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The Architecture of Happiness
by Matthew Whittall
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<p>The Architecture of Happiness borrows its title from a book by the Swiss-British writer Alain de Botton, which I found around the time Hannu Lintu asked me for a new work to open the Finnish Radio Symphony's 2014-15 season. Somewhat perversely, I’d suggested a virtually static piece with little in the way of climax. Flashing his trademark smirk, Hannu replied, “Write me something…” and held his hands wide apart to suggest a monumental statement of some sort. “Of course, if you want, a big adagio somewhere would be appropriate.” </p><p>Normally drawn to the outside world in composing, de Botton’s writings turned my thoughts to the ways in which we build our domestic environments, and what our living spaces express about us. I began to think formally in terms of construction versus “natural”-sounding evolution, materials and forms crafted and connected rather than simply found or stumbled upon. (Though I often compare my way of writing music to the processes of nature, just as often I look upon a new piece as a house I'm forced to inhabit for a set period. The ways in which I make that time pleasant are just as artificial and planned, in a way, as a walk in the woods.)</p><p>While de Botton’s book is ostensibly a historical primer on aesthetic values in architecture, his central theme is beauty: how we perceive it, how we create it, what it means for a thing to be beautiful, and for us to find it so. As he says in one of his lectures, “To become sensitive to beauty is also to lay yourself open to a lot of disappointment and pain.” One emerges with a deep sense of the contextuality of beauty, how the meaning of the word fluctuates with time, and yet whose essential nature is somehow immutable. Other threads include the reconciling of tradition and innovation, as well as the broad consensus on aesthetic values necessary for a piece of public art – an orchestral piece, for instance – to resonate.</p><p>That said, the book was merely a starting point, and any further resemblance is very much in the ear of the beholder. The music begins with a hushed chorale of diatonic string chords, material from a recent, rather fractured ensemble piece that I had wanted to take in a more architectonic direction. Out of this wash of sound a simple, repeated-note pulse arises, and from these two building blocks – harmony and rhythm at their most basic – I drew the blueprint for the rest. Much of the tension of the piece derives from the contrast between motion and stasis, and the fluidity with which the usual markers of these two states are made to take on characteristics of the other. Fast pulses become a static field, joyous motion takes on larger arch-shapes that make the process sound slower, and a landscape of still, quiet chords covers more ground in a few bars than much longer spans of rhythmic activity. My intent was to create a flow of music that, while frequently quite busy, manages to remain quite still. (This perhaps also illustrates a certain stubborn need to ultimately get my way, while still happily fulfilling dictates from patrons.)</p><p>Though I strove to focus purely on the beauty of abstract forms, I should acknowledge one personal note. The "big adagio" idea suggested by Hannu, a near-ambient, tuneless mass of slowly morphing harmonies beginning halfway through the piece, took on elegiac tones following the death of my first teacher of composition – of music – whose influence was central to my formation. As one of the principal architects of my current happiness, I hope this piece serves as a monument to his life.</p><p>Matthew Whittall</p>
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Lasten Keskus
Robert Lienau Musikverlag
Schirmer
Savonlinna Opera Festival
Musiikki Andante
Akademiska musikförlaget
Suvini Zerboni
Ascolta Music Publishing
Publisher: in 1962 as MC facsimile in a journal “Ruoveden Joulu 1962”
Suomalaisen kirjallisuuden seura
Kustannus-Toimisto Tieto
Raittiuskansan kirjapaino
F-Musiikki
Kansallinen kirjakauppa
Bluebird Music Oy AB
Carlander Torsten
E. Pietiläinen
YLE
Music Ilari
Chappell Music ltd
Otto Murentini Ky
Robert King Music Sales
julk. Förlaget Bro
7ikko-kustannus Ay
Barents
Hohner Verlag
EK-Production Oy
Boosey & Hawkes
Sicron Musikverlag
Warner/Chappell
Edda Music
Edda Music
Toivo Kuula -seura & Sulasol
Edition Gehrman
Nils-Georgs Musikförlags Ab
Finlands svenska Kyrkosångsför
Lundholm
F-Kustannus
Published in compilation Uudet Siionin Laulut ja Virret (1975)
Edition 7
Brages förlag / Sulasol
Muntra Musikanter
julk. Bruk, Fridrich
Like (julk.)
Henry Lemoine
Suomen Sinfoniaorkesterit ry
Yhteiskustannus
Rautatien Soittajat
Ricordi
Published in compilation Siionin Laulut (Suomen Rauhanyhdistysten Keskusyhdistys 1977)
Helsingin ortodoksinen seurakunta
Ostinato
Published in Chorus series 14, Fazer (1961)
Publisher: Musikverlag Josef Weinberger
Karjalan Laulu
United Music Publshing Ltd
Artemusa
The Academy of Finnish Art Song
Bo Ejeby Förlag
Holms Förlag
Suomen kirkkomusiikkiliitto ry
Published in compilation Siionin Laulut ja Virret (Suomen Rauhanyhdistysten Keskusyhdistys 1963)
Weilin & Göös
Augener
Alouettes Editions Sarl
Valistus
Aikamedia
Edition Durand
Divertimento
Edition Elvis
Publisher: Pirkan musiikkituotanto Oy
Third prize in Luses Big Band Competition in 1987
Not available
SatnaMusic Publishing
Published by the composer
Körlings Förlag
Hämeen läänin taidetoimikunta
Tuba-Euphonium Press
Bärenreiter
Published in Otavan Laulukerho IV
Erik Lindström Kustannus
Uusinta Publishing Company
Gehrmans Musikförlag
Rockadillo
Polarvox
Published in Laulukerho IV (Otava 1951)
Savolaisen osakunnan laulajat
Publisher: Sound In
Suomen Laulu
SLEY
Nordiska musikförlaget
Friisilän Musiikki
Released by the Finnish Broadcasting Company
Edition TROY
Beuermann
Scandinavian Music Interest
Modus Musiikki
Publisher: Musical Works (Beijing)
Fenix
Gummerus
Siionin Laulut ja Virret (Suomen Rauhanyhdistysten Keskusyhdistys 1963)
Publisher (no. 1): ArtEmusa
KYL - Kauppakorkeakoulun Ylioppilaskunnan Laulajat
Puijon laulu ry
Otava
FSKO
Musiikki mosse oy
Edition Pine
SÄVELTÄJÄ POISTANUT
Edition Reimers
Publisher (no. 1): Selvät Sävelet
Publisher: Edition JLe
Kansalliskuoro
Edita
Lindgren
Eskimo Music
Carlander-Reuterfelt
Alex Freeman Music
Edition Peters
Karjalan kirjakustantamo
Edition Musact
Lahden kans.väl.urkuviikko ry.
Edizioni Sconfinarte
Salabert
Sällskapet M.M.
Vee-Music
TomiRaisanen.com
Laulu-Miehet
Suomen Mieskuoroliitto
Åbolands sång- och musikförbund
Love Records & Kaj Chydenius
Published in compilation Siionin Joulu (1965)
Published in compilation Siionin Laulut (Suomen Rauhanyhdistysten Keskusyhdistys 2000)
Ylioppilaskunnan Laulajat
Peters
manus
Silver Burdet
A-Minor Production
Kanteleliitto
Ab Svenska Läromedel
LARI-Invest Oy
Ruslania Edition
Publisher: Chanterelle Verlag/MEL BAY
Förlaget Bro
Breitkopf & Härtel
Teemu Halmkrona Music
Lindström Erik (ED)
Donemus
Ampleforth
Laulukerho V (Otava 1958)
Fennica Gehrman
Palonen Rauno
Tuomisaari yhtiö
SKUL/SKML
Julk. Matti Rag Paananen
Kirkkohallitus
[withdrawn]
Birdsong Music Publishing
Hirsis-Production Ky
Ongaku No Tomo Sha Copr.
Yrjö Weilin
[original version withdrawn]
Edition Tre Fontane
Henri Delrieu
Harmonikansoiton opettajat ry
Pohjois-Karjalan kansanmusiikki- ja tanhuliitto ry.
Arvo Räikkönen
Sulasol, Novello
Suomi Loosi 1
Sävel
Faber Music
Bote & Bock
Publisher: Tritonus Magazine 1978-1980
Abr. Lundquist
Edition Tilli
Sulasol
Doblinger
lauriporra.com
Tactus
Edlund G.W.
Antti Sarpila Oy
Atena
Päivä
Musiikki-Pukkila
Edition Eero Nallinmaa
Finlands svenska sång-och musikförbund
julk. Karjal. kultt. edistämissäätiö
Ortodoksisen kirjallisuuden julkaisuneuvosto
Leduc
Publisher: (songs 1-2) 1904, Lindgren
Antero Hytinkoski
Acta Musica
Publisher: Kirkon jumalanpalvelus- ja musiikkitoiminnan keskus
Elkan & Schildknecht
Filarmonica
Publisher: Viitanen Music Edition Oy
Opus Musicus
Ambitone Oy
Liewendal
Annie Bank
Simrock
Prima vista
Publisher: Lahti Male Choir
Fazer, Valitut palat
[not available]
Dallapé Kustannus Oy
Published in Laulukerho IV, Otava 1951
Sibelius-Akatemian kansanmusiikin osasto
Palonen Kalle
MAHTAAKO OLLA OLEMASSA?
Viipurin lauluveikot
Polytech Choir
Hug
Chester Music
Billaudot
Skandinavisk Musikförlag
Isdatelctvo "Musika"
Brages förlag
Suomen kunnallisliitto
Naiskuoroliitto
Publisher: SHI
Heikki Sarmanto music shop
Evankelis-luterilainen yhdisty
Lundquist
Periferia Music
Compozitor Publishing House
Suomen Kanttori-urkuriliitto
Finnish Accordion Teachers' Association
Noteline
Weltmusik
Herättäjä-yhdistys
Published in Laulukerho V (Otava 1958)
Imudico
[lost, only a sketch exists]
Edition Eres
Tactus, Sulasol
Finnish Accordion Institute
Pelastakaa Lapset ry
Helsingfors Nya Musikhandel
H.N.White
Publisher: Viitanen Music Edition Oy (1975 version)
Dorn Publications
Helin-Sons Oy
LeBaron Music
Blosari
Imagine Music Publishig
Schildts
Sikorski
[lost]
Tuomas Kantelinen Music
SK-Gehrmans Musikförlag
Kadonnut
Jäger Hugo
Rautatien soittajat
Wesslin Music
Publisher: Valistus 1953; [not available]
Laulukerho IV (Otava 1951)
Julk. Siba
Friisilän musiikki oy
Suomen kuoroliitto
Mårtensong OY/AB
julk. Valistus
UNC Jazz Press
Éditions À Coeur Joie
Editions Musicales Transatlantiques
Publisher: FSSMF
Metropolis Music Publishers
WSOY
Publihhed in compilation Siionin Laulut (Suomen Rauhanyhdistysten Keskusyhdistys 1977)
Bells
Edition Svitzer
Lundholm C A
Musikverlag Josef Weinberger GmbH
Kirkon keskusrahasto/Sulasol
Körlings förlag
Hans Busch Musikförlag
Publisher: Edition Modern
Lieman
Svenska Sång- och Musikförbund
BRS Music
Carl Gehrmans Musikförlag
Edward B. Marks Music Corporat
Publisher: Centre for Worship and Music of the Evangelican-Lutheran Church of Finland
Modern
Kirkkomusiikkiliitto
Uusi Suomi
Publisher: Scandia
Published in compilation Siionin Laulut ja Virret (Suomen Rauhanyhdistysten Keskusyhdistys 1963/2000)
Pianokoulu Vivo 2, Otava
Libito
Finlands Svenska Kyrkosångsför
Syrene Music
Julk. Kalevan Laulajat
Fischer Carl INC
TRN Music Publisher Inc.
Schott Music
Suomen musiikkikirjatoyhdistys r.y.
Västnyländska kultursamfundet
Seesaw-Music corp
Kirkon keskusrahasto
Publisher (No. 34): Edition Kontrapunkt
Pianokoulu Vivo 3, Otava
Published in compilation Pääsiäissana (1979)
Zen Master records & Publis
Engstrom & Sodring
Romain-Dorkin Company OY
Tammi
Verlag Neue Musik
Publisher: Chanterelle Verlag, Germany
STM-Music
Love Kustannus Oy
Kuva ja sana
Kalevan laulajat
Suomen Pasuuna- ja Tuubaseura
EMI
Kansanmusiikki-instituutti
Publisher: J.H. Music
Schlesinger
Suomen naiskuoroliitto ry
Edward B. Marks
Published in compilation Siionin Laulut ja Virret (Suomen Rauhanyhdistysten Keskusyhdistys 1975)
Mirandos
Norsk Musikförlag AS
SPOL
[Withdrawn. Arabescata (1962) named as Symphony no. 4 in 1986]
Novello
saulizinovjev.com
Publisher (no. 1): Helsinki University Chorus (YL)
Kansanvalistusseura
Holms förlag
Edition Wilhelm Hansen
Opus musicus
Publisher: in 1964 as MS facsimile in a journal “Kangasalan joulu 1964”, s.8
Zen-On Music Co
Musikvetenskapliga Seminariet
Coda
Kompass records
Association of Finnish Music Schools
Svenska folkskolans?
Lahti Organ Festival
Universal Edition
Recital Music
Publisher: JKC
Reimers
Sortavalan Evankelinen Seura
Gross Music
Published in compilation Siionin laulut (Suomen Rauhanyhdistysten Keskusyhdistys 2000)
Publisher: AMEE, Spain
Suomen M.M.M. Suur-Loosi
Musikvetenskapliga seminariet
[probably lost; location not known]
Publisher: Church Year of the Missions 1970
julk. Uspenskin katedraalin mieskuoro
Editio Musica
Turun tähtituotanto Oy
[withdrawn; song 2-3 lost]
Musica experta
Chorus