Description

In December 2017, Kai Ruskeepää inquired about my willingness to compose a concerto for him. It was easy to say yes, as I know him to be a gifted saxophone player and uncompromising artist. As the composition progressed, we pondered playing technical matters related to the soloist part and the instrument, but also other questions related to music, art and life. Through these conversations, he influenced the music my pen wrote.

The Saxophone Concerto KAI (2021) is a traditional solo concerto. It has three movements in the traditional format of fast-slow-fast. I tried to incorporate the feeling of moving through time on an emotional level into the sounding fabric. Music itself is movement in time.

The piece begins with a cadenza-like introduction. The impulsive basic atmosphere of the first movement is built on a dialogue between strong, flashy memories and the present moment.

The second movement is based on the ideas of timelessness and dualism. There are several songs without words, i.e. melodies or themes. They are presented both independently and as intertwined musical textures. Sometimes the saxophone soloist finds partners in the orchestra, with whom duets develop. The strongest partner is the English horn, with which the movement begins and also ends.

The third movement begins like the first movement with a cadenza. Then the part squirms and aches restlessly.

At the heart of the underlying emotional charge is, on the one hand, rhythmic repetition, on the other hand, surprising rhythms and a feeling of being out of control. The role of percussion instruments is emphasized. The ultimate question hangs in the air, is there an alternative to the competitive and comparative deployment that seemingly controls life?

Juha Pisto

Instrumentation

3242 4 443 00022 4, hp, db, asax solo

Category

Works for Soloist(s) and Orchestra, Works for Wind Orchestra

Premiere

Kai Ruskeepää, alto saxophone, The Guards Band, Aino Koskela, cond. September 16, 2021, Helsinki

Movements

1.Takaumia - Flashbacks, 2. Sanaton laulu - Song without words, 3. Levottomat sormet - Restless Fingers

Commisioned by / dedications

Commissioned by and dedicated to saxophone artist Kai Ruskeepää.

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More

• Listen to Juha Pisto's KAI on YouTube

Archive number

MF35321

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