Music Finland Core

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How do you approach Ludwig van Beethoven for a conversation? For my 
part, I wanted to tread lightly so as not to be intimidating or to be 
overwhelmed. To find a starting point for the conversation I chose the 
same orchestral forces that Herr van Beethoven used for most of his 
symphonies – double woodwinds, two horns, two trumpets, timpani and 
strings – also allowing me to share his alphabet.What struck me when reading the fascinating Konversationshefte 
(Conversation Books) of Beethoven, was how the themes ranged from 
household practicalities or where to find the best ‘kaffeehaus’ to 
sublime philosophical matters.These sharp contrasts were how he lived, always able to change mood 
within a second. Beethoven seemed to be nervously adapted to this: going
 from the unexpected to the next unexpected seemed perfectly natural. So
 from this I was inspired to embrace contrast rather than avoid it, with
 no fear of sharp cuts.It was not, and could never have been the intention for me as a 
21st-century composer to try and remake a masterpiece à la Beethoven. 
That would be just ridiculous. But, what I could do was to bring up some
 Beethovenian quotes, as you do when politely asking about an idea which
 your much more experienced colleague has raised. What does this quote 
actually mean and how can it be interpreted?As for quotes from his music, I wanted to only use a few, namely the 
eleventh bar of the slow movement in the Piano Sonata “Les Adieux” Op. 
81a, the astonishing sequence at the end of the first movement of the 
Second Symphony with the rising chromatic bass line covering the entire 
octave, and the opening chord of the Finale of the Ninth Symphony.The utterly modern ‘dissonances’ speak for themselves and the conversation is happening in the music. As it should.Magnus Lindberg (August 2020)

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

Absence