Music Finland Core

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When bassoonist Emanuel Elola asked me in 1965 to write him a piece, I was excited by the task and viewed it as a challenge. Three years later I returned to the piece and wrote a new version. At that time I was in the process of slowly recovering from an unavoidable phase of so-called ‘experimental modernism’. This can be seen, for example, in the monologue for bassoon multiphonics (in other words chords produced via unorthodox fingerings) which appears at the end of the first movement, itself a dialogue between the bassoon and the piano. The work continues without a break with an Energico section, followed by a grotesquely romantic Barcarolle which complements the latter in the manner of a trio, and it is rounded off with a quick finale section. All this unfolds as a continuous narrative, since, looked at from one analytical perspective, the whole work can be viewed as a set of variations based on the twelve-note row announced in the first few bars. Here, as elsewhere, however, a ‘narrative’ perception of the piece, i.e. one which follows the musical story being told, may be a more helpful way of approach the piece for the listener.© Einojuhani RautavaaraKun soolofagotisti Emanuel Elola vuonna 1965 pyysi minua säveltämään teoksen fagotille, pidin tehtävää haastavana ja jännittävänä. Kolme vuotta myöhemmin laadin vielä uuden version sävellyksestä. Noihin aikoihin olin vasta hitaasti toipumassa ns. kokeellisen modernismin välttämättömästä vaiheesta seurauksena esimerkiksi multifoneilla eli fagotin moniäänisillä soinnuilla tapahtuva monologi, joka lyhyen kadenssin tavoin sijoittuu pianon kanssa keskustelevan alkuosan loppuun. Välittömasti seuraa Energico-jakso, sitten ikäänkuin triona groteskisti romanttinen Barcarolle, ja lopulta nopea finaalivaihe. Kaikki tämä tauottomana kertomuksena, sillä jos analyyttisesti asennoituu, voi kokonaisuuden myös käsittää muunnelmasarjaksi ensimmäisten tahtien 12-sävelrivistä. ’Narratiivinen’ suhtautuminen eli soivan tarinan seuraaminen voi olla tässä – kuten muuallakin – antavampaa.© Einojuhani Rautavaara

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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

Sonata for Bassoon and Piano