I recently heard music by another Finn,
Kalevi Aho (1949- , first work 1969). His
Syvien vesien juhla (Rejoicing of the Deep Waters) is a single-movement work that exemplifies his output.
Polyphonic brass open the work, and lower voices are juxtaposed with higher. Then the woodwinds enter as a high choir taking up a motif in juxtaposition to the brass, and finally the strings enter the mix as another choir. From this point on, the strings run a nearly-constant counterpoint to the choirs of brass and woodwinds. Throughout from the initial measures, a percussion battery has taken an increasing role, sometimes the melodic percussion joining with the string choir, sometimes the woodwinds, and then on its own. A tightly interplay of motifs weaves between each choir. A midpoint of relative quiet is gradually supplanted by the return of the motifs originated in the choirs. Then through the end segment, individual voices are allowed to utter motivic comments, and sometimes even nearly complete melodies.
The quite heavy textures are sometimes reminiscent of Messiaen's orchestral work, and then occasionally similar to the orchestral flourishes of
Wozzeck and other Berg works.
Career
Aho studied composition at the
Sibelius Academy and also a year with
Boris Blacher. He taught at the University of Helsinki and the Sibelius Academy. He became composer-in-residence for the
Lahti Symphony Orchestra in 1992. His compositions include
- 15 symphonies
- 15 concerti
- 4 operas
- Vocal works
- Chamber music
Chronology
- String Quartet No. 1 (1967)
- Symphony No. 1 (1969)
- Symphony No. 2 (1970/1995)
- String Quartet No. 2 (1970)
- String Quartet No. 3 (1971)
- Sonata for Violin Solo (1973)
- Oboe Quintet (1973)
- Symphony No. 3, for violin and orchestra (1971–73)
- Symphony No. 4 (1972–73)
- Lasimaalaus (vocal, 1974; text by Aila Meriluoto)
- Symphony No. 5 (1975–76)
- Chamber Symphony No. 1 for 20 strings (1976)
- Bassoon Quintet (1977)
- Quintet for Flute, Oboe, and String Trio (1977)
- Kolme laulua elämästä (vocal, 1977; text by Raimo Lehmonen)
- Ludus Solemnis for Organ (1978)
- The Key (opera, 1978–79)
- Symphony No. 6 (1979–80)
- Piano Sonata (1980)
- In Memoriam for Organ (1980)
- Violin Concerto (1981)
- Quartet for Flute, Saxophone, Guitar, and Percussion (1982)
- Silence (orchestra, 1982)
- Cello Concerto (1983–84)
- Oboe Sonata (1985)
- Insect Life (opera, 1985–87)
- Symphony No. 7 Insect Symphony (1988)
- Piano Concerto No. 1 (1988–1989)
- Paloheimo Fanfare (orchestra, 1989)
- Sonata No. 1 for Accordion (1989)
- Sonata for 2 Accordions (1989)
- Sonata No. 2 Black Birds for Accordion (1990)
- Pergamon for 4 reciters, 4 orchestral groups and organ (1990)
- Chamber Symphony No. 2 for 20 strings (1991–92)
- Veet välkkyy taas (vocal, 1992; text by Viljo Kojo)
- Three Interludes for Organ (1993)
- Symphony No. 8, for organ and orchestra (1993)
- Symphony No. 9, for trombone and orchestra (1993–94)
- Mysteerio (vocal, 1994; text by Maritza Nunez)
- Quintet for Saxophone, Bassoon, Viola, Cello, and Double-Bass (1994)
- The Rejoicing of the Deep Waters (orchestra, 1995)
- Chamber Symphony No. 3, for alto saxophone and 20 strings (1995–96)
- Symphony No. 10 (1996)
- Ilo ja epäsymmetria; (vocal, 1996; text by Mirkka Rekola)
- Kiinalaisia lauluja, soprano and orchestra (1997)
- Symphony No. 11, for six percussionists and orchestra (1997–98)
- Epilogue for Trombone and Organ (1998)
- The Book of Secrets (opera, 1998)
- Clarinet Quintet (1998)
- Kimasen lento [Kimanen's Flight] for String Quartet (1998)
- Three Tangos for Violin, Accordion, Guitar, Piano and Double-Bass (1999)
- Before We Are All Drowned (opera, 1995/1999)
- Tristia. Fantasy for wind orchestra (1999)
- Quintet for Flute, Violin, Two Violas, and Cello (2000)
- Tuba Concerto (2000–2001)
- Symphonic Dances (2001)
- Lamento for 2 Violins or 2 Violas (2001)
- Piano Concerto No. 2, for piano and 20 strings (2001–2002)
- Flute Concerto (2002)
- Symphony No. 12 Luosto, for two orchestras (2002–03)
- Louhi (orchestra, 2003)
- Symphony No. 13 Symphonic Characterizations (2003)
- Concerto for Two Cellos and Orchestra (2003)
- Bassoon Concerto (2004)
- Contrabassoon Concerto (2004–2005)
- Clarinet Concerto (2005)
- Double-Bass Concerto (2005)
- Viola Concerto (2006)
- Trio for Clarinet, Viola, and Piano (2006)
- Wind Quintet (2006)
- Kysymysten kirja, mezzosoprano and chamber orchestra (2006; text by Pablo Neruda, suom. Katja Kallio)
- Oboe Concerto (2007)
- Symphony No. 14 Rituals, for darabuka, djembe, gongs and chamber orchestra (2007)
- Alles Vergängliche. Symphony for Organ (2007)
- Lamu. Music in the space for young brass players (2008)
- Minea. Concertante Music for Orchestra (2008)
- HAHE for 4 Cellos (2008)
- The Bells. Concerto for Saxophone Quartet and Orchestra (2008)
- In memoriam Pehr Henrik Nordgren for Violin Solo (2009)
- String Quintet Hommage à Schubert (2009)
- Trombone Concerto (2010)
- Percussion Concerto (2010)
- Kaksi Mawlana Rumin runoa (vocal, 2010; text by Mawlana Rumi, suom. Jaakko Hämeen-Anttila)
- Symphony No. 15 (2009–2010)
