Sphinx Flowers
by Perttu Haapanen
Description
I can, in a way, define my own music in relation to the things I like right now in the music of others. Such elements are dynamism (stimulating rather than static), mobility (which is not the same as speed), nuance and richness of accent (which does not as such mean complexity), and poetry (which is why I prefer Chopin to Liszt). While I was composing this work, my mind was, for certain reasons, occupied by thoughts such as the following:
What do I want to hear now? What, in the ethical sense, should people be composing right now? How do I stand in relation to tradition? To what are we accustomed/have we accustomed ourselves? To what extent is the abstraction of musical factors independent of style fruitful? Is the job of contemporary music merely to reflect styles, traditions or music policy in some way or another? Instrumental quality? The heavy rock of the 80s?
© Perttu Haapanen (2004)
(translated by © Susan Sinisalo)
Omaa musiikkiani voin eräällä tapaa määritellä suhteessa siihen, mistä itse pidän tällä hetkellä muiden musiikissa. Näitä elementtejä ovat esimerkiksi dynaamisuus (stimuloivuus staattisuuden sijaan), herkkäliikkeisyys (joka ei ole sama kuin nopeus), äänenpainojen vivahteikkuus ja rikkaus (mikä ei suoraan tarkoita kompleksisuutta), runollisuus (mistä syystä pidän Chopinistä Lisztiä enemmän). Tämän teoksen sävellysaikana mielessäni pyöri erinäisistä syistä seuraavan kaltaisia asioita:Mitä haluan kuulla nyt? Mitä eettisesti ottaen nykyään pitäisi säveltää? Mikä on suhteeni traditioon? Mihin olemme tottuneet/totuttautuneet? Miten pitkälle tyylistä riippumaton musiikillisten tekijöiden abstrahointi on hedelmällistä? Onko nykymusiikin oikeutus ainoastaan reflektoida tyylejä, traditioita tai musiikkipolitiikkaa tavalla jos toisella? Soittimellisuus? 80-luvun hevirock?
© Perttu Haapanen (2004)
Instrumentation 1111 2110 01 0, pno, str (11111) [fl+pic, ob+ehn, cl+bcl, bsn+cbsn, btrb]
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
Zagros Ensemble, cond. Susanna Mälkki, Helsinki, March 29, 2003
Movements 1. Moon Flower (Ipomea alba), 2. Poppy (Papaver somniferum)
Commisioned by / dedications Commissioned by the Zagros Ensemble
PDF for promotional use Download
Archive number MF17631
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