Saimaa Sinfonietta, Erkki Lasonpalo, Eero Saunamäki, Esa Pietilä, Janne Valkeajoki - Aho: Concertante Works for Recorder, Saxophone and Accordion (2023) [Hi-Res]

Tracklist

01. Recorder Concerto: I. Misterioso - Presto
02. Recorder Concerto: II. Quarter Note = 100
03. Recorder Concerto: III. Presto
04. Recorder Concerto: IV. Allegretto
05. Recorder Concerto: V. Vivace
06. Recorder Concerto: VI. Coda
07. Tenor Saxophone Concerto: I. Mesto
08. Tenor Saxophone Concerto: II. Interludio I
09. Tenor Saxophone Concerto: III. Vivacissimo, leggiero
10. Tenor Saxophone Concerto: IV. Interludio II
11. Tenor Saxophone Concerto: V. Andante, dolente
12. Tenor Saxophone Concerto: VI. Allegretto ritmico
13. Tenor Saxophone Concerto: VII. Cadenza
14. Tenor Saxophone Concerto: VIII. Epilogo. Andante
15. Sonata Concertante for Accordion & Strings: Ia. Prelude. Molto rubato
16. Sonata Concertante for Accordion & Strings: Ib. Passacaglia
17. Sonata Concertante for Accordion & Strings: IIa. Prelude. Leggiero
18. Sonata Concertante for Accordion & Strings: IIb. Fugue. Andante - Più mosso - Leggiero

Concertante works featuring the recorder, tenor saxophone and accordion are few and far between. Stimulated by daring soloists, the prolific Finnish composer Kalevi Aho has composed such works, contributing in his own way to the development of an original and attractive repertoire. The Concerto for Recorder requires the soloist to play four types of recorder, from bass to sopranino. The work explores extended techniques and also does not shy away from flashbacks to the golden age of the instrument.

Aho received the initial impetus for his Concerto for tenor saxophone after a concert by Esa Pietilä. Aho wrote a concerto with contrasting sections that gradually exploits the full potential of the tenor saxophone and also makes use of an oriental goblet drum (darabuka) that sometimes also takes centre stage.

The origins of the Sonate Concertante for accordion and strings goes back to Aho’s first Sonata for accordion of 1984. Noting its orchestral character, soloist Janne Valkeajoki suggested making a concertante version with strings. Here, Aho sought to extend the technical possibilities of the instrument to the maximum and to write for it a work of astounding virtuosity, like Franz Liszt’s most demanding piano compositions.

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