Oi vauva, minulla on ne siniset
by Jaakko Mäntyjärvi
o infant, i am in possession of the ultramarines, O infant, I am in possession of the ultramarines
Description
When I was approached to write a piece for a recording dedicated to choral arrangements of songs by well-known Finnish troubadour-style singer and songwriter J. Karjalainen, I could not help thinking that the idea was a bit strange. But, with tongue firmly in cheek, I decided to do an ‘instrumental’ number, with the choir singing in scat. The result echoes a smoky cabaret, with the melody moaning away in languorous triplets over a steady bass ostinato. The curious title attempts to recreate the fact that the original Finnish title is an ultra-literal translation of 'Oh baby, I got the blues'.
© Jaakko Mäntyjärvi, 2002
Kun minua pyydettiin tekemään kappale levylle, joka oli omistettu J. Karjalaisen laulujen kuorosovituksille, pidin ajatusta hieman outona. Mutta kieli tiukasti poskessa päädyin lopulta tekemään ’instrumentaalin’, jossa kuoro laulaa scat-tekstiä. Lopputuloksessa on kaikuja savuisesta kabareesta, jossa melodia naukuu pitkinä trioleina muuttumattoman basso-ostinaton yllä. Otsikko on tietenkin sanatarkka käännös sanonnasta 'Oh baby, I got the blues'.
© Jaakko Mäntyjärvi, 2002
Instrumentation chx
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 Vocal and Choral Works
Premiere
University of Turku Student Union Choir, cond. Tapani Saarinen, Turku, May 2001.
Commisioned by / dedications Commissioned by the University of Turku Student Union Choir.
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