Music Finland Core

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Description

<p>Far out to sea in Stockholm’s northeastern archipelago lies the remote island of Källskär in the Sea of Åland.  From the highest rock on this secluded island, a large statue of the Greek god Hermes dominates the skyline.  This particular statue, known as the Roman Mercury, is a copy of Giovanni da Bologna’s sixteenth-century original.  Hermes stands with one foot on a column of air pouring from the mouth of Zephyr, Greek god of warm spring winds, poised to fly away in Zephyr’s breeze.  In his hand is the caduceus magic staff with two snakes wrapped around it, the symbol of alchemy, astrology, and peace.</p><p>When Isomäki sailed with her family around this Finnish archipelago on the Baltic Sea, this prominent sculpture fascinated her, and Hermes of Källskär thus became the inspiration for her composition for piano, two trumpets, trombone, and French horn.  Each of the four movements evokes some aspect of the island in its harsh geographical setting and ever changing seasons.  The first movement, The View of Hermes, describes the bare rocks of the coast and a view of the open sea in summer, with Hermes sometimes wrapped in mist but always full of life.  In the harsh winter of the second movement, Hermes Hibernates, the birds have flown south, the sea has frozen, daylight is scarce, and Hermes must hibernate to survive the treacherous winds which literally destroy the island’s harbor every winter.  The third movement, Spirit of the Island, portrays the merciless nature of the archipelago, which is always ready to mock and destroy any work of human hands.  In the fourth movement, Hermes and the Sea, the dramatic struggle ends and nothing remains but the sound of the waves.</p>

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

Källskärin Hermes