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The three works entitled Yta, written in the 1980s, form a coherent cycle related to the world of Meeting. They are characterized by the constantly living, nervous virtuoso movement of the texture, which however does not proceed dynamically like a drama but is more monolithic. The title, Yta, means ‘surface’ in Swedish.The opening work, Yta I for alto flute (1982) has a significant tempo indication: ‘Presto, meccanico nervoso’. The work flows in a relentless chain of notes. The clearly audible breathing sounds dire not due to the flautist's faulty technique; Salonen has entered these sounds into the score as if to emphasize the extreme breathlessness of the piece.The next movement to be completed was Yta II for piano (1985). The programme note accompanying it is one of Salonems most laconic: "I have tried to learn something from crystals, snow and ice." Even in its brevity, this conveys something essential of the lucid sound world of the work centred in the high register and proceeding at virtuoso speed. The same work gains a wholly different sound yet retains its original character when performed in the version for harpsichord arranged by Jukka Tiensuu in 1987 [Yta IIb].The last movement of the Yta cycle to date is Yta III for cello (1987). Like its two predecessors, it demands a virtuoso performer and has a continuous forward drive. There is also something desperate in its relentlessness; the cello here is not a queen of cantilena but, to quote Salonen’s metaphor, like a dragonfly trying to take off with burnt wings.© Kimmo Korhonen 1999(translated by © Jaakko Mäntyjärvi)(from Finlandia CD 398423409-2, 1999)Kolme 1980-luvulla syntynyttä Yta-teosta muodostavat ilmaisultaan varsin yhtenäisen sarjan, joka liittyy samaan maailmaan kuin Meeting. Kaikille niistä on ominaista tekstuurin alituiseen elävä, virtuoosisen hermostunut liike, joka ei kuitenkaan ole draaman tapaan jännitteisesti etenevää vaan enemmänkin esineellistynyttä. Otsikko Yta tarkottaa “pintaa”.Jo teossarjan avaavalla, alttohuilulle kirjoitetulla teoksella Yta I (1982) on kuvaava esitysmerkintä: "Presto, meccanico nervoso". Teoksesta rakentuu hellittämättä eteenpäin rientävä, katkeamaton sävelnauha. Esityksestä kuuluvat hengitysäänet eivät ole merkki huilistin puutteellisesta tekniikasta, vaan Salonen on kirjoittanut ne mukaan partituuriin kuin korostakseen teoksen äärimmilleen vietyä hengästyttävää luonnetta.Seuraavaksi Yta-sarjasta valmistui pianolle sävelletty Yta II (1985). Sen teoskommentti kuuluu Salosen lakonisimipiin - "Olen yrittänyt oppia jotain kiteistä ja kristalleista, lumesta ja jäästä" - mutta ilmaisee sellaisenakin jotain olennaista teoksen läpikuultavan kirkkaasta, ylärekisteriä korostavasta sointimaailmasta, johon yhdistyy taiturillinen nopealiikkeisyys. Sama teos on saanut hyvin toisenlaisen sointiasun mutta rikkomatta alkuteoksen henkeä, kun se esitetään Jukka Tiensuun vuonna 1987 laatimana cembaloversiona [Yta IIb].Toistaiseksi Yta-sarjan viimeinen teos on sellolle kirjoitettu Yta III (1987). Se on kahden edeltäjänsä tavoin virtuoosista ja alituiseen eteenpäin rynnistävää musiikkia. Samalla sen hellittämättömyydessa on myös jotain epätoivoista; sello ei tässä ole mikään leveän cantilenan kuningatar vaan muuatta Salosen omaa vertausta käyttääksemme kuin palanein siivin lentoon yrittävä korento.© Kimmo Korhonen, 1999(Finlandia CD 3894-23409-2, 1999)

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Movements

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Abbreviation	Instrument
Woodwind
acl	alto clarinet
afl	alto flute
arec	alto recorder
asax	alto saxophone
barsax	baritone saxophone
barhn	baritone horn
bcl	bass clarinet
bfl	bass flute
bob	bass oboe
bsax	bass saxophone
bsn	bassoon
cbsn	contrabassoon
cl	clarinet
ehn	English horn
fl	flute
hn	French horn
ob	oboe
pic	piccolo
rec	recorder
sax	saxophone
srec	soprano recorder
ssax	soprano saxophone
trec	tenor recorder
tsax	tenor saxophone
Brass
ahn	alto horn
atrb	altotrombone
barhn	baritone horn
btrb	bass trombone
cornet	cornet
euph	euphonium
fhn	flugelhorn
hn	French horn
tba	tuuba
thn	tenor horn
trb	trombone
trp	trumpet
Percussion
dr	drums
glock	glockenspiel
mar	marimba
perc	percussion
timp	timpani
vibr	vibraphone
xyl	xylophone
Strings
db	double bass
gamba	viola da gamba
str	strings
vla	viola
vlc	cello
vln	violin
Other
acc	accordion
cel	celesta
cemb	harpsichord
chords	chords
elbas	electric bass
elg	electric guitar
elorg	electric organ
elpno	electric piano
guit	guitar
harm	harmonium
hca	harmonica
hp	harp
instr	instrument
kantele	kantele
keyb	keyboard
live electr	live electronics
mand	mandolin
mel	melody
org	organ
pno	piano
synth	synthesizer
tape	tape
Vocal
alto	alto
baryt	baritone
basso	bass voice
ch	choir
chc	childrens choir
chf	female choir
chm	male choir
chx	mixed choir
cten	countertenor
mezzo	mezzo-soprano
sopr	soprano
speaker	speaker
ten	tenor
voc	vocal

Symphony orchestra
2222 4331 11 1, str = 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 French horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, one other percussionist, harp and strings
Wind band
2252 3 423 21212 3 = 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 5 clarinets, 2 bassoons - 3 saxophones - 4 French horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones - 2 cornets, alto horn, 2 tenor horns, baritone horn, 2 tubas - 3 percussionists
Big band
221 4 4, pno, guit, db, dr = 2 alto saxophones, 2 tenor saxophones, baritone saxophone, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, piano, guitar, double bass, drums
Additional codes
+	fl+pic = flutist doubles on piccolo
/	pno/org = can be played on either piano or organ
lib	ad libitum
obl	obligato
str	str: 65432 = specified number of string players
str min	str min: 65432 = at least 65432
str max	str max: 65432 = not more than 65432
solo	vln solo = violin is the solo instrument in a work not obviously for solo violin