NORDIC HIGHLIGHTS 3/2019 NEWSLETTER FROM GEHRMANS MUSIKFÖRLAG & FENNICA GEHRMAN Sven-David Sandström in memoriam Focus on Jyrki Linjama Olli Kortekangas’ Pictures of Life NEWS New Rangström anthology Mikko Heiniö commissions “Ture Rangström Collected Songs” The University of Turku has commissionedMikko Heiniö to compose a work is the most comprehensive and criti- for its centenary celebrations in 2020. Titled Syvyyden yllä tuuli (Wind above the cal edition of Rangström’s vocal works Depths), it will be premiered in February 2020 and at the degree ceremony in thus far. The editorAnders Anner- May. The cantata is scored for baritone, mixed choir and orchestra and will be holm has selected 49 songs – complete performed by the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra and the Turku University Choir. cycles, as well as separate songs, among Heiniö has also written a work for The Polytech Choir, to be performed as part of which some have not been previously the choir’s 120th anniversary in spring 2020. Titled Täällä, kaikkialla (Here, Every - published. The preface is in English where), it is based on poems by Juha Vakkuri (1946-2019), author and founder of and many of the texts also have Ger- the Villa Karo, the Finnish-African Cultural Centre in Benin, West Africa. man translations. Ture Rangström The Finnish Music Publishers Association chose Mikko Heiniö as Classical Composer of the Year. (1884-1947) was one of Sweden’s most prominent composers of ‘Lieder’ PHOTO: MIKKO KAUPPINEN MIKKO PHOTO: and composed some 250 songs. Heininen Violin Sonatas on disc Concert Overture by Kaija Saarikettu and Juhani Lagerspetz have recorded the Violin Sonatas Sibelius rediscovered by Paavo Heininen on the Alba label. Released in May, the disc contains Fennica Gehrman has signed a the three Boston Sonatas, Op. 134 published by Fennica Gehrman in spring publishing agreement for a Concert 2019. The sonatas were composed as a commission from Boston that ex- Overture by Sibelius. Based on panded into a set of three works in which the ideas in one work are devel- material found while study- oped and build up to a climax in the others. ing the manuscript of the op- era The Maiden in the Tower, it Bäck and Johanson centenaries was discovered by the conductor This autumn we are celebrating the for their works for choir which are Tuomas Hannikainen, follow- centenaries of two distinctive pro- today considered classics in Swedish ing references made by Sibelius files of Swedish music,Sven-Erik choral repertoire. Among their most himself. A significant work that, Bäck (1919-1994) and Sven-Eric well-known works are Bäck’s Motets according to Hannikainen, stands Johanson (1919-1997). They were for the Church Year , and Johan- up well on its own, it lasts 11–12 central figures of the radical Monday son’s Fancies , 9 pieces for mixed minutes and was conducted by Group founded in the 40s, together choir and piano to texts from various Sibelius at concerts of his works in Turku. The score is scheduled for with Karl-Birger Blomdahl, Ingvar Shakespeare plays. Bäck and Johanson Anders Annerholm & Ture Rangström Jr. Lidholm, Eric Ericson et al. Bäck are being celebrated with anniversary publication in autumn 2019. and Johanson were both very prolific, concerts during this autumn by the with works ranging from opera to or- Eric Ericson Chamber Choir, the Whittall & The Carice Singers chestral and chamber music, but per- Gothenburg Chamber Choir, the Eso- The Carice Singers have appointedMatthew haps they are best known and loved terics in Seattle etc. Whittall Associate Composer. “I’m thrilled to be- gin this relationship with The Carice Singers,” he says. “Their fresh, pure, youthful sound is hugely inspiring for a composer, and their varied and sensitive programming takes listeners on journeys that forge poetic links across nations and centuries. To get to write a large-scale piece for such a front- rank ensemble is a dream come true!” The Carice Singers are a British vocal ensemble of young PHOTO: HANS OLA ERICSON OLA HANS PHOTO: JERNBERG INGMAR PHOTO: PHOTO: MAARIT KYTÖHARJU MAARIT PHOTO: Sven-Erik Bäck Sven-Eric Johanson professional singers conducted by George Parris. NORDIC HIGHLIGHTS 3/2019 Cecilia Damström premieres NEWSLETTER FROM GEHRMANS MUSIKFÖRLAG & FENNICA GEHRMAN Cecilia Damström is looking ahead at a busy season. Sound samples , video clips 17 October will see the world premiere of her fairy and other material are available at tale opera, Vickan & Väinö, at the Alexandre theatre www.gehrmans.se/highlights in Helsinki. In November the female voice choir www.fennicagehrman.fi/highlights Lyran will premiere Requiem for Our Earth, a 30-min- ute work about global warming. The orchestral work Cover photo: Mats Bäcker Tundo! (Knock!) , dedicated to all refugees in the Editors: Henna Salmela and Kristina Fryklöf world, will receive its Finnish premiere on 5 Decem- Translations: Susan Sinisalo and Robert Carroll ber by the Kuopio Symphony Orchestra conducted Design: Göran Lind by Jaakko Kuusisto, and Christian Reif will conduct the US premiere of the same work with the Colorado ISSN 2000-2742 (Print), ISSN 2000-2750 (Online) Printed in Sweden by TMG Sthlm, Bromma 2019 Springs Philharmonic on 22 February. PHOTO: VEIAN MARTE PHOTO: HIGHLIGHTS 3/2019 Erkki-Sven Tüür at 60 PREMIERES Erkki-Sven Tüür will be 60 on 16 October. His composing career started in the late October-December 2019 1980s and the early works still popular today include Zeitraum, the Architectonics series and Action-Passion-Illusion for strings. In his own words, his pieces TINA ANDERSSON Plant a Tree are abstract dramas in sound, with an extremely dynamic chain of events. Since 1992, The Vocal Ensemble VoNo/Lone Larsen. Tüür has been a freelance composer who has received commissions from renowned 5.10. Gothenburg, Sweden performers worldwide. He has been especially prolific in writing orchestral works and KALEVI AHO PHOTO: TAAVI KULL TAAVI PHOTO: concertos, but his catalogue also includes chamber music, choral works and an opera. Solo XIV for clarinet Simon Reitmaier. 12.11. Innsbruck, Austria Marie Samuelsson’s Double Concerto Mysterium (Quintet for strings and left hand piano) Tateno Quartet, Izumi Tateno, piano. 12.11. Tokyo, Japan Marie Samuelsson has composed a double concerto for violin, guitar and orchestra KAI NIEMINEN titled Brandnäva. The title refers to a plant (Geranium lanuginosum) with blue or In Broken Reflections – Through Times, purple flowers whose seeds grow only if they are heated to 50°C or more, as for Scapes and Mirrors example after a forest fire. Like the phoenix, the flower rises from the ashes. The Zagros Ensemble, Tommi Hyytinen, horn concerto was commissioned on the initiative of conductor Christian Karlsen and 14.10. Helsinki, Finland guitarist Jacob Kellermann, who will premiere it together with violinist Catharina CECILIA DAMSTRÖM Vickan & Väinö (Children’s opera) Chen and the Gävle Symphony Orchestra on 8 November. DOUKKALI JOSEF PHOTO: Opera Box, Hedvig Paulig, soprano, Ville Salonen, tenor, Markus Nieminen, baritone, Janne Valkeajoki, accordion Concert in memory of Järnefelt Music by Aho and 17.10. Helsinki, Finland Requiem for our Earth The Royal Swedish Orchestra will give a concert dedicated Nordgren in the Far East Lyran Female Voice Choir/Jutta Seppinen to the composer and conductor Armas Järnefelt at the Roy- Chamber music by Kalevi Aho is to be per- 7.11. Espoo, Finland al Swedish Opera on 29 November. Järnefelt’s talent and gift formed at the Seoul International Music Festival ALBERT SCHNELZER for composing both orchestral and choral works made him in Korea on 4 November 2019. This will be fol- Apollonian Dances (version for percussion a popular conductor throughout Europe. Born in Finland, and string orchestra) lowed a week later by the premiere of Mysterium O/Modernt CO/Hugo Ticciati, sol. Evelyn Glennie he worked at the Royal Swedish Opera between 1907 and in Tokyo on 12 November. The pianist in this 18.10. London, UK 1932, the last five years as Chief Conductor. The concert quintet for the left hand and string quartet will be Burn My Letters – Remembering Clara programme includes his Berceuse, Suite for Small Orchestra Izumi Tateno, who has also performed the con- Gävle SO/Jaime Martin. 29.11. Gävle, Sweden and Miranda, conducted by Emil Eliasson. certo for the left hand by Pehr Henrik Nordgren CARL UNANDER SCHARIN (1944-2008) in Japan several times this year. 2019 The Cloud of Unknowing for mixed choir and organ marks the 75th anniversary of Nordgren’s birth. Erik Westberg Vocal Ensemble, Markus Wargh, organ Carl-Bertil 26.10. Luleå, Sweden Agnestig 1924-2019 OLLE LINDBERG Pedagogue, composer A Requiem for the Living for soprano, baritone, mixed choir, brass quintet and piano and choir leader Carl- Adolf Fredrik Chamber Choir/Christoffer Holgersson, Bertil Agnestig has sol. Agnes Englund Lindberg, soprano, Staffan Liljas, passed away at the age baritone. 2.11. Stockholm, Sweden of 95. We remember SVEN-DAVID SANDSTRÖM him as an innovative Seventeenth Century Nun’s Prayer Mogens Dahl Chamber Choir/Mogens Dahl pioneer in Swedish music SYMPHONY LAHTI FINLAND, MUSIC PHOTOS: 3.11. Copenhagen, Denmark pedagogy. He had his Pehr Henrik Nordgren Kalevi Aho BENJAMIN STAERN breakthrough with the Scherzo assurdo piano school “Vi spe- New catalogue Magnus Holmander, clarinet, David Huang, piano lar piano” (We Play the Gehrmans Musikförlag has acquired the Edi- 5.11. Salzburg, Austria Piano), which was first tion Reimers catalogue. The Reimers publish- MARIE SAMUELSSON published in 1958 and has ing house was founded by Lennart Reimers in Brandnäva – Concerto for violin, guitar and orchestra sold more than 700,000 1975 and the catalogue contains works by some Gävle SO/Christian Karlsen, sol. Catharina Chen, violin, copies. After his success of the foremost Swedish composers, including Jacob Kellerman, guitar. 8.11 Gävle, Sweden with the piano book he wrote a number of tutorials for various Karin Rehnqvist, Henrik Strindberg, Anders MATTHEW WHITTALL instruments, but also for choral singing.