Mao the Chow-Chow
by Markus Fagerudd
Description
Helsingin kaupunginorkesteri tilasi vuonna 1992 useilta säveltäjiltä lyhyitä ”eläinaiheisia” orkesterikappaleita konserttiin, jonka teemana oli jatkaa Eläinten karnevaaleja. Kohderyhmä oli ns. perheyleisö. Fagerudd päätti paneutua kiinanpystykorvansa Maon sielunelämään ja sävelsi viisiminuuttisen, monityylisen orkesteriteoksen, jossa ilmaisukeinot vaihtelevat värikkäästi marssista dodekafoniaan.
”Piti tulla koira, mutta tulikin susi”, on säveltäjä kuvannut teosta, joka ei hänen mielestään tavoita riittävän tehokkaasti kohdeyleisöään: lapsille teos on kenties liian vaikeaselkoinen, aikuiselle puolestaan nykymusiikiksi turhan helppo.
Kaupunkikoiran elämähän on nukkumista, syömistä ja ulkona pissaamista. Mao makasikin aina pianon vieressä nukkumassa sävellysvaiheessa. Kun säveltäjä pienellä valkoisella valheella kuljetti teoksensa päähenkilön kantaesitykseen ohi Finlandia-talon vahtimestareitten (”Tästä eivät mene opaskoiratkaan!”), Mao sävellyksen alkaessa tavoilleen uskollisena otti ja nukahti heti.
© Osmo Tapio Räihälä, 10/1998
Instrumentation 3333 4331 12 0, str [pic, ehn, 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
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, cond. Sakari Oramo, Helsinki, November 25, 1992
Commisioned by / dedications Commissioned by the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra for Children's Festival
PDF for promotional use Download
Archive number MF13544
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