Kalevi Aho(born 1949)

[radi]

The prolific composer, Kalevi Aho, is nearing completion on his Symphony No. 16 for the Finnish Radio Orchestra with voice - sounds interesting!  Has anyone picked up the new BIS recording with Minea and Symphony No. 15?

Thanks for the info. Can't wait to hear it.

Actually I've been meaning to write here about the Minea/Double Bass Concerto/Symphony 15 recording - to tell everyone that after a couple weeks of listening I've come to the conclusion that this is the single best Aho album so far in my opinion (and there's many great ones). Once again I'm amazed at what the man can still come up with, even with so many great and original works already. Symphony 15 for me is a close contender (with the Flute Concerto) for his very best single work.

[asin]B00FJIOKHM[/asin]

Amazon.co.uk says that the CD won't be released until next month. Couldn't find it at all on Amazon.com. But you can get it from eClassical.com.

[lescamil]

Yup, have had that album for a couple of weeks. The Double Bass Concerto for me is a revelation, for it was the only piece I hadn't heard before (I had heard the world premieres of Minea and the Symphony No. 15). The duet between harp and bass in the first cadenza has to be one of my favorite parts of the whole work.

[Brian]

BIS CEO Robert von Bahr has some interesting things to say about Kalevi Aho's solo and concertante works for flute. The solo piece described below is "Solo III".

"I of course contacted Kalevi Aho, asking him, if he had anything for solo flute. He hesitated, but finally said, yes, but he was withdrawing it, since it was too difficult for anyone to play. I persuaded him to send the score, saying that I knew someone. Sharon [Bezaly] looked at it and said a flat "NO!" I told her that she would be pissing on me, because I had guaranteed that she could do it. So she relented, the recording was made, and I went to Finland with the first edit. Kalevi listened, listened again, and again, without a comment, then asked: Is this true, or had anything technically been done to make that speed? I said no and that this is why I guaranteed that Sharon could do it, and we agreed then and there that I commission a Concerto for her from him - a Concerto that I believe is the ultimate ever written for that instrument."

[lescamil]

Watch Kalevi Aho's Symphony No. 16 here: http://yle.fi/aihe/tapahtuma/2015/09/03/thursday-series-1

Excellent piece, and it clocks in at 55 minutes. Another major work by this living legend.

[71 dB]

I think I should include Aho in my exploration of contemporary classical music. Too bad Naxos haven't released anything by him. I fear BIS because those discs are very often impossible to get cheap. However, the newer Aho discs on BIS seems to be SACD => stunning sonics. 

I'll see if I can listen to some Aho on Spotify and if the music is as great as people here say, maybe those BIS prices aren't that bad... ...or then I pass Aho and continue exploring on Naxos path... ...choices choices...

[relm1]

Watch Kalevi Aho's Symphony No. 16 here: http://yle.fi/aihe/tapahtuma/2015/09/03/thursday-series-1

Excellent piece, and it clocks in at 55 minutes. Another major work by this living legend.

This was excellent, thanks for posting.  And posted by a fellow Los Angelino no less!  Aho is a rare composer who is very skilled and the craft of composition and also directly communicative.  I am glad he is so productive while maintaining high quality and individuality.

[vandermolen]

Just ordered Symphony 11.

[lescamil]

Just ordered Symphony 11.

You won't be disappointed. For a work with 6 percussion soloists, it's often times very ethereal in much the same way that Takemitsu's From Me Flows What You Call Time is (although stylistically very different).

[relm1]

You won't be disappointed. For a work with 6 percussion soloists, it's often times very ethereal in much the same way that Takemitsu's From Me Flows What You Call Time is (although stylistically very different).

I also think that like his fellow countryman and excellent symphonist, Rautavaara, Aho's output falls into distinct phases and has a linear progression one to the next.  It's not a bad idea to start at the very beginning and go in sequence though I don't believe No. 6 is available.  It seems like the categories are:

No. 1-4: Youthful and dramatic/epic
No. 5-6:Complex and full of turmoil  (though I've not heard 6 since it isn't yet available).  These might be more transitional symphonies from the Mahler/Shostakovich/Prokofiev of the earlier ones to the more individual later ones but all are well structured and easy to get in to.
No. 7-15: Large scale symphonies that might lose some of the grimness of the earlier symphonies but have a greater emotional range and architecture.
No. 16: somewhat different...maintains the large scale architecture but a lot of emphasis on texture and generally less manic.  Something of Shostakovich's No. 14 but less dark more poetic.

And thrown into the mix are concertante symphonies such as No. 3, 8, 9, 11, 13.

It's a great cycle and I'm hoping for much more to come!

[vandermolen]

You won't be disappointed. For a work with 6 percussion soloists, it's often times very ethereal in much the same way that Takemitsu's From Me Flows What You Call Time is (although stylistically very different).

Thank you. 

[lescamil]

I have a recording of number 6. I'll have to relisten to the work and possibly plop it up on YouTube so others can hear it. From what I remember, it was very similar to 5, in that it was a large transitional work that doesn't quite fit into the mold that the other symphonies around it established.

[Mirror Image]

I don't find Aho that memorable of a composer nor do I think he has too distinctive of a compositional voice, but the concerti for clarinet and flute are among his most astonishing works IMHO. I also remember enjoying Symphony No. 10 a lot, especially with that long Adagio. Quite a powerful symphony.

[relm1]

I don't find Aho that memorable of a composer nor do I think he has too distinctive of a compositional voice, but the concerti for clarinet and flute are among his most astonishing works IMHO. I also remember enjoying Symphony No. 10 a lot, especially with that long Adagio. Quite a powerful symphony.

What do you think of No. 4?  That has some very fine long melodies and large scale structure.  For example:

https://youtu.be/5hAu4mQI8v8?t=2261

In the last movement, the William Walton trumpet fanfares (there are many trumpet fanfares and proclamations throughout this work) culminate in a huge multi octave sweeping string discourse that I find very satisfying.  He was maybe 25 years old when writing this so imagine a mid 1970's symphony by a young composer with such skill that incorporates the tradition and makes it his own.

[lescamil]

I don't find Aho that memorable of a composer nor do I think he has too distinctive of a compositional voice...

He doesn't really get a distinctive voice until partway through his compositional career (arguably just before his symphonies hit double digits), but even so, it's always been incredibly well-crafted music that rewards each time upon listening. I've not gotten bored with him yet, even his juvenalia.

[Mirror Image]

What do you think of No. 4?  That has some very fine long melodies and large scale structure.  For example:

https://youtu.be/5hAu4mQI8v8?t=2261

In the last movement, the William Walton trumpet fanfares (there are many trumpet fanfares and proclamations throughout this work) culminate in a huge multi octave sweeping string discourse that I find very satisfying.  He was maybe 25 years old when writing this so imagine a mid 1970's symphony by a young composer with such skill that incorporates the tradition and makes it his own.

I don't have an opinion of Symphony No. 4. I'll have to give it another listen at some point, but not anytime soon as I've got my own interests I'm pursuing now.

[lescamil]

Fellow Aho lovers should find this interesting. A good selection of his orchestral music is available for viewing on his publisher's website. It's a joy to see how his music works on paper.

http://www.fennicagehrman.fi/composers/aho-kalevi

[snyprrr]

I don't find Aho that memorable of a composer nor do I think he has too distinctive of a compositional voice, but the concerti for clarinet and flute are among his most astonishing works IMHO. I also remember enjoying Symphony No. 10 a lot, especially with that long Adagio. Quite a powerful symphony.

All this Aho talk has piqued my interest... AGAIN,... I still haven't cracked this can 'o worms open yet,... used to have the Ondine disc... oh, where to start?? I've asked this before...

[Mirror Image]

All this Aho talk has piqued my interest... AGAIN,... I still haven't cracked this can 'o worms open yet,... used to have the Ondine disc... oh, where to start?? I've asked this before...

You could always start with the works I recommended.

[Sergeant Rock]

You could always start with the works I recommended.

Why would he take your advice? You've made it clear Aho doesn't interest you. You've made it clear you won't be listening to him any time soon:

I don't find Aho that memorable of a composer nor do I think he has too distinctive of a compositional voice

I've got my own interests I'm pursuing now.

Why are you even posting in this thread? 

Sarge

[Mirror Image]

Why would he take your advice? You've made it clear Aho doesn't interest you. You've made it clear you won't be listening to him any time soon:

Why are you even posting in this thread? 

Sarge

Just because someone says they don't have a particular interest in a composer right now doesn't mean that they won't in the future. Remember who you're talking to. I've had more phases than this earth has had seasons since its creation. Anyway, those works I recommend, I do believe a unique musical persona is at large. Anyway, I enjoy the works I mentioned and for this reason I have a right to be on this thread as much as anyone does whether I like one work or 20 of them.