Sinfonia da camera per 12 archi
by Joonas Kokkonen
for 12 strings
Description
The Sinfonia da camera, completed at the height of Kokkonen’s dodecaphonic period, is, together with the second symphony, his most modernistic work. Scored for 12 solo strings, it falls on the border between a chamber and an orchestral work. The instruments are treated both as soloists and as groups. The germ motif is B-A-C-H, a sort of homage to the fine Bach performances of the Festival Strings Lucerne which commissioned the work. The Festival Strings also premiered the Sinfonia, affording Kokkonen his first taste of international success. Like the previous symphonic works, it is in four movements, two slow ones framing two fast. The Sinfonia has a fragmentary element akin to Webern and the motor-like drive of Bartók.
© Kimmo Korhonen, November 1998
(translated by © Susan Sinisalo, February 1999)
Kokkosen dodekafonisen kauden ytimessä valmistunut Sinfonia da camera on toisen sinfonian kanssa säveltäjän modernistisin teos. Se on kirjoitettu 12 soolojouselle ja sijoittuu lajiltaan kamari- ja orkesterimusiikin rajoille. Soittimia käytetään sekä solistisesti että suurempina ryhminä. Teoksen motiivisena ytimenä on aihe b-a-c-h, eräänlainen muisto teoksen tilaajan Festival Strings Lucernen hienosta Bach-soitosta. Saman soittajiston kantaesittämänä Sinfonia da camera oli Kokkosen ensimmäinen kansainvälinen menestys. Se on neliosainen Kokkosen aiempien sinfonisten teosten tavoin. Hitaat osat ovat reunimmaisina, nopeat keskellä. Teoksessa on sekä webernmäistä fragmentaarisuutta että bartókmaista motorisuutta.
© Kimmo Korhonen, 11/1998
Instrumentation 7vln, 2vla, 2vlc, db
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 Fp: Festival Strings Lucerne, cond. Rudolf Baumgartner, Lucerne (Switzerland), 31 Aug 1962
Movements 1. Moderato2. Allegro non troppo3. Molto vivace4. Andante
Commisioned by / dedications Commissioned by the Festival Strings Lucerne and its conductor Rudolf Baumgartner
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