Crimes Of The Past
by Olli Virtaperko
for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Description
Composing "Crimes of the Past" was a modest attempt to find out if there was anything good in the traditions of dodecaphony and "modern" jazz that could be converted into relevant, present-day musical expression. The list of musically insulting aspects of dodecaphony and jazz would be too long to be included here, but there are certain things that I actually sort of do appreciate in them. In the case of dodecaphony it can – at its best – provide listener with a strong feeling of freedom, space and expressional independence. In jazz the same thing can be achieved with the aid of improvisation.
In "Crimes of the Past" I studied what happens, if one composes a piece where the previously mentioned strengths of dodecaphony and jazz are combined. To my ears the output was a surprise – to put together appreciative characteristics of jazz and dodecaphony seems to be leading to somewhat "romantic" result. That was a surprise indeed.
© Olli Virtaperko, November 2007
Kappaleelle "Crimes of the Past" (2006) lähtökohdan tarjosi dodekafonian ja "modernin" jazzin musiikillisten ilmaisukeinojen tutkiminen. Tarkoituksenani oli selvittää, löytyisikö niistä mitään hyvää – sellaista, joka muokattuna voisi tarjota itselleni relevantin musiikillisen ilmaisun lähtökohdan. Dodekafonian ja jazzin musiikillisten rikosten lista on liian pitkä tässä yhteydessä käsiteltäväksi, mutta joitakin aspekteja niissä arvostan. Dodekafonia voi – harvinaislaatuisessa ideaalitapauksessa – tarjota kuulijalle vahva tunteen vapaudesta, tilasta ja ilmaisullisesta riippumattomuudesta. Jazzissa sama voidaan saavuttaa improvisaation kautta. "Crimes of the Past" tutkii sitä, mitä tapahtuu, jos edellä mainittuja dodekafonian ja jazzin vahvuuksia yhdistellään uuteen musiikilliseen kontekstiin. Itseni lopputulos jossain määrin yllätti: jazz + dodekafonia = romanttinen ilmaisu? Yllättävää, indeed!
© Olli Virtaperko, helmikuu 2008
Instrumentation asax, pno
Instrument codes
| 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 |
Coding for instrument ensembles and orchestras
| 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 |
Category Chamber Works
Premiere
Joonatan Rautiola, alto saxophone, Marko Hilpo, piano, Time of Music festival, Viitasaari, July 7, 2007.
Commisioned by / dedications Commissioned by Joonatan Rautiola.
PDF for promotional use Download
Archive number MF19989
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