Living Symphonic Composers

[lescamil]

Interesting that Corligliano's 2nd and 3rd Symphonies are scored for string and wind orchestras respectively. Odds on the Fourth being scored for a percussion ensemble?

The 3rd had enough percussion in it to be called a symphony for wind ensemble and percussion ensemble (8 players, I believe, playing a huge array), but haha, funny joke. I think he will go back to full orchestra, as with the first symphony.

[amw]

I don't think he's going to compose a fourth symphony. He's said he doesn't like repeating genres—that's been borne out in his work with basically e.g. one orchestral symphony, one string symphony, one wind symphony, one opera, one overture, one string quartet (the second symphony is an arrangement of the quartet for string orchestra), one sonata, one piano concerto, one violin concerto, etc.

So the percussion symphony (or a choral symphony) is more likely than a return to full orchestra. But even more likely is he'll write something he hasn't done yet (oratorio? cantata? ballet? I don't know his work well enough to make any predictions)

[Maestro267]

Another new addition to the symphonic canon. Finnish composer Kalevi Aho's (b. 1949) Symphony No. 16 will be premiered in September.

https://bachtrack.com/concert-listing/music-centre-musiikkitalo-concert-hall/world-premiere-of-kalevi-ahos-new-symphony/02-september-2015/19-00

16 symphonies under his belt (which takes him past Shostakovich), and he's only 66.

[Christo]

16 symphonies under his belt (which takes him past Shostakovich), and he's only 66.

Another living Finnish symphonist wrote at least 285 symphonies in the meantime, but okay, he's 71 already. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leif_Segerstam

[San Antone]

Another living Finnish symphonist wrote at least 285 symphonies in the meantime, but okay, he's 71 already. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leif_Segerstam

Which only goes to prove that you can have a busy conducting schedule and still write hundreds of symphonies. 

[North Star]

Which only goes to prove that you can have a busy conducting schedule and still write hundreds of symphonies.

And have a definition of the word 'symphony' that is quite far from most symphony composers' view.

[San Antone]

And have a definition of the word 'symphony' that is quite far from most symphony composers' view.

I found a disc on Spotify with three: 81; 162; 181 - each was about 20 minutes long and were quite interesting.

[North Star]

I found a disc on Spotify with three: 81; 162; 181 - each was about 20 minutes long and were quite interesting.

Pretty much every symphony of his is around 20 minutes long, designed to be played without a conductor, and contains lots of rhythmic freedom.

[mszczuj]

Another new addition to the symphonic canon. Finnish composer Kalevi Aho's (b. 1949) Symphony No. 16 will be premiered in September.

Does anybody know if Is there any recording of his No. 6?

[lescamil]

Another new addition to the symphonic canon. Finnish composer Kalevi Aho's (b. 1949) Symphony No. 16 will be premiered in September.

https://bachtrack.com/concert-listing/music-centre-musiikkitalo-concert-hall/world-premiere-of-kalevi-ahos-new-symphony/02-september-2015/19-00

16 symphonies under his belt (which takes him past Shostakovich), and he's only 66.

And it will likely end up on the YLE Areena, their repository for their recorded concerts, found here:

http://areena.yle.fi/1-2968018

Does anybody know if Is there any recording of his No. 6?

I haven't heard any news of BIS recording it, but in the meanwhile, there is a recording of Jorma Panula conducting the FRSO floating around the interwebs.


Also, for curiosity's sake, a recording of Segerstam's 253rd symphony:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v7Ht2W8Z6E