La face d'une grand ville
by Ernest Pingoud
Suurkaupungin kasvot
Description
This was originally composed as ballet music, though it was premiered in 1937 specifically as a concert work (and the 6th movement was omitted). The ballet was first staged in Helsinki in 1941. The Face of the City is a series of mood paintings: factories and neon lights evoking the romantic appeal of engines and futurism, a procession of unemployed people plodding along in the manner of a Mahlerian funeral march, and city night life: the waltz and tango rhythms of the dance halls and a dreamy, sensuous piano.
© Kimmo Korhonen, 3/2000 (translated by © Susan Sinisalo)
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La face d'une grande ville (Suurkaupungin kasvot) on sävelletty alun perin balettimusiikiksi, vaikka sen ensiesitys oli vuonna 1937 nimenomaan konserttiteoksena (jolloin 6. osa jätettiin pois). Ensimmäinen näyttämötoteutus oli Helsingissä 1941. Suurkaupungin kasvot on erilaisia tunnelmia maalaileva sarja, jonka ulottuvuuksia ovat koneromantiikkaa ja futurismia edustavat osat Tehtaita sekä Mainosvaloja, mahlermaisen surumarssin tapaan askeltava Työttömien kulkue sekä öistä ravintola- ja huvielämää kuvaava Valvovat talot valssi- ja tangorytmeineen ja raukean aistillisine pianosooloineen.
© Kimmo Korhonen, 3/2000
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Instrumentation 3333 4331 12 1, pno, 2asax lib, str [pic, ehn, bcl, cfbsn]
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, dir. Leo Funtek, Helsinki, March 5, 1937
Movements 1. La rue oubliée (Unohdettu katu), 2. Fabriques (Tehtaat), 3. Monuments et fontaines (Kuvapatsaita ja suihkulähteitä), 4. Réclames lumineuses (Mainosvaloja), 5. Le Cortège des chômeurs (Työttömien kulkue), 6. Dialog der Strassenlaternen mit der Morgenröte (Katulyhtyjen ja aamuruskon kaksinpuhelu)
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