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

Salonen: ‘Six years ago I started to dream of a large collection of virtuoso solo pieces which would be connected to each other on a principal level, if not directly, materially. I began to work on the Yta series in 1982. The first piece was for solo alto flute (and dedicated to Mikael Helasvuo), the second for piano (rev. for harpsichord) and the third for cello. The title, Yta, is Swedish and means ‘surface’. In a way it describes one aspect common for the whole series: the structure of the surface is also the superstructure. In one-level musical situation changes of the surface are the musical content of the work or at least a major part of it.’
© Esa-Pekka Salonen

Kimmo Korhonen: ‘The 3 Yta works form a coherent cycle related to the world of Meeting. They are characterised by the constantly living, nervous virtuoso movement of the texture, which however does not proceed dynamically like a drama but is more monolithic.

This opening work has a significant tempo indication: ‘Presto, meccanico nervoso’. The work flows in a relentless chain of notes. The clearly audible breathing sounds dire not due to the flautist's faulty technique; Salonen has entered these sounds into the score as if to emphasize the extreme breathlessness of the piece.‘

Published by: Chester Music Limited

Copyright: Kimmo Korhonen 1999 (tranlated by Jaakko Mäntyjärvi)

Find out more