Symphony No. 3
by Joonas Kokkonen
Description
The third symphony marked the beginning of Kokkonen’s free tonal period. It differs most from the works that precede it in its colourful orchestration, which is richest in the timbral webs of the first movement. In the middle are two movements both quick but different in character, the former in the nature of a normal symphonic allegro and the latter an intermezzo. In the closing Adagio Kokkonen tried, in his own words, "to achieve a synthesis of elements of a finale and a slow movement".
© Kimmo Korhonen, November 1998
(translated by © Susan Sinisalo, February 1999)
Kolmas sinfonia merkitsee Kokkosen vapaatonaalisen kauden avausta. Suurin ero säveltäjän aiempiin orkesteriteoksiin on värikäs orkestraatio, joka on rikkaimmillaan ensiosan sointikentissä. Teoksen keskellä on kaksi nopeaa mutta eriluonteista osaa, joista edellinen on normaalin sinfonisen allegron asemassa ja jälkimmäinen toimii intermezzona. Teoksen päättävässä Adagiossa Kokkonen on omien sanojensa mukaan "pyrkinyt yhdistämään synteesiksi finaalin ja hitaan osan aineksia".
© Kimmo Korhonen, 11/1998
Instrumentation 4333 4330 12 1, pno+cel, str [pic+fl, afl, ehn, 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 Fp: 40th anniversary concert of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, cond. Paavo Berglund, Helsinki (Finland), 12 Sep 1967
Movements 1. Andante sostenuto2. Allegro3. Allegretto moderato4. Adagio
+ Add information