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Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano is dedicated to Olli-Pekka Tuomisalo and Risto-Matti Marin. The saxophone and piano parts are equally virtuosic. A playing technique called “altissimo”, which means playing ultra high pitches, sets a special demand for saxophone player. Rippling surfaces formed by different kinds of thrills and tremolos are a typical element in piano part. Sonata contains strikingly rythmical episodes with running scales of saxophone as well as peaceful, timbre-centred episodes. One may also hear echoes of jazz music in some places.The form of this one-part sonata is a kind of variation of traditional sonata form. Most important themes are vivid and running main theme and meditative secondary theme. The simple melody of the secondary theme is coloured with piano's one-note repetitions that expand gradually to large, rippling chords. The rather large development section represents some new material besides of familiar themes. The second half of the development section is in 7/8 time and contains figures that are staggering as if they were falling. In the end of the piece after saxophone’s solo cadenza the main theme appears as a "rocking" variation. After that the theme becomes merged in scales that are running back and forth. When the music has already faded away, the main theme performs it’s last, desperate attack.© Juho MiettinenTässä Olli-Pekka Tuomisalolle ja Risto-Matti Marinille sävelletyssä virtuoosisessa sonaatissa saksofoni ja piano ovat tasavertaisessa asemassa. Erityisvaatimuksia saksofonistille asettavat mm. äärimmäisen korkealta ns. altissimo-soittotekniikalla soitettavat äänet. Eräs piano-osuuden leimallinen piirre ovat erilaiset trillien ja tremoloiden muodostamat väreilevät pinnat. Sonaatti sisältää toisaalta iskevän rytmikkäitä jaksoja lurittelevine saksofoniosuuksineen ja toisaalta seesteisiä, sointiväreillä maalailevia jaksoja. Jazz-musiikin kaikujakin saattaa olla paikoin kuultavissa.Yksiosaisen sonaatin kokonaisrakenne on eräänlainen muunnelma perinteisestä sonaattimuodosta. Toisaalta sonaatin ainoan osan voi toisaalta nähdä pitävän sisällään useaosaisen sonaatin. Teoksen tärkeimmät aiheet ovat vilkas ja luritteleva pääteema sekä pohdiskeleva sivuteema. Sivuteeman leijailua värittävät aluksi pianon yksiääniset repetitiot, jotka laajenevat vähitellen laajoiksi väreileviksi arpeggioiksi. Laajassa kehittelyjaksossa käytetään tuttujen teemojen lisäksi myös tuoretta materiaalia. Jakson jälkipuoli etenee 7/8-tahtilajissa ja se sisältää kuviointeja, jotka hoippuvat ikään kuin olisivat kaatumaisillaan. Teoksen lopussa, saksofonin soolokadenssin jälkeen kuullaan pääteemasta rokkaava muunnelma, minkä jälkeen teema liukenee vähitellen edestakaisiin juoksutuksiin. Musiikin jo hiivuttua palaa pääteema viimeiseen hullunrohkeaan syöksyynsä.© Juho Miettinen

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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

Sonaatti alttosaksofonille ja pianolle