Kalevi Aho

Kalevi Aho (born 9 March 1949 in Forssa, Finland) is a Finnish composer.

Career

Born in Forssa, he studied composition at the Sibelius Academy under Einojuhani Rautavaara, receiving a diploma in 1971. He continued his studies for a year in Berlin with Boris Blacher. His teaching positions include music theory at the University of Helsinki from 1974 to 1988, and a professorship at the Sibelius Academy from 1988 to 1993. He became composer-in-residence for the Lahti Symphony Orchestra in 1992, and conductor Osmo Vänskä has recorded many of his recent large-scale works with the orchestra. Aho has worked as a freelance composer, with a state scholarship, since 1993. He lives in Helsinki.

Music

Known principally as a composer of large-scale works, to date Aho has composed fifteen symphonies, eighteen concertos, four operas and several vocal works. His chamber music includes several quintets, quartets, sonatas and solo works. He first came to fame with his first symphony (1969) and second string quartet (1970). His works of this time showed such neo-classical traits as a preoccupation with counterpoint (particularly fugues), and stylized renderings of older forms, such as the waltz. In the following decade he wrote in modernist and post-modernist styles. His use of irony and juxtaposition of contrasting moods and musical styles and genres has been compared to Gustav Mahler and Alfred Schnittke. His work also shows the influence of Einojuhani Rautavaara (especially when evoking mysterious textures) and Dmitri Shostakovich. His music has been extensively recorded by BIS records and is published by Fennica Gehrman.

Works

Operas

• The Key (1978–79)
• Insect Life (1985–87)
• Before We Are All Drowned (1995/1999)
• The Book of Secrets (1998)

Symphonies

• Symphony No. 1 (1969)
• Symphony No. 2 (1970/1995)
• Symphony No. 3, for violin and orchestra (1971–73)
• Symphony No. 4 (1972–73)
• Symphony No. 5 (1975–76)
• Symphony No. 6 (1979–80)
• Symphony No. 7 Insect Symphony (1988)
• Symphony No. 8, for organ and orchestra (1993)
• Symphony No. 9, for trombone and orchestra (1993–94)
• Symphony No. 10 (1996)
• Symphony No. 11, for six percussionists and orchestra (1997–98)
• Symphony No. 12 Luosto, for two orchestras (2002–03)
• Symphony No. 13 Symphonic Characterizations (2003)
• Symphony No. 14 Rituals, for darabuka, djembe, gongs and chamber orchestra (2007)
• Symphony No. 15 (2009–2010)
• Chamber Symphony No. 1 for 20 strings (1976)
• Chamber Symphony No. 2 for 20 strings (1991–92)
• Chamber Symphony No. 3, for alto saxophone and 20 strings (1995–96)

Orchestral

• Silence (1982)
• Paloheimo Fanfare (1989)
• Pergamon for 4 reciters, 4 orchestral groups and organ (1990)
• The Rejoicing of the Deep Waters (1995)
• Tristia. Fantasy for wind orchestra (1999)
• Symphonic Dances (2001)
• Louhi (2003)
• Lamu. Music in the space for young brass players (2008)
• Minea. Concertante Music for Orchestra (2008)

Concertante

• Violin Concerto (1981)
• Cello Concerto (1983–84)
• Piano Concerto No. 1 (1988–1989)
• Tuba Concerto (2000–2001)
• Piano Concerto No. 2, for piano and 20 strings (2001–2002)
• Flute Concerto (2002)
• Concerto for Two Cellos and Orchestra (2003)
• Bassoon Concerto (2004)
• Contrabassoon Concerto (2004–2005)
• Clarinet Concerto (2005)
• Double-Bass Concerto (2005)
• Viola Concerto (2006)
• Oboe Concerto (2007)
• The Bells. Concerto for Saxophone Quartet and Orchestra (2008)
• Trombone Concerto (2010)
• Sieidi. Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra (2010)
• Trumpet Concerto (2011)
• Horn Concerto (2011)
• Eight Seasons. Concerto for Theremin and Chamber Orchestra (2011)

Chamber/Instrumental

• Solo I for Violin (1975), II for Piano (1985), III for Flute (1990-91), IV for Cello (1997), V for Bassoon (1999), VI for Double-Bass (1999), VII for Trumpet (2000), VIII for Baritone Horn (2003), IX for Oboe (2010), X for Horn (2010)
• In memoriam Pehr Henrik Nordgren for Violin Solo (2009)
• Sonata for Violin Solo (1973)
• Piano Sonata (1980)
• Sonata No. 1 for Accordion (1989)
• Sonata No. 2 Black Birds for Accordion (1990)
• Ludus Solemnis for Organ (1978)
• In Memoriam for Organ (1980)
• Three Interludes for Organ (1993)
• Alles Vergängliche. Symphony for Organ (2007)
• Oboe Sonata (1985)
• Sonata for 2 Accordions (1989)
• Epilogue for Trombone and Organ (1998)
• Lamento for 2 Violins or 2 Violas (2001)
• Quasi una fantasia for Horn and Organ (2011)
• Trio for Clarinet, Viola, and Piano (2006)
• HAHE for 4 Cellos (2008)
• String Quartet No. 1 (1967)
• String Quartet No. 2 (1970)
• String Quartet No. 3 (1971)
• Kimasen lento [Kimanen's Flight] for String Quartet (1998)
• Ballad for Flute, Cello, Bassoon and Piano (1999)
• Three Tangos for Violin, Accordion, Guitar, Piano and Double-Bass (1999)
• Quartet for Flute, Saxophone, Guitar, and Percussion (1982)
• Oboe Quintet (1973)
• Bassoon Quintet (1977)
• Quintet for Flute, Oboe, and String Trio (1977)
• Quintet for Saxophone, Bassoon, Viola, Cello, and Double-Bass (1994)
• Clarinet Quintet (1998)
• Quintet for Flute, Violin, Two Violas, and Cello (2000)
• Wind Quintet (2006)
• String Quintet Hommage à Schubert (2009)

References

• Korhonen, Kimmo (1999). Kalevi Aho in Profile - Finnish Music Information Centre. Retrieved 8 February 2005.
• Oramo, Ilkka. "Aho, Kalevi." at Grove Music Online. Retrieved 21 September 2006.

External links and references

• Finnish Music Information Centre minisite - including profile, discography and audio clips
• Fennica Gehrman home page (publisher) (Aho page with sound samples)
• Minnesota Orchestra's showcase concert magazine, May 6, page 43