Music Finland Core

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Solar is based on the idea of an ever present harmonic structure, which radiates an image around it and forces the harmony over and over again back to its original form, as if following the laws of gravity. The piece is named after this idea. This solar harmony is then contrasted with a very different kind of harmonic principle, based more on polarities.The musical material in Solar is deliberately limited. The same ideas re-appear, orchestrated in different manners, and above all in different tempi; this is another important aspect of Solar. Towards the end of the piece musical elements — registers, harmony, rhythm, tempo. orchestration — are presented in rapidly changing extremes.The two electronic keyboards have limited but clear functions. The pianist alternates at the first keyboard sounds of metal bells tuned in quarter tones. These sounds are connected to metallic percussions and the trumpet. The second keyboard, a Yamaha SY99 synthesizer, is used to complete piano and percussion textures, or to create sustained background chords and thus replace a larger string section.Solar was commissioned by Antwerp 1993, European City of Culture, for Champ d’Action.© Kaija Saariaho, ca. 1993(Chester Music Ltd.)Yksi Solarin perustavista ajatuksista on alati läsnäoleva harmoninen rakenne, joka ulottuu eri mittakaavoihin ja pakottaa harmonisen kulun yhä uudelleen kohti tätä perusrakennetta, kuin painovoiman lakeja seuraten. Tämä idea on antanut kappaleelle nimen Solar, joka viittaa aurinkoon ja aurinkokuntaan. Tämä ’aurinkokeskeinen’ harmonia-ajattelu on sitten asetettu vastakkain aivan toisenlaisen, vastakohtaisuuksiin perustuvan harmoniakehittelyn kanssa.Olen tarkoituksellisesti rajoittanut Solarin musiikillisen materiaalin selkeästi havaittaviin tapahtumiin, jotka ilmestyvät kappaleen kuluessa yhä uudelleen, eri tavoin orkesteroituina ja ennen kaikkea eri tempoissa. Kuljettaessa kohti loppua toisiaan seuraavat jaksot ovat yhä vastakohtaisempia, kun eri elementit – rekisterit, harmonia, rytmi, tempo, soitinnus – nopeasti vaihtuvat ja äärimmäisyydet seuraavat toisiaan.Kahdella kosketinsoittajalle on rajattu, mutta tärkeä tehtävä. Pianisti soittaa ajoittain mikrotonaalisesti (1/4-sävelaskelin) viritettyjä kellosointeja, joilla on yhteys metallilyömäsoitinten ja trumpetin maailmaan. Toinen kosketinsoittaja soittaa SY 99 -syntesoijaa, joka täydentää pianon ja lyömäsoitinten tekstuuria tai tuo taustaa muille soittimille, korvaten näin jossakin määrin suuremman jousiston.© Kaija Saariaho, n. 1993D'après le compositeur, Solar « est fondée sur l'idée d'une structure harmonique permanente, qui diffuse tout autour d'elle son image et renvoie continuellement l'harmonie à sa forme originelle, comme si elle obéissait aux lois de la gravitation. L'oeuvre a été baptisée d'après cette idée. »© Risto Nieminen, 1994© Ircam - Centre Georges-Pompidou, 1994(From Kaija Saariaho, Ircam 1995)

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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