Symphony No. 5
by Usko Meriläinen
Symphony No.5
Yksiosainen
Description
Meriläinen has described his fifth symphony as ‘mainly lyrical’, but it does also possess a more serious-minded dimension. It is in one movement but falls into three sections consisting of two slower parts framing a more mobile central one. Meriläinen himself says that the main feature of this work is its exploration of timbre. The webs are stretched into long lines rising to intensive climaxes, and there is also some guided aleatory towards the end. The symphony is, by Meriläinen’s standards, somewhat ‘romantic’ in tone and has even been likened to Sibelius.
© Kimmo Korhonen, November 1998
(translated by © Susan Sinisalo, February 1999)
Meriläinen on luonnehtinut viidettä sinfoniaansa ”korostuksiltaan voittopuolisen lyyriseksi”, mutta teoksessa on toki myös vakavahenkisemmät ulottuvuutensa. Sinfonia on yksiosainen, mutta kolmivaiheiseksi hahmottuva kokonaisuus, jossa hitaammat jaksot reunustavat keskellä olevaa liikkuvampaa jaksoa. Meriläinen on itse maininnut keskeisenä piirteenä teoksen sointivärikehityksen. Teoksen sävelkentät venyvät pitkiksi, intensiivisiin nousuihin tiivistyviksi linjoiksi, ja loppupuolella sovelletaan myös ohjattua aleatorisuutta. Teosta on luonnehdittu Meriläisen tuotannon sisällä ”romanttiseksi”, ja sitä on verrattu jopa Sibeliukseen.
© Kimmo Korhonen, 11/1998
Instrumentation 3233 4330 12 0, str [pic, 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
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, cond. Okko Kamu, Helsinki, September 14, 1976.
Commisioned by / dedications Commissioned by the Finnish Broadcasting Company.
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