Symphony No. 3
by Usko Meriläinen
Description
When Meriläinen began working on his third symphony, he wanted, in his own words, to create ‘spontaneous’, ‘cheerful’ music. The material nevertheless began to acquire a life of its own and the work ended up being serious and intense. Meriläinen says: “The work presents a mosaic-like stream of colours ending in tragic shades…” It is based on two musical embryos: a rising melodic motif on the strings and a single-note crescendo that breaks down into a miniature cluster of three notes. The first of the embryos dominates the more mobile movements (the first and third), the second the slow movements (the second and fourth), culminating in what the composer describes as an ‘orchestral shout’ in the closing movement.
© Kimmo Korhonen, November 1998
(translated by © Susan Sinisalo, February 1999)
Kun Meriläinen alkoi säveltää kolmatta sinfoniaa, hän halusi luoda omien sanojensa mukaan ”välitöntä” ja ”ilomielistä” musiikkia. Materiaali alkoi kuitenkin elää omaa elämäänsä, ja teoksesta tuli varsin intensiivinen ja vakavahenkinen. Meriläinen totesi: ”Teos muodostaa traagisiin sävyihin päätyvän mosaiikkimaisen sävyjen virran...” Lähtökohtana on ollut kaksi musiikillisen materiaalin alkusolua: jousten nouseva melodia-aihe sekä yhden äänen crescendo, joka murtuu kolmen sävelen pienoisclusteriksi. Soluista ensimmäinen hallitsee liikkuvampia osia (ensimmäistä ja kolmatta), toinen hitaita osia (toista ja neljättä) ja tiivistyy päätösosassa säveltäjän sanoin ”orkestraaliseksi huudoksi”.
© Kimmo Korhonen, 11/1998
Instrumentation 3233 4230 12 0, cel, str [2fl+2pic, cl+bcl, cfag.]
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. Jorma Panula, Helsinki, December 9, 1971.
Movements 1.Andante, 2.Lento assai, 3.Allegro giocoso.
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