Sade avaa
by Lotta Wennäkoski
Rain opens
Description
The starting point to Sade avaa (Rain opens) was a poem by a famous Finnish modernist Eeva-Liisa Manner. The poem begins with the same words: 'Rain opens the sleeper's ears/ rain opens the shadows for the walker/ rain opens your listening, the promenade inwards./ (---)
Nevertheless, my aim was not to follow the details of the text or to write program music. Rather I found the poem an inspiring muse in composing: my dream was that the music would tell the poem in a sort of secret language - it would express something, which we still wouldn't exhaustively understand.
Sade avaa was commissioned by the Finnish Broadcasting Company. Its premiere took place in Musica nova Helsinki in March 1999. The soloist was Heikki Nikula, for whom the work is also dedicated.
© Lotta Wennakoski
Teoksen Sade avaa lähtökohtana oli Eeva-Liisa Mannerin samoilla sanoilla alkava runo: Sade avaa korvat nukkujalle / sade avaa varjot kulkijalle / sade avaa kuulon, kävelyn sisäänpäin./(---)
Tarkoitus ei ollut toteuttaa tekstin yksityiskohtia ohjelmamusiikin tavoin, vaan runo toimi sävellystyössä pikemminkin inspiroivana muusana. Haaveena oli, että musiikki kertoisi runoa salakielellä; ilmaisisi jotakin, mitä emme kuitenkaan tyhjentävästi ymmärtäisi.
Sade avaa oli Yleisradion tilaus, ja se sai kantaesityksensä oman sävellyskonsertin yhteydessä Helsingin Musica nova -tapahtumassa maaliskuussa 1999. Solistina toimi Heikki Nikula, jolle teos on omistettu.
© Lotta Wennakoski, 7/1999
Instrumentation fl, ehn, bsn, hn, perc, vln, vla, vlc, db, bcl solo
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 Soloist(s) and Orchestra
Premiere
Heikki Nikula, bass clarinet, Zagros Ensemble, cond. Hannu Lintu, Musica nova Helsinki, March 8, 1999
Commisioned by / dedications Commissioned by the Finnish Broadcasting Company. Dedicated to Heikki Nikula
PDF for promotional use Download
Archive number MF14296
+ Add information