Esa-Pekka Salonen on The Rite of Spring
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Auditorio nacional de música, Madrid
Compositions
Featured: Violin Concerto
The initial impulse for writing a concerto for violin was a very inspiring and enjoyable collaboration with Leila Josefowicz on a number of contemporary works in Los Angeles and Chicago. She plays new music with the same kind of dedication and panache others reserve for Brahms, Beethoven and the rest of the gang.
My long and very happy tenure as music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic was coming to an end. After 17 years I had decided it was time to move on and try to devote more time for composing. It felt like a seismic shift in my life, and during the composing process of “Violin Concerto” I felt that I was somehow trying to sum up everything I had learned and experienced up to that point in my life as a musician. This sense of having reached a watershed was heightened by the fact that I turned 50, the kind of number that brutally wipes out any hallucinations of still being young.
Other Compositions
Dona Nobis Pacem
2011 (5 minutes)
Composed for: For a cappella chorus
First performed: Chatelet Theatre, February 4 2011
Nyx
2010 (17 minutes)
Composed for: Works for orchestra
First performed: February 19 2011, Orchestre Philharmonique at Chatelet Theatre, Paris
Instrumentation: 3(3pic)+pic.3+ca.3+bcl.3+cbn/4331/timp.3perc/hp.cel(pf)/str(14.12.10.8.6)
Violin Concerto
2009 (30 minutes)
Composed for: Works for soloist(s) & orchestra
First performed: April 2009 - Leila Josefowicz (Violin) with the Los Angeles Philharmonic conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen
Instrumentation: solo violin - 3(afl,pic).2+ca.2+bcl+cbcl.2+cbn/2220/timp.3perc/hp.cel/str(14.12.10.8.6)
Homunculus
2008 (12 mins)
Composed for: Works for 2 - 6 Players
First performed: The Johannes String Quartet, 7 February 2008
Instrumentation: string quartet
Piano Concerto
2007 (33 minutes)
Composed for: Works for soloist(s) & orchestra
First performed: Yefim Bronfman, piano, New York Philharmonic Orchestra, cond. Esa-Pekka Salonen, New York, 1 February 2007
Instrumentation: solo piano - 3(1=pic2;2=afl&pic3;3=pic1)3(3=ca)3(3=asx)+bcl+cbcl.2+cbn/3220/timp.4perc/hp.cel/str
Catch and Release
2006 (22 minutes)
Composed for: Large Ensemble (7 or more players)
First performed: Avanti! Chamber Orchestra, cond. John Storgårds, Crusell Week, Uusikaupunki, Finland, 26 July 2006
Instrumentation: clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, trombone, percussion, violin, double bass
Helix
2005 (9 minutes)
Composed for: Works for orchestra
First performed: World Orchestra for Peace, cond. Valery Gergiev, BBC Proms, London, 27 August 2005 (Commissioned by the BBC)
Instrumentation: 3(pic).3(ca).2.2+cbn/4.3.3.1/timp.5perc/hp/str
Invenzione and Chorale
2004 (4 minutes)
Composed for: Solo Keyboard(s)
First performed: 2004
Instrumentation: piano
Wing on Wing
2004 (27 minutes)
Composed for: Works for soloist(s) & orchestra
First performed: Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, cond. Esa-Pekka Salonen, opening of the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, 5 June 2004 (Commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra)
Instrumentation: 2 solo sopranos - 4(3afl:1afl,bfl).3+ca.3(3Ebcl,bcl)+cbcl.3+cbn/4431/timp.4perc/2hp.2kbd(cel,sampler)/str(min 16.14.12.10.8)
Stockholm Diary
2004 (12 minutes)
Composed for: Works for orchestra
First performed: Stockholm Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, cond. Esa-Pekka Salonen, Stockholm, Composer Festival, 27 October 2004
Instrumentation: string orchestra
Memoria
2003 (12 minutes)
Composed for: Works for Band/Wind/Brass Ensemble
First performed: Members of the Avanti! Chamber Orchestra, Helsinki Conservatory, 30 November 2003
Instrumentation: flute (doubling alto flute), oboe (doubling cor anglais), clarinet, bassoon (doubling contrabassoon), horn
Insomnia
2002 (20 minutes)
Composed for: Works for orchestra
First performed: NHK Symphony Orchestra, cond. Esa-Pekka Salonen, Tokyo, 1 December 2002
Instrumentation: 2(afl)+pic(fl).2+ca.2(Ebcl,bcl)+bcl.2+cbn/4.4Wtba.3.3.1/timp.4perc/hp.pf(cel)/str
Lachen verlernt (Laughing Unlearnt)
2002 (10 minutes)
Composed for: Works for solo instrument (excluding keyboard)
First performed: Cho-Liang Lin, La Jolla SummerFest, La Jolla (US), 10 August 2002
Instrumentation: violin
Foreign Bodies
2001 (20 minutes)
Composed for: Works for orchestra
First performed: Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, cond. Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, Kiel, 12 August 2001
Instrumentation: 4444 / 6331 / 14 / 2, piano, celesta, strings, organ
Mania
2000 (orchestra version) (17 minutes)
Composed for: Works for soloist(s) & orchestra
First performed: Anssi Karttunen, cello, Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra, cond. Eri Klas
Instrumentation: solo cello - 1(pic)1(ca)1(bcl)1/1110/perc(1):gongs.vib.mba.glock.cga/hp.pf/str(max 8.8.6.0.3)
Concert Étude
2000 (6 minutes)
Composed for: Works for solo instrument (excluding keyboard)
First performed: participants of the International Holger Fransman Horn Competition, Lieksa Brass Week, 29 July 2000
Instrumentation: horn
Dichotomie
2000 (18 minutes)
Composed for: Solo Keyboard(s)
First performed: Lauri Kilpiö, UNM Festival, Helsinki, 18 August 2000 (2nd movement as Spin I) First performance: Gloria Cheng, Green Umbrella Series, Los Angeles, 4 December 2000 (both movements)
Instrumentation: piano
Mania (ensemble version)
2000 (17 minutes)
Composed for: Soloist(s) and Large Ensemble ( 7 or more players)
First performed: Anssi Karttunen, cello, Avanti! Chamber Orchestra, cond. Esa-Pekka Salonen, Summer Sounds, Porvoo, 2 July 2000
Instrumentation: solo cello + 1(pic)1(ca)1(bcl)1/1110/perc(1):gongs.vib.mba.glock.cga/hp.pf/str(1.1.1.0.1)
Two Songs from Kalender Röd
2000 (12 minutes)
Composed for: Chorus a cappella / Chorus plus 1 instrument
First performed: Swedish Radio Choir, cond. Stefan Parkman, Swedish Radio Choir 75th anniversary concert, Stockholm, 2 December 2000
Instrumentation: Chorus: SATB
Five Images After Sappho
1999 (20 minutes)
Composed for: Soloist(s) and Large Ensemble ( 7 or more players)
First performed: Laura Claycomb, soprano, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, cond. Esa-Pekka Salonen, Ojai Music Festival, 4 June 1999
Instrumentation: solo soprano + 1(pic)1(ca)1(bcl)1(cbn)/2000/perc.hp.pf(cel)/str(1.1.1.1.1)
Gambit
1998, rev. 1999 (9 minutes)
Composed for: Works for orchestra
First performed: Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra, cond. Esa-Pekka Salonen, Holland Festival, Amsterdam, 6 June 1998
Instrumentation: 2+pic.3(3ca).3(2Ebcl,3bcl)+cbcl.2+cbn/4331/timp.3perc/hp.pf/str(16.14.12.10.8)
LA Variations
1996 (19 minutes)
Composed for: Works for orchestra
First performed: Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, cond. Esa-Pekka Salonen, Los Angeles, 16 January 1997 (Commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra)
Instrumentation: 2(afl)+pic.2+ca.3(Ebcl,bcl)+cbcl.2+cbn/4331/timp.3perc/hp.cel.syn/str(min 16.14.12.10.8)
Mimo II
1992 (13 minutes)
Composed for: Works for soloist(s) & orchestra
First performed: Jorma Valjakka, oboe, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, cond. Esa-Pekka Salonen, Helsinki, 14 December 1992 (Commissioned by the Finnish Broadcasting Company)
Instrumentation: solo oboe - 2(pic).0+ca.2(Ebcl,bcl).1(cbn)/2111/perc/hp.cel/str(min 8.8.6.4.3)
Second Meeting
1992 (11 minutes)
Composed for: Works for 2 - 6 Players
First performed: Bengt Rosengren, oboe, Stefan Bojsten, piano, Stockholm, 23 February 1992
Instrumentation: oboe, piano
Yta IIb
1987 (6 minutes)
Composed for: Solo Keyboard(s)
First performed: Jukka Tiensuu, harpsichord, Helsinki Biennale, 11 March 1987
Instrumentation: harpsichord
Yta III
1986 (6 minutes)
Composed for: Works for solo instrument (excluding keyboard)
First performed: Anssi Karttunen, cello, Time of Music Festival, Viitasaari, Finland, 23 July 1987
Instrumentation: cello
Yta II
1985 (6 minutes)
Composed for: Solo Keyboard(s)
First performed: Ilmo Ranta, piano, Helsinki, 26 September 1986
Instrumentation: piano
Meeting
1982 (6 minutes)
Composed for: Works for 2 - 6 Players
First performed: Seppo Salovaara, clarinet, Jukka Tiensuu, harpsichord, Helsinki, 14 December 1982
Instrumentation: clarinet + harpsichord
Yta I
1982 (5 minutes)
Composed for: Works for solo instrument (excluding keyboard)
First performed: Mikael Helasvuo, alto flute, Kemijärvi, Finland, 17 November 1982
Instrumentation: alto flute
Baalal
1982 (23 minutes)
Composed for: Electro-acoustic works
First performed: Finnish Broadcasting Company, 7 July 1982
Instrumentation: Tape
Floof (Songs of a Homeostatic Homer)
1982 (10 minutes)
Composed for: Solo voice(s) and up to 6 players
First performed: Anu Komsi, soprano, Toimii Ensemble, cond. Esa-Pekka Salonen, Helsinki, 27 August 1988
Instrumentation: solo soprano + cl(cbcl)/perc/pf.syn/vc
Giro
1981, rev. 1997 (10 minutes)
Composed for: Works for orchestra
First performed: Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, cond. Esa-Pekka Salonen, Tampere, 27 November 1981, First performance (revised version): Avanti! Chamber Orchestra, cond. Esa-Pekka Salonen, Summer Sounds, Porvoo, 29 June 1997
Instrumentation: 2(afl)2(ca)2(bcl)2(cbn)/4220/perc/hp.pf/str(min 8.6.6.6.4)
Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra (... auf den ersten Blick und ohne zu wissen...)
1980 (18 minutes)
Composed for: Works for soloist(s) & orchestra
First performed: (1st movement): Pekka Savijoki, saxophone, Turku City Orchestra, cond. Esa-Pekka Salonen, 2 February 1981First performance (Complete work): Pekka Savijoki, alto saxophone, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, cond. Esa-Pekka Salonen, Helsinki, 22 September
Instrumentation: solo alto saxophone - 2(pic)2(ca)2(bcl)2/4331/4perc/hp.pf(cel)/str
Goodbye
1979, rev. 1980 (11 minutes)
Composed for: Works for 2 - 6 Players
First performed: (original version) Mikko-Ville Luolajan-Mikkola, violin, Heikki Hernberg, guitar, Helsinki Summer Weeks, Helsinki, 1979 First performance: (revised version) Hannele Segerstam, violin, Jukka Savijoki, guitar, ISCM World Music Days, Helsinki, 27 January
Instrumentation: violin + guitar
Prologue
1979 (8 minutes)
Composed for: Works for 2 - 6 Players
First performed: Jouko Teikari, oboe, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, violin, Eira Ojanen, cello, Lassi Erkkil?, percussion, Helsinki, 12 November 1979
Instrumentation: oboe, violin, cello, percussion (1 player)
Nachtlieder
1978 (8 mins)
Composed for: Works for 2 - 6 Players
First performed: Kullervo Kojo - clarinet, Risto Lappalainen - piano, Helsinki, September 30, 1978
Instrumentation: clarinet and piano
