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 fourteen symphonies [ [http://www.fennicagehrman.fi/comp_aho.htm www.fennicagehrman.fi] ] twelve 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. During the next 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. [ [http://www.fimic.fi/fimic/fimic.nsf/mainframe?readform&7118B64EF463A14FC22566A5003B5FB7 www.fimic.fi] ] His music also shows the influence of Einojuhani Rautavaara (especially when evoking mysterious textures) and Dmitri Shostakovich. His music has been extensively recorded by BIS records.

Works

Operas

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

ymphonies

*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 solists, choir and orchestra (2002-03)
*Symphony No. 13 (2003)
*Symphony No. 14 "Rituals", for darabuka, djembe, gongs and orchestra (2007)

Orchestral

*Chamber Symphony No. 1 (1976)
*Chamber Symphony No. 2 (1991-92)
*Chamber Symphony No. 3, for alto saxophone and orchestra (1995-96)
*"Silence" (1982)
*"Paloheimo Fanfare" (1989)
*"The Rejoicing of the Deep Waters" (1995)
*"Louhi" (2003)

Concertante

*Piano Concerto No. 1 (1988-1989)
*Piano Concerto No. 2 (2001-2002)
*Violin Concerto (1981)
*Viola Concerto (2006)
*Cello Concerto (1983-84)
*Concerto for Two Cellos and Orchestra (2003)
*Double-Bass Concerto (2005)
*Flute Concerto (2002)
*Oboe Concerto (2007)
*Clarinet Concerto (2005)
*Bassoon Concerto (2004)
*Contrabassoon Concerto (2004-05)
*Tuba Concerto (2000-2001)

Chamber/Instrumental

*Trio for Clarinet, Viola, and Piano
*String Quartet No. 1
*String Quartet No. 2
*String Quartet No. 3
*Quartet for Flute, Saxophone, Guitar, and Percussion
*Flute Quintet
*Oboe Quintet
*Bassoon Quintet
*Quintet for Flute, Oboe, and String Trio
*Wind Quintet
*Quintet for Saxophone, Bassoon, Viola, Cello, and Double-Bass
*Quintet for Flute, Violin, Two Violas, and Cello

Notes

References

* Korhonen, Kimmo (1999). " [http://www.fimic.fi/fimic/fimic.nsf/mainframe?readform&7118B64EF463A14FC22566A5003B5FB7 Kalevi Aho in Profile] " - Finnish Music Information Centre. Retrieved 8 February 2005.
* Oramo, Ilkka. "Aho, Kalevi." at [http://www.grovemusic.com/ Grove Music Online] . Retrieved 21 September 2006.

External Links and References

* [http://www.fimic.fi/contemporary/composers/aho+kalevi Finnish Music Information Centre minisite - including profile, discography and audio clips]
* [http://www.fennicagehrman.fi/comp_aho.htm Fennica Gehrman home page (publisher)]
* Minnesota Orchestra's showcase concert magazine, May 06, page 43