Concerto for Orchestra
by Usko Meriläinen
Description
The Concerto for Orchestra marks the climax of Meriläinen’s early neoclassical period while at the same time looking ahead to new stylistic elements. It also incorporates some of the ideas he picked up on a Darmstadt summer course he attended while composing the work in 1956. More than anything the effective rhythms point to the neoclassical school. The innovative elements include the greater chromaticism of the melodies (such as the 12-note motif of the canon with which the first movement opens) and the thickening of the texture into what at times resemble web-like shapes.
© Kimmo Korhonen, November 1998
(translation Susan Sinisalo, February 1999)
Konsertto orkesterille huipentaa Meriläisen varhaisen uusklassisen kauden, mutta avaa samalla tietä eteenpäin kohti uudenlaisia tyyliaineksia. Osittain mukana on virikkeitä, joita Meriläinen sai kesken teoksen säveltämisen vuonna 1956 tekemältään opintomatkalta Darmstadtin kesäkursseille. Uusklassismin perintöön viittaa ennen muuta tehokas rytmiikka. Uudenlaisia aineksia ovat kromaattisemmaksi tullut melodiikka - esimerkiksi ensiosan avaavan kaanonin perustana oleva 12-sävelinen aihe - sekä paikoin kudoksen tihentyminen kenttämäisiksi hahmoiksi.
© Kimmo Korhonen, 11/1998
Instrumentation 3232 4231 12 0, str [2pic]
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
Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, cond. Usko Meriläinen, November 23, 1956.
Movements 1.Moderato, 2.Allegro con brio, 3.Adagio, 4.Allegro molto.
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Archive number MF61
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