Kaija Saariaho
Kaija Saariaho was a leading voice of her generation, and one of Finland’s internationally best known composers. Her original and recognisable style evolved slowly over the years, with six operas becoming a kind of synthesis for her output, regarded as classics already in her lifetime.
Among instruments, she had a close relationship with flute and cello. Her studies and research at Ircam studios in Paris was of crucial importance to her, and she often combined live musicians with electronics.
More
- saariaho.org
- Kaija Saariaho on Wise Music Classical
- Three Finnish Composers nominated for Prix de Composition Musicale
- In memoriam: Kaija Saariaho 1952–2023
- Jari Kallio on FMQ: And ink the silence – Saariaho’s HUSH given a world premiere of flickering intensity at the Helsinki Festival
- Special Feature on FMQ (2022): Kaija Saariaho 70
- Kaija Saariaho's music on Spotify
| Title | Instrumentation | Year | Category | Duration | Available from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adjö | sopr, fl, guit | 1985 | Vocal and Choral Works | 10:00 | Music Finland |
Adriana Mater | 3332 4431 14 1, 2pno, str, sopr, mezzo, ten, bbaryt, chx (pic, afl, bcl, cbsn, pno+cel) | 2004 | Works for the Stage | 02:00:00 | Chester Music |
Adriana Songs | 3332 4431 14 1, pno, str, mezzo | 2006 | Vocal and Choral Works | 20:00 | Chester Music |
Aer | fl, cemb/keyb, perc, hp, vln, vla, vlc, live electr | 1991 | Chamber Works | 17:00 | Edition Wilhelm Hansen |
Aile du Songe | 3perc, cel, hp, str, fl solo [str: 76544] | 2000 | Works for Soloist(s) and Orchestra | 18:00 | Chester Music |
...à la fumée | 4342 4331 14 1, pno, synth, asax, str, afl solo, vlc solo [4fl+4pic+4afl, 3cl+3cl in Es, 1bcl, str: 16-14-12-10-8.] | 1990 | Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble | 18:00 | Edition Wilhelm Hansen |
Amers | pic, ob, cl, bcl, 2cor, 2perc, hp, 2keyb, tape, vlc solo | 1992 | Chamber Works | 18:00 | Chester Music |
Arabesques et adages | pno | 2017 | Works for Solo Instrument | 07:00 | Chester Music |
Ariel's Hail | sopr, fl, hp | 2000 | Vocal and Choral Works | 03:00 | Chester Music |
Asteroid 4179: Toutatis | 3332 6431 23 2, cel, str | 2005 | Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble | 04:00 | Chester Music |
Aure | vln, vla | 2011 | Chamber Works | 05:00 | Chester Music |
Aurora | fhn, trb, perc, pno, guit | 1979 | Chamber Works | 03:00 | |
Ballade | pno | 2005 | Works for Solo Instrument | 05:00 | Chester Music |
Bruden | sopr, 2fl, 2perc | 1977 | Vocal and Choral Works | 10:00 | |
Caliban's Dream | basso, afl, cemb, vlc | 1995 | Vocal and Choral Works | 03:00 | Chester Music |
Caliban's Dream | baryt, cl, mand, guit, hp, db | 1992 | Vocal and Choral Works | 03:00 | Chester Music |
Calices | vln, pno | 2009 | Chamber Works | 10:00 | Chester Music |
Canvas | fl | 1978 | Works for Solo Instrument | 05:00 | Music Finland |
Cartolina per Siena | tape | 1979 | Electro-acoustic Works | 03:00 | |
Cendres | afl, vlc, pno | 1998 | Chamber Works | 10:00 | Chester Music |
Changing Light | sopr, vln | 2002 | Vocal and Choral Works | 03:00 | Chester Music |
Château de l'âme | 2222 2431 13 1, pno, str, sopr solo, 8 female voc | 1995 | Vocal and Choral Works | 25:00 | Chester Music |
Ciel d'Hiver | 2222 4221 12 1, cel, pno, str | 2013 | Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble | 10:00 | Chester Music |
Ciel étoilé | db, perc | 1999 | Chamber Works | 04:00 | Chester Music |
Cinq reflets de l'Amour de loin | 4333 4231 14 2, pno, str, sopr, baryt [2.fl+afl, 3.fl+pic, 4.fl+pic+afl, 3.ob+ehn, 3.cl+bcl, 3.bsn+cbsn] | 2001 | Vocal and Choral Works | 30:00 | Chester Music |
Circle Map | 2232 4231 14 1, pno, cel, str, electronics [pic, afl, bcl, cbsn] | 2012 | Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble | 26:00 | Chester Music |
Cloud Music |
| 1997 | Electro-acoustic Works | 30:45 | |
Cloud Trio | vln, vla, vlc | 2009 | Chamber Works | 15:00 | Chester Music |
Collisions | version for tape | 1986 | Electro-acoustic Works | 01:00:00 | |
Concordia | vln, vlc | 2017 | Chamber Works | 20:00 | Chester Music |
Couleurs du vent | afl | 1998 | Works for Solo Instrument | 11:00 | Chester Music |
Dance des flocons I | str [vlns I-II, vlcs] | Chamber Works | 00:00 | Henry Lemoine | |
Danse des flocons II | 2vln | Chamber Works | 00:00 | Henry Lemoine | |
...de la terre | vln, live electr | 1991 | Works for Solo Instrument | 14:00 | Edition Wilhelm Hansen |
Die Aussicht | fl, guit, vln, vlc, sopr | 1996 | Vocal and Choral Works | 04:00 | Chester Music |
Dolce tormento | pic | 2004 | Works for Solo Instrument | 06:00 | Chester Music |
D'om le vrai sens | 2231 4100 14 1, cel, str, cl solo [pic, afl, ehn, cl in Eb, bcl, cbsn] | 2010 | Works for Soloist(s) and Orchestra | 25:00 | Chester Music |
Du cristal | 4342 4221 14 1, pno, synth, str:16-14-12-10, 8 [1fl+pic, 3fl+pic+afl, 1cl+cl in Es, 1bcl+cbcl, 1fag+cfag] | 1990 | Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble | 18:00 | Edition Wilhelm Hansen |
Duft | cl | 2012 | Works for Solo Instrument | 10:00 | Chester Music |
Du gick, flög | mezzo, pno | 1982 | Vocal and Choral Works | 04:00 | Fennica Gehrman |
Echo | 2sopr, alto, cten, 2ten, 2basso, live electr | 2007 | Vocal and Choral Works | 10:00 | Chester Music |
Émilie | soprano and orchesta (1111/2110/12, harpsichord, strings, live electronics) | 2008 | Works for the Stage | 01:20:00 | Chester Music |
Etant donné le bleu | tape | 1993 | Works for the Screen, TV and Radio | 03:00 | |
Fall | hp, live electr | 1991 | Works for Solo Instrument | 05:00 | Edition Wilhelm Hansen |
Fanfaari | 2fl, 2ob, 2cl, 2cor, 2trp, trb, tba, 2perc | 1990 | Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble | 01:00 | |
Ferdinand's Comfort | sopr, baryt, fl, vln, vlc, db, hp/pno | 2004 | Vocal and Choral Works | 04:00 | Chester Music |
Figura | 2vln, vla, vlc, pno, cl solo | 2016 | Chamber Works | 00:00 | Chester Music |
Folia | db, tape | 1995 | Works for Solo Instrument | 13:00 | Chester Music |
Forty Heartbeats | 1111 2111 12 1, pno, str | 1998 | Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble | 03:00 | Chester Music |
Four Leino Songs | Vocal and Choral Works | 00:00 | |||
Frises | vln, electr | 2011 | Works for Solo Instrument | 20:00 | Chester Music |
From the Grammar of Dreams | sopr, mezzo | 1988 | Vocal and Choral Works | 10:00 | Edition Wilhelm Hansen |
From the Grammar of Dreams | voc, live electr | 2004 | Vocal and Choral Works | 00:00 | Chester Music |
Gates | fl, cemb, vlc, live electr | 1991 | Chamber Works | 11:00 | Edition Wilhelm Hansen |
Graal théâtre | 2232 4221 04 1, pno+cel, str, vln solo [2cl+bcl. 12 I vl, 10 II vl, 8 vla, 6 vlc, 4 cb.] | 1994 | Works for Soloist(s) and Orchestra | 30:00 | Chester Music |
Graal théâtre (chamber version) | fl/pic, ob, cl, bcl, bsn, 2cor, trp, trb, 2perc, hp, pno, 2vln, vla, vlc, cb, vln solo | 1997 | Chamber Works | 30:00 | Chester Music |
Grammaire des rêves | sopr, alto, 2fl, hp, vla, vlc | 1988 | Vocal and Choral Works | 11:00 | Edition Wilhelm Hansen |
Horloge, tais-toi! | chf, pno | 2006 | Vocal and Choral Works | 04:00 | Chester Music |
Hush | 2222 4000 13 0, cel, str (pic, afl, ehn, bcl), trp solo | 2023 | Works for Soloist(s) and Orchestra | 25:00 | Chester Music |
Il pleut | sopr, pno | 1986 | Vocal and Choral Works | 02:00 | Edition Wilhelm Hansen |
Iltarukous | sopr, pno | 2000 | Vocal and Choral Works | 03:00 | Chester Music |
Im Traume | vlc, pno | 1980 | Chamber Works | 10:00 | Edition Wilhelm Hansen |
Innocence | 3333 4231 14 1, pno, cel, str, 2sopr, mezzo, ten, 2bar, folk voc, singing actors, chx (SATB) | 2018 | Works for the Stage | 01:45:00 | Chester Music |
Io | 3000 2011 02 1, pno+cel, 2vln, vla, vlc, db, tape, live electr [1bfl, 2fl+2pic+2afl] | 1987 | Chamber Works | 16:00 | Edition Wilhelm Hansen |
Jardin secret I | tape | 1985 | Electro-acoustic Works | 10:30 | |
Jardin secret II | cemb, tape | 1986 | Works for Solo Instrument | 11:00 | Edition Wilhelm Hansen |
Je sens un deuxième coeur | vln, vlc, pno | 2003 | Chamber Works | 15:00 | Chester Music |
Jing | sopr, vlc | 1979 | Vocal and Choral Works | 07:30 | Music Finland |
Jingle pour le Centre Georges-Pompidou | tape | 1992 | Other | 00:05 | |
Jingle "Suomi 75 vuotta" | tape | 1991 | Electro-acoustic Works | 00:11 | |
Kesäpäivä | children's choir | 2006 | Vocal and Choral Works | 00:00 | |
Kollisionen | perc, live electr | 1984 | Works for Solo Instrument | 01:00:00 | |
Kolme preludia | sopr, org | 1981 | Vocal and Choral Works | 06:00 | Music Finland |
Laconisme de l'aile | fl | 1982 | Works for Solo Instrument | 07:00 | Edition Wilhelm Hansen |
La Dame à la licorne | tape | 1993 | Electro-acoustic Works, Multimedia Works | 00:00 | |
L'Amour de loin | 4333 4231 51 2, pno, sopr solo, mezzo solo, baryt solo, chx [2fl+afl, 3fl+pic, 4fl+pic+afl, 3ob+ehn, 3cl+bcl, 3bsn+cbsn | 2000 | Works for the Stage | 02:00:00 | Chester Music |
La Passion de Simone | 3222 4221 13 1, pno, cel, str, chx, sopr solo | 2005 | Vocal and Choral Works | 01:15:00 | Chester Music |
Laterna Magica | 3332 6431 13 12 str picc, afl, cfg | 2008 | Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble | 20:00 | Chester Music |
Leinolaulut | 2222 4220 12 1, cel, str, sopr [pic, afl, cbsn] | 2007 | Vocal and Choral Works | 13:00 | Chester Music |
Les fantômes du temps | percussions and tape | Multimedia Works | 00:00 | ||
Lichtbogen | fl, hp, pno, 2vln, vla, vlc, cb, perc, live electr [fl+pic+afl.] | 1986 | Chamber Works | 19:30 | Edition Wilhelm Hansen |
Light and Matter | vln, vlc, pno | 2014 | Chamber Works | 12:00 | Chester Music |
Liisan taikahuilu | fl | 1998 | Pedagogical Works, Works for Solo Instrument | 03:00 | Music Finland |
Lonh | sopr, live electronic | 1996 | Vocal and Choral Works | 18:00 | Chester Music |
Lumen valosta | vocal ensemble | 2003 | Vocal and Choral Works | 00:00 | Chester Music |
Lumière et Pesanteur | 3222 4221 13 11 str picc, cfg | 2009 | Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble | 06:00 | Chester Music |
Luonnon kasvot | voc, pno | 2013 | Vocal and Choral Works | 00:00 | Chester Music |
Maa | fl, hp, 2perc, cemb+synth, vln, vla, vlc, live electr | 1991 | Works for the Stage | 01:30:00 | Edition Wilhelm Hansen |
Maan varjot | 3332 4231 13 1, str, org solo [pic, afl, ehn, ebcl] | 2013 | Works for Soloist(s) and Orchestra | 15:00 | Chester Music |
Message pour Gérard | mezzo, afl, perc, hp, vln, vla, vlc, db | 2000 | Vocal and Choral Works | 04:00 | Chester Music |
Mirage | sopr, vlc, pno | 2007 | Works for Soloist(s) and Orchestra | 12:00 | Chester Music |
Miranda's Lament | cl, hp, vla, db, sopr | 1997 | Vocal and Choral Works | 05:00 | Chester Music |
Miranda's Lament | sopr, fl/cl, hp, vln/vla, vlc/db | Vocal and Choral Works | 06:00 | Chester Music | |
Mirrors | fl, vlc | 1997 | Chamber Works | 04:00 | Chester Music |
Monkey Fingers, Velvet Hand | pno | 1991 | Works for Solo Instrument | 05:00 | |
Neiges | 8vlc | 1998 | Chamber Works | 15:00 | Chester Music |
Nej och inte | 2sopr, 2alto/chf | 1979 | Vocal and Choral Works | 05:00 | Music Finland |
New Gates | fl, vla, hp | 1996 | Chamber Works | 13:00 | Chester Music |
NoaNoa ('Fragrant') | fl+computer, harmonizer [[fl+computer (reverberation with LPX-15 sound processor+prerecorded], material on SyQuest 88Mb HD-device, switched by flutist).] | 1992 | Works for Solo Instrument | 00:00 | Chester Music |
Nocturne | vln | 1994 | Works for Solo Instrument | 06:00 | Chester Music |
Notes on Light | 4232 4000 14 1, pno, cel, str, vlc solo | 2006 | Works for Soloist(s) and Orchestra | 28:00 | Chester Music |
Nuits, adieux | sopr, alto, ten, basso, chx | Vocal and Choral Works | 12:00 | Chester Music | |
Nuits, adieux | sopr, alto, ten, basso, live electr | 1991 | Vocal and Choral Works | 10:00 | Edition Wilhelm Hansen |
Nymphea (Jardin secret III) | 2vln, vla, vlc, live elect | 1987 | Chamber Works | 00:00 | Edition Wilhelm Hansen |
Nymphea Reflection | str | 2001 | Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble | 18:00 | Chester Music |
Offrande | vlc, org | 2014 | Chamber Works | 06:30 | Chester Music |
Oi kuu | bfl, vlc | Chamber Works | 06:00 | Edition Wilhelm Hansen | |
Oi kuu | bcl, vlc | 1990 | Chamber Works | 06:00 | Edition Wilhelm Hansen |
Oltra mar | 4444 4441 13 1, pno, str, chx [3fl+afl,4fl+pic] | 1999 | Vocal and Choral Works | 15:00 | Chester Music |
Only the Sound Remains | kantele, fl+afl+bfl, perc, 2vln, vla, vlc, electr, voc ens (SATB), cten solo, bbaryt solo | 2015 | Works for the Stage | 01:30:00 | Chester Music |
Orion | 4444 6431 24 2, pno, org, str (3.fl+afl+picc, 4.fl+picc, 4.ob+ehn, 4.bsn+cbsn) | 2002 | Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble | 25:00 | Chester Music |
Petals | vlc, live electr | 1988 | Works for Solo Instrument | 09:00 | Edition Wilhelm Hansen |
Piipää | 2voc, tape, live electr | 1987 | Multimedia Works | 01:00:00 | |
Pilvimusiikkia |
| 1997 | Electro-acoustic Works | 00:00 | |
Prelude | pno | 2007 | Works for Solo Instrument | 07:30 | Chester Music |
Preludi - Tunnustus - Postludi | sopr, pno | 1980 | Vocal and Choral Works | 04:00 | Music Finland |
Près | vlc, live electr | 1992 | Works for Solo Instrument | 18:00 | Chester Music |
Prisma | 1999 | Multimedia Works, Pedagogical Works | 19:00 | ||
Prospero's Vision | baryt, cl, hp, vln, db | 2002 | Vocal and Choral Works | 05:00 | Chester Music |
Quatre instants | sopr, pno | 2002 | Vocal and Choral Works | 20:00 | Chester Music |
Quatre instants (version for orchestra) | 2222 2000 02 1, cel, str, sopr | 2002 | Vocal and Choral Works | 00:00 | Chester Music |
Quatre messages | 2sopr, fl, hp [fl+afl+pic] | 1999 | Vocal and Choral Works | 00:00 | Chester Music |
Reconnaissance | chx, perc, db | 2020 | Vocal and Choral Works | 20:00 | Chester Music |
...sah den Vögeln | sopr, fl, ob, vlc, pno, live electr | 1981 | Vocal and Choral Works | 17:00 | Music Finland |
Sept papillons | vlc | 2000 | Works for Solo Instrument | 00:00 | Chester Music |
Serenatas | perc, vlc, pno | 2008 | Chamber Works | 14:00 | Chester Music |
Six Japanese Gardens | perc, live electr | 1993 | Works for Solo Instrument | 10:00 | Chester Music |
Skotten i Helsingfors | tape | 1983 | Electro-acoustic Works | 00:00 | |
Solar | fl+pic, ob, cl, trp, 2perc, hp, pno, synth, vln, vla, db | 1993 | Chamber Works | 18:00 | Chester Music |
Sombre | voc, bfl, perc, hp, db | 2012 | Vocal and Choral Works | 18:00 | Chester Music |
Song for Betty | 4333 4231 14 1, pno, str [pic, afl, oboe d'amour, ehn, str: 76543] | 2001 | Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble | 04:00 | Chester Music |
Spins and Spells | vlc | 1996 | Works for Solo Instrument | 08:00 | Chester Music |
Stilleben | tape | 1987 | Electro-acoustic Works | 22:00 | |
Study for Life | female voc, tape [Valo.] | 1980 | Vocal and Choral Works | 18:00 | |
Study II for Life | tape | 1981 | Electro-acoustic Works | 12:00 | |
Sua katselen | soprano and piano | Vocal and Choral Works | 00:00 | Chester Music | |
Suomenkielinen sekakuorokappale | chx | 1979 | Vocal and Choral Works | 08:15 | Music Finland |
Suuri illusioni | tape | 1985 | Works for the Screen, TV and Radio | 01:25:00 | |
Sydän | soprano and piano | 2006 | Vocal and Choral Works | 00:00 | Chester Music |
Tag des Jahrs | 2sopr, mezzo, cten, 2ten, basso, live electr | 2001 | Vocal and Choral Works | 15:00 | Chester Music |
Tag des Jahrs | chx, tape | 2001 | Vocal and Choral Works | 15:00 | Chester Music |
Terra Memoria | 2vln, vla, vlc | 2007 | Chamber Works | 00:00 | Chester Music |
Terrestre | fl solo, perc, hp, vln, vlc | 2002 | Chamber Works | 10:00 | Chester Music |
The Bosun's Cheer | speaker, fl/vln, vlc, db | 2014 | Chamber Works | 04:00 | Chester Music |
The Tempest Songbook | soprano and baritone, flute, clarinet, harp, guitar and mandoline, violin, viola, cello and double bass | Vocal and Choral Works | 21:00 | Chester Music | |
Three interludes and other music to "Skotten i Helsingfors" | 1983 | Works for the Stage | 30:00 | ||
Three Leino Songs | Vocal and Choral Works | 06:00 | Chester Music | ||
Tocar | vln, pno | 2010 | Chamber Works | 08:00 | Chester Music |
Trans | 2121 4121 13 0, str, hp solo | 2015 | Works for Soloist(s) and Orchestra | 20:00 | Chester Music |
Trois rivières | 4perc, live electr | 1994 | Chamber Works | 16:00 | Chester Music |
Trois rivières Delta | perc, live electr | 2000 | Works for Solo Instrument | 15:00 | Chester Music |
True Fire | 3232 4331 13 1, str, baryt solo | 2014 | Works for Soloist(s) and Orchestra | 25:00 | Chester Music |
Überzeugung | 3female v /chf, perc, vln, vlc [perc=crotale] | 2001 | Vocal and Choral Works | 02:00 | Chester Music |
Unien kieliopista | 2 sopranos, flute, viola, cello, harp | Works for the Stage | 00:00 | ||
Valon ihme | tape | 1991 | Works for the Screen, TV and Radio | 32:00 | |
Vent nocturne | vla, live electr | 2006 | Works for Solo Instrument | 15:00 | Chester Music |
Verblendungen | 2111 4111 02 1, pno, asax, 8vln, 5vla, 3vlc, 2db, tape [afl+pic, fag+cfag, trb+btrb, tba+btba in F,cb 5str] | 1984 | Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble | 13:25 | Edition Wilhelm Hansen |
Vers le blanc | tape | 1982 | Electro-acoustic Works | 15:00 | |
Vista | 3443 4431 13 0, str [ehn, bcl, cbsn] | 2019 | Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble | 00:00 | Chester Music |