-drum, Vibra-slap, 2 Cymbals, Triangolo, Tam-tam, 2 Bongos, Congas, Guiro, 2 Woodblocksm Bell-tree, Cow-bell, Cuica, Claves, Roto-toms
Duration: 24
Awakening
(1991)
for string orchestra
str
Duration: 17
Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra "Cadiz 2012"
(2012)
1.1.1.1-1.1.1.0-1.2-str Perc. I:Tubular bells, Vibraphone, Xylophone Perc. II: Triangle, Castagnettes, 2 Wood-blocks, Claves, 2 Congas, 3 Bongos, Snare-drum, Bass-drum
Duration: 0
Concerto grosso
(2002)
for violin and orchestra
solo violin + 2222-2210-12-str
Duration: 16
Hemingway
(2015-16)
Chamber opera in 11 scenes
1011-0000-02-pf-str(min.11111) 6 roles (S-MS-2T-Bar-B) Libretto (in Spanish) by Maritza Núñez. English translation by David Graham-Young.
Duration: 80
Ilona irti
monologue opera (libretto: Leena Lehtolainen) (2018-20)
for soprano and piano trio
pf, vl, vlc
Duration: 60
Lichtenthal
Symphonic Poem for Orchestra (1998)
3(I=picc)23(III=cl.b)3(III=c.fag)-4331-14-str
Duration: 18
Missa festiva
(2007-08)
for soprano, baritone, mixed chorus and orchestra
0000-0000-12-str Percussione: Glockenspiel, Vibrafono, Marimba, Cymbals, 2 Wood-blocks, Triangolo, 3 Bongos, 2 Congos, Snare-drum
Duration: 31
Tango solo
Opera de Camara en 13 actos
Chamber opera for soprano and instrumental ensemble
Soloist: soprano flauto, accordeon, pianoforte, string quartet
Duration: 54
Concerto for Accordion and Symphony Orchestra No. 1
St. Petersburg State Academic Capella SO, cond. Alexander Chernushenko, sol. Matti Rantanen (accordion) (Alba ABCD 256)
Lichtenthal
St. Petersburg State Academic Capella SO, cond. Alexander Chernushenko (Alba ABCD 256)
Trio No.5. Op. 72 ‘Vuoksen ääni’
Ensemble Cameo (YouTube)