Jennah Vainio’s (b. 1972) Nerve-Wreck Blues Overture (2010, rev, 2023) is a fast-paced and engaging blues overture written for string orchestra. It respects the traditions of the blues while sparingly combining the stylistic means of newer concert music. Duration 5 minutes. Buy now
Kalevi Aho’s Second String Quartet dates from February 1970, when he was in his second year as a student of Einojuhani Rautavaara at the Sibelius Academy. Its premiere in the debut concert of the Finlandia Quartet in the Sibelius Academy concert series on 18 November 1970 also marked Aho’s debut as a composer, since it…
Esa Pietilä’s Blazing Flames for tenor saxophone and string quartet (2018) is a 28-minute-long journey with rapids and backwaters. His interest of combining improvisation and composed music makes the quintet makes the music live in the moment: not only the saxophonist but also the string players create environments, questions and answers not all written down….
Three icons in three colours is an association of colours and the state of mind and feeling how a person experiences colours individually. The composer does not want to open up its colours of its name on purpose – the idea behind the three movements of the piece is that the listener can personally associate…
Erkki-Sven Tüür (b. 1959) dedicated his String quartet (1985) dedicated to the memory of his friend, the Estonian actor Urmas Kibuspuu (1953-1985). The impressive two-movement string quarte displays minimalist influences – and the “chamber-rock” spirit of Tüür’s early ensemble In spe. Buy now
The grand old man of Finnish opera Ilkka Kuusisto passed away recently. In addition to almost 20 operas he also wrote an enormous amount of off-stage vocal music: choir works and song cycles. Newly published Kuusisto solo songs and song cycles: Merellinen sarja – Laulusarja Jouni Lompolon runoihin mezzosopraanolle ja pianolleMaritime suite – Song cycle…
Lotta Wennäkoski (b. 1970) wrote her song cycle I stället för vingar (Instead of wings, 2014-16) to poems of Eva-Stina Byggmästar. The original suite is for mezzo-soprano and ensemble. The composer made an adaption for mezzo-soprano and piano of the fourth movement Fågelmänniska (A bird man) in 2023. Wild and strong poem rotates around the…
The melodies of the 15 inspired arrangements for young cellist and pianist originate from the rich folk music in Europe and the Americas. Renowned Finnish piano pedagogue Liisa Karhilo (1930-98) wanted to develop the possibilities for children to play together – by doing chamber music from the very beginning. The cello parts are edited by…
Ahti Sonninen (1914-84) sovitti suomalaisen hengellisen kansanperinteen aarteita sellolle ja uruille (tai pianolle). Melodiat “Siionin virret” -kokoelmasta ovat peräisin eri puolilta Suomea. Buy now
Jyrki Linjama wrote Prélude oublié (2021/24) for Juho Pohjonen. The title alludes to Baroque tradition of arpeggiated keyboard preludes, filtered in a similar way as French baroque elements appear in certain works by Ravel and Debussy. There is one direct reference to a Baroque piece: the quotation from the chorus “Et incarnatus est” in Bach’s…
