Kehrä
by Usko Meriläinen
A Score for Orchestra, Symphony No. 6
Description
Kehrä (meaning a round or circle) is scored for normal symphony orchestra but the overall sound is dominated by the strings. The other instruments do not, for example, join in until over a third of the way through. In the opening section Meriläinen favours translucent, even brittle timbres evocative of Webern, restrained dynamics and dense thematic motifs. The sound nevertheless grows richer as the other instrument groups join in, and the work has flashes that rapidly ignite. According to Meriläinen, the title of the work inspired in him images of “the cosiness of a dusky room”, “the disc of the sun, the source of life” and the burning, destructive force of the sun, “a sense of danger, of fear”.
Meriläinen revised the score of Kehrä in 2002-2003 and gave it the subtitle Symphony No. 6.
© Kimmo Korhonen, 1998/FIMIC 2004
(translated by © Susan Sinisalo, February 1999)
Kehrä on sävelletty normaalille sinfoniaorkesterille, mutta sointikuvaa hallitsee jousisto: esimerkiksi yli kolmannes teoksen alusta on kirjoitettu pelkille jousille. Alkujaksossa Meriläinen suosii Webernin mieleen tuovia läpikuultavia ja jopa hauraita sointeja, hiljaista dynamiikkaa sekä tiiviitä temaattis-motiivisia hahmoja. Sointikuva kuitenkin rikastuu muiden soitinryhmien liittyessä mukaan, ja teoksessa on myös nopeasti leimahtavia huipennuksia. Meriläisen mukaan teoksen nimi herätti hänessä mielikuvia sekä ”hämärän tuvan kodikkuudesta” ja ”auringon kehrästä, elämän lähteestä” että auringon polttavasta tuhovoimasta, ”vaaran tunnusta, pelosta”.
Meriläinen muokkasi Kehrän partituuria vuosina 2002-2003 ja antoi teokselle alaotsikon Sinfonia 6.
© Kimmo Korhonen, 1998/FIMIC 2004
Instrumentation 4343 4441 11 1, pno, str [pic, afl, cl in Eb, bcl, cbsn]
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 Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble
Premiere
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, cond. Sakari Oramo, Helsinki, April 18, 1997Fp (revised version): Tampere Philharmonic, cond. John Storgårds, Tampere, January 14, 2004.
Commisioned by / dedications Commissioned by the Finnish Broadcasting Company.
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Archive number MF14405
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