Harri Ahmas
Harri Ahmas (b. 1957) is a Finnish composer and musician, known both as a bassoonist and as a versatile composer. He has worked as a bassoonist with the Lahti Symphony Orchestra and the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra (RSO), and has also appeared as a soloist and chamber musician in Finland and abroad. Ahmas has recorded numerous contemporary works for bassoon as well as a wide range of chamber music. He currently teaches composition at the Lahti Conservatory.
Ahmas’s compositional output to date includes works for symphony orchestra—among them four symphonies and ten concertos—two chamber operas Sydänvirrat and Käärmesormus( Heart streams and Snake ring), the music drama Itämaan tähti (“The Star of the East”), and the Mass Kumartakaa Valkeaa (“Adore the White”) for soloists, choir, and orchestra. His catalogue also features arrangements for symphony orchestra, works for wind orchestra, vocal music, and numerous chamber works for different ensembles. His orchestral and chamber works have been recorded and performed internationally, in countries such as Japan, Russia, North America, Central Europe, and the Nordic region.
Ahmas’s music has been recognized in several composition competitions
| Title | Instrumentation | Year | Category | Duration | Available from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ana, viinaa vaan, Iivana | ten, fl, vla, vlc, db | 1999 | Vocal and Choral Works | 00:50 | Music Finland |
Asko-fanfaari | 2222 4331 03 0, str [or: 4hn, 3trb, 3 trp, tba, 2perc] | 1998 | Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble | 01:30 | Music Finland |
Aspects of the Finnish Nature | vlc, kantele, tape | 2001 | Chamber Works | 40:00 | Music Finland |
Autumn Divertimento | vlc, db, hp | 2013 | Chamber Works | 19:00 | Music Finland |
Balladi Ihantalasta | 3150 4 443 00012 4, speaker [pic, bcl, 2asax, tsax, barsax, btba] | 2003 | Works for Wind Orchestra | 15:00 | Music Finland |
Balladi Ihantalasta | 2222 4331 03 0, str, speaker [pic] | 2004 | Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble | 16:00 | Music Finland |
Becket | mezzo, vlc, pno | 1993 | Vocal and Choral Works | 15:15 | Music Finland |
Brass Quintet | hn, 2trp, trb, tba, perc ad libitum | 2001 | Chamber Works | 21:00 | Music Finland |
Cadenza for percussion and tape | perc, tape | 2006 | Works for Solo Instrument | 07:00 | |
Caldera Suite | 2guit | 2017 | Chamber Works | 16:30 | Music Finland |
Characteristic dances | 2222 2221 11, pno, str | 2024 | Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble | 18:00 | Music Finland |
Characters | cl, vla | 2019 | Chamber Works | 12:00 | Music Finland |
Chorale e Fughetta per Organo | org | 1980 | Works for Solo Instrument | 07:00 | Edition Tilli |
Clafacofonia | cl, bsn, hn | 1991 | Chamber Works | 08:45 | Music Finland |
Concerto for euphonium and orchestra | 1111 0000 01, str, euph solo | 2001 | Works for Soloist(s) and Orchestra | 27:00 | Hirsis-Production Ky |
Concerto for organ and orchestra | 2232 4331 12 0, str, org solo | 2006 | Works for Soloist(s) and Orchestra | 37:00 | Music Finland |
Concerto for percussion and orchestra | 2222 2200 00 0, str (22222), tape, perc solo [pic, ehn] | 2006 | Works for Soloist(s) and Orchestra | 32:00 | Music Finland |
Concerto for piano and wind orchestra | 2141 3 322 00011 3, pno solo [pic, bcl, asax, tsax, barsax] | 2011 | Works for Soloist(s) and Orchestra, Works for Wind Orchestra | 24:00 | Music Finland |
Concerto for tuba, strings, percussion and piano | perc, pno, str, tba solo | 1995 | Works for Soloist(s) and Orchestra | 25:00 | Music Finland |
Concerto for viola and orchestra | 2222 2200 10 1str, vla solo [pic] | 2004 | Works for Soloist(s) and Orchestra | 32:00 | Music Finland |
Concerto for Wind band | 3242 4 443 00011 4 | 2016 | Works for Wind Orchestra | 28:00 | Music Finland |
Der Zeitgeist | pno | 2022 | Works for Solo Instrument | 18:30 | Music Finland |
Divertimento Coreografico | fl, ob, cl, db | Chamber Works | 00:00 | ||
Divertimento Coreografico | fl, ob, cl, db | 2024 | Chamber Works | 21:00 | Music Finland |
Dreifältiger Abschied | bsn, pno | 1984 | Chamber Works | 09:00 | Music Finland |
Duet for bassoon and harp | bsn, hp | 1987 | Chamber Works | 11:00 | Music Finland |
Eriskummainen kantele | fl, vln, vlc, 4kantele, speaker | 2000 | Chamber Works | 11:00 | Music Finland |
Four bagatelles | hn, org | 2003 | Chamber Works | 21:00 | Sulasol |
Gammal Fäbodpsalm från Dalarna | fl, ob, cl, bsn, hn | 1998 | Chamber Works | 04:30 | Edition Tilli |
Hic et nunc | 3252 4 443 00012 4 [pic, Eb cl, bcl] | 2000 | Works for Wind Orchestra | 12:00 | Music Finland |
Hymnus Interruptus | org | 2013 | Works for Solo Instrument | 09:00 | Sulasol |
Insignis est figura | chx | 2017 | Vocal and Choral Works | 06:00 | Music Finland |
Itämaan tähti | 3232 4331 12 0, str, mezzo, 2ten, baryt, bass, chx | 2004 | Works for the Stage | 01:05:00 | |
Käärmesormus | cl /bcl, perc, pno/cel, vln, vla, vlc, db, mezzo, alto, speaker | 2007 | Works for the Stage | 01:15:00 | Music Finland |
Karjalainen Apollo | vlc, kantele | 1997 | Chamber Works | 08:30 | Music Finland |
Kepus Opus | ob | 2013 | Works for Solo Instrument | 08:30 | Music Finland |
K(L)ahden tornin fanfaari | 3trp, 3trb, tba | Chamber Works | 01:20 | Music Finland | |
K-Musik | bsn, pno | 1988 | Chamber Works | 09:00 | Music Finland |
Kohtauksia oopperasta Käärmesormus | mezzo. 2vln, vla, vlc, pno | 2008 | Vocal and Choral Works | 19:00 | Music Finland |
Kolme laulua G.V. Catulluksen runoihin | baryt, asax, bsn, vla, vlc, db, pno ad libitum | 2000 | Vocal and Choral Works | 15:30 | Music Finland |
Kolme legendaa | 3252 3 443 00022 4 | 2009 | Works for Wind Orchestra | 22:00 | Music Finland |
Kolme miniatyyria | vln, vla | 2009 | Chamber Works | 17:00 | Music Finland |
Kolmen kuninkaan marssi | fl, ob, cl, bsn, hn | Chamber Works | 00:00 | Music Finland | |
Kolme obinugrilaista riittiä | 2pno | 2018 | Chamber Works | 15:00 | Music Finland |
Kukkuu, kukkuu | 2231 3221 12 0, str (pic, ehn, bcl), btrb) | Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble | 03:30 | Music Finland | |
Kumartakaa valkeaa | 2222 4332 12 0, str, org, sopr, baryt, chx | 2010 | Vocal and Choral Works | 01:00:00 | Music Finland |
Kun on valmis kuusi kultainen | 2222 3221 12 0, str, chx, chc | 2010 | Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble | 06:00 | |
Kuului laulu enkelten | fl, ob, cl, bsn, hn, org, sopr solo | Vocal and Choral Works | 00:00 | Music Finland | |
Lines and Dots | bsn, vlc, pno | 1996 | Chamber Works | 13:00 | Music Finland |
Luutuille | 1111 1000 00 0, str | 1993 | Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble | 02:00 | Music Finland |
Lux Arctica | 3333 4331 12 0, str [pic, ehn, bcl, cbsn] | 2012 | Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble | 14:00 | Music Finland |
Medeia | mezzo, vln, vlc, pno | 2005 | Vocal and Choral Works | 17:00 | Music Finland |
Mein G´mut ist mir verwirret | 2232 4331 03 1,str (ehn, bcl) | Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble | 05:20 | Music Finland | |
Merenkävijän rukous | chx | 1979 | Vocal and Choral Works | 02:45 | Music Finland |
Mira | vln, pno | 1994 | Chamber Works | 14:30 | Music Finland |
Monologeja Bathsebasta | mezzo, 2vln, vla, vlc | 2010 | Chamber Works, Vocal and Choral Works | 18:00 | Music Finland |
Mosaic | fl, ob, cl, bsn, hn | 2012 | Chamber Works | 17:30 | Music Finland |
Multa kuivatkoon hänen itkunsa | bcl, perc, percad libitum, hp/synth, chf/chc, str | 2007 | Vocal and Choral Works | 05:30 | Music Finland |
Musica Seriosa | str | Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble | 14:00 | Music Finland | |
Notes | str | 1992 | Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble | 25:00 | Music Finland |
Obinugrilaiset riitit | 2222 2200 02 0, pno, str [pic, ehn, bcl] | 2008 | Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble | 32:00 | Music Finland |
Obinugrilaiset riitit 1-3 | cl, bsn, hn, pno, vln, vla, vlc | 2008 | Chamber Works | 15:00 | |
Odessan tie | fl, cl, bsn, pno, acc, 2vln, vla, vlc, db | 2020 | Chamber Works | 07:00 | Music Finland |
Organ Sonata | org | 2015 | Works for Solo Instrument | 23:00 | Sulasol |
Pantomime | vla | 2003 | Works for Solo Instrument | 14:00 | Music Finland |
Quattro strofe | tba, perc | 2012 | Chamber Works | 15:00 | Music Finland |
Quintet for Bassoon and String Quartet | bsn, 2vln, vla, vlc | 1989 | 15:30 | Music Finland | |
Quintet for Flute and Strings | fl, vln, 2vla, vlc | 1993 | Chamber Works | 25:00 | Music Finland |
Rosental | 3040 4 433 00012 4, 2trp solo, hn solo, trb, solo, tba solo [pic, bcl, 2asax, tsax, barsax] | 2018 | Works for Wind Orchestra | 08:00 | Music Finland |
Sextet for Double Bass and Chamber Ensemble | fl + pic, bsn, perc, vla, vlc, db solo | 1990 | Chamber Works | 23:00 | Music Finland |
Simple stories | fl, ob+ehn, cl | 2006 | Chamber Works | 12:30 | Music Finland |
Sinfonietta for Wind Orchestra | 3252 4 433 00012 4 | 2002 | Works for Wind Orchestra | 26:00 | Music Finland |
Solo in Re | vlc | 2001 | Works for Solo Instrument | 11:00 | Music Finland |
Sonata for Cello and Piano | vcl, pno | 2020 | Chamber Works | 20:00 | Music Finland |
Sonata per fagotto e pianoforte | bsn, pno | 1981 | Chamber Works | 17:00 | Edition Tilli |
Sonatine for piano | pno | 2020 | Works for Solo Instrument | 18:00 | Music Finland |
Stilleben | 2222 4331 04 1, str | 1997 | Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble | 12:00 | Music Finland |
String Quartet No. 1 | 2vln, vla, vlc | 2005 | Chamber Works | 30:00 | Music Finland |
String Quartet No. 2 | 2vln, vla, vlc | 2019 | Chamber Works | 17:00 | Music Finland |
String Quartet nr.3 | 2vln, vla, vlc | 2022 | Chamber Works | 18:00 | Music Finland |
Studia | 3333 4331 12 0, str [pic, bcl, cbsn] | 1994 | Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble | 17:00 | Music Finland |
Sydänvirrat | fl+pic, cl+bcl, bsn, trp, trb, perc, 2vln, vla, vlc, db, mezzo, baryt | 1996 | Works for the Stage | 01:27:00 | Music Finland |
Symphony No. 1 | 2232 4331 12 1, str [pic, bcl, cbsn] | 2002 | Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble | 37:00 | Music Finland |
Symphony No. 2 | 2222 2110 02 1, str [pic, ehn, bcl] | 2003 | Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble | 27:00 | Music Finland |
Symphony No. 3 | 2222 4331 12 1, str [pic, bcl, cbsn] | 2014 | Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble | 30:00 | Music Finland |
Symphony no. 4 | 2222 3221 11 1, str | 2018 | Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble | 30:00 | Music Finland |
Täällä pohjantähden alla | 2232 4331 12 1,str (1. fl+pic, 2. ob+ehn, 3cl+bcl, 2.bsn+dbsn, 3.trb+btrb) | Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble | 05:30 | Music Finland | |
Taivas on sininen ja valkoinen | str, hp | Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble | 06:40 | Music Finland | |
Tango Flautando | 3ob, ehn, 4bsn, cbsn | 1990 | Chamber Works | 03:00 | Music Finland |
Taperahi | fl, vln, guit | 1999 | Chamber Works | 12:00 | Music Finland |
Three movements for violin and wind orchestra | 2140 3 322 00011 3, vln solo | 2005 | Works for Soloist(s) and Orchestra, Works for Wind Orchestra | 22:00 | Music Finland |
Tithonoksen elämästä | asax/cl, vla, vlc | 1998 | Chamber Works | 18:00 | Music Finland |
Trio per tre fagotti | 3bsn | 1996 | Chamber Works | 18:00 | Music Finland |
Tuuti, tuuti, tummaistani | chx | 1979 | Vocal and Choral Works | 02:20 | Music Finland |
Un paseo en Buenos Aires | trp, vlc, pno | 2015 | Chamber Works | 00:00 | Music Finland |
Un paseo en Buenos Aires | vln, vlc, pno | 2015 | Chamber Works | 00:00 | Music Finland |
Valse sensibile | fl, ob, cl, bsn, pno, 2vln, vla, vlc, db | 1989 | Chamber Works | 00:00 | Music Finland |
Valse sensible | pno | 1989 | Works for Solo Instrument | 03:40 | Music Finland |
Variations for bassoon and piano | bsn, pno | 2010 | Chamber Works | 00:00 | Edition Tilli |
Vedet | ten, fl+afl, cl, perc, 2vln, vla, vlc, db | 1999 | Vocal and Choral Works | 21:00 | Music Finland |
Virsi 382 | 0000 3221 03 0, str | Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble | 06:10 | Music Finland | |
Von kräftigen Schlägen biszum leichten Streifen | fl+pic, ob, cl+bcl, bsn, perc, pno, vln, vla, vlc, db | 1998 | Chamber Works | 16:00 | Music Finland |
Walz for J. L. Borges | 3151 3 433 00012 3 | 2006 | Works for Wind Orchestra | 00:00 | Music Finland |
What is up, must come down | fl, asax, bsn, vla, vlc | 1998 | Chamber Works, Pedagogical Works | 10:00 | Association of Finnish Music Schools |