Rakkaus oli aluksi helppoa
by Inkeri Jaakkola
laulusarja Hafez'n runoihin
four songs on Hafez’ poems
Description
The poems of Hafez talk about passion and longing for beloved, yet they mirror longing for eternal life and paradise as well. Hafez, in his text written in the 14th century Persia, shows how mundane, erotic love is a reflection of divine, perfect love of God.
For my composition Rakkaus oli aluksi helppoa (2011) I have picked poems from several works by Hafez, translated in Finnish by professor Jaakko Hämeen-Anttila who kindly helped me with the texts and also gave advice for the pronunciation. In Rakkaus oli aluksi helppoa I wanted to combine two different musical languages: the Oriental tradition and the contemporary European style. The baritone sings his atonal, rhythmic part in Finnish. The mezzo-soprano’s freely reciting part follows Oriental makam in ancient Persian. The instruments of the ensemble support either European or Oriental musical language in turn.
It is not surprising that a cultural chiasm provokes some inconveniences. If the cultural elements have been treated as equal, valuable and interacting components, the creative process can turn into finding connections and similarities instead of holding on the cultural differences.
- Inkeri Jaakkola -
Percussion = Darbuga
Instrumentation fl, ob, perc, cemb, vlc, mezzo, baryt
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
Lyricist Hafez, translated by Jaakko Hämeen-Anttila
Movements 1. Rakkaus oli aluksi helppoa, 2. Jos tuo Shirazin turkkilainen, 3. Kunpa nuoruus olisi ikuinen, 4. Nousen nuorena jälleen
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Archive number MF31912
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