Music Finland Core

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When Antero Karttunen, Head of Music at the Finnish Broadcasting Company ordered a radiophonic work by me, I thought: what would be more natural than to celebrate Spring, when Nature awakes after the long nordic winter! I have always been fascinated by natural phenomena, the sounds of birds, and their-mating rituals. My summer villa, on the west coast of Finland, is built on an overgrown dune which the black cocks have long used as their mating place. Once, looking out of my window, I could follow at close range the magnificent spectacle of the black cocks rushing towards one another in furious battle. Since then, I have been carried away by the ecstatic spell every time that I have seen and heard the black cocks’ crooning in springtime.Some years ago I composed a work for baritone and mixed choir, an enthusiastic celebration of Spring. I decided to use this composition in the radiophonic work. I have added a reciter who introduces the listener to the text, which in a comprised form expresses Man’s ecstasy at the miracle of Spring. So, the first movement is based on the choral work Springtime.The second movement is a mating dance. The Australian Catbird (Dunatella carolinensis) prepares a special mating place which it decorates with leaves and flowers. There it executes a mating dance with its chosen one, which it hypnotizes. The Catbird has inspired an instrumental duo for flute and alto saxophone.In the third movement you will recognize elements from the previous movements. This material is elaborated and the two instruments are brought into relief against the birdcalls of the earlier movements and, electronically processed, partly blend into them.Man’s fascination with Spring is reflected in the words: “I lost my soul to springtime” and “bring my soul back to me in springtime”.© Erik Bergman, 1981Au printemps Op. 95Quand le chef des services musicaux de la Radio finlandaise, Antero Karttunen, m’a commandé une oeuvre radiophonique, je me suis dit: quoi de plus naturel que de rendre hommage au Printemps, quand la Nature s’éveille après le long hiver septentrional! J’ai toujours été fasciné par ce qui se passe dans la nature; le chant-des oiseaux et leurs jeux de pariade. Mon villa d’été, sur la côte ouest de la Finlande, a été construit sur une dune recouverte de verdure, endroit préféré de pariade des coqs des bois. Une fois, assis a ma fenêtre, j’ai assisté de près au spectacle magnifique des coqs des bois se ruant l’un sur l’autre dans une lutte acharnée. A partir de ce moment, j’ai été emporté par l’extase chaque fois que j’ai vu ou entendu la pariade des coqs des bois au printemps.Il y a quelques années, j’ai composé une oeuvre pour baritone et choeur mixte, Springtime, un hommage enthousiaste au printemps. J’ai donc décidé d’utiliser cette composition dans l’oeuvre radiophonique. J’ai ajouté un recitateur qui introduit l’auditeur au texte qui, sous une forme comprimée, exprime l’extase de l’homme devant le miracle du printemps. Le premier mouvement est donc basé sur l’oeuvre chorale Springtime.Le deuxième mouvement est une danse de pariade. L’oiseau australien ‘Catbird’ (Dunatella carolinensis) prépare un endroit qu’il décore avec des feuilles et des fleurs et là il exécute cette danse avec son élue, qu’il hypnotise. ‘Catbird’ pour sa part a inspire un duo instrumental pour flute et saxophone alto.Dans le troisième mouvement on reconnaît des éléments des mouvements précédents. Cette matière est élaborée, les deux instruments sont mis en relief contre les cris d’oiseaux des mouvements antérieurs et, electroniquement traites, s’y fondent partiellement.La fascination de l’homme face au printemps est reflétée par les mots: “I lost my soul to springtime” (J’ai perdu mon âme au printemps) et “bring my soul back to me in springtime” (rendez-moi mon âme au printemps).© Erik Bergman, 1981

Year of composing

Arranger

Movements

Availability

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

In Springtime