Play Op. 10
by Jaakko Kuusisto
for clarinet, violin, cello and piano
Description
The composition process of Play was one of the most pleasant ones I've ever experienced. It was commissioned by one of the finest festivals, Kuhmo Chamber Music, for a combination of instruments that I felt comfortable with, and, on top of it all, I knew all along that I would have the opportunity to premiére the piece with the best possible colleagues I could imagine: Asko Heiskanen, clarinet, Marko Ylönen, cello, and Paavali Jumppanen, piano.
Inspiration for the music came easily; my experiences of the Kuhmo festival and the Finnish summer came together in a combination of hectic rhytms, drama, and the summer nights where the sun never sets. My music has always been rhytmical; here I wanted to combine that with broad melodies and lush harmonies, with some reference to American music, due to my studies there some years before.
Knowing in advance who the musicians would be, it was important for me to make the piece enjoyable to play. There are no impossible technical traps, but each part is soloistic in its own way, trying to demonstrate the best of the instrument. All in all, when playing this music (or listening to it), it is important to keep in mind all possible different meanings the title can take.
© Jaakko Kuusisto 8/2002
Instrumentation cl, vln, vlc, pno
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 Chamber Works
Opus no. op. 10
Premiere
Asko Heiskanen, clarinet, Jaakko Kuusisto, violin, Marko Ylönen, cello, Paavali Jumppanen, piano, Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival, July 21, 1998.
Commisioned by / dedications Commissioned by the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival.
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Archive number MF14600
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