Kaija Saariaho
Kaija Saariaho was one of Finland’s internationally best known contemporary composers. She gained world fame in the 2000s with her original and immediately recognisable style that has evolved slowly but surely over the years. She focused on tonal colour at an early date. Electronics and new technology were also part of her musical makeup for quite some time; she found an important base in the Ircam studios in Paris, her city of residence since 1982. Melody took prominence in her work in the early 1990s and rhythm in the early 2000s. “Rich tonal colour, textures and harmonies and balancing between tone and noise are at the very core of her music,” writes Kimmo Korhonen. Instruments and the human voice exist in parallel in her output, the flute and cello being her favourite instruments. Her operas may be regarded as a sort of crowning achievement or synthesis of her output. The first of these, L’amour de loin, was premiered in 2000.
More
- Three Finnish Composers nominated for Prix de Composition Musicale
- Jari Kallio on FMQ: And ink the silence – Saariaho’s HUSH given a world premiere of flickering intensity at the Helsinki Festival
- In memoriam: Kaija Saariaho 1952–2023
- Kaija Saariaho on Wise Music Classical
- Kaija Saariaho's website
- 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 |