Kaija Saariaho

For solo Cello.'The title evokes the two gestures which are at the origin of the work: on the one hand the pattern which I call 'spinning tops' turning around on the one spot or undergoing changes and on the other timeless moments centred on the sound colour and texture.The entire piece unfolds either around or between these two gestures. I chose to re-tune the instrument in order to personalise the harmonic writing: the fifths arereplaced by structures favouring major sixths and minor thirds.Challenged by this scodatura the sonority of Spins and Spells reminds me of the music and the instrumental colours of another age far older than those ofthe cello that we know although seen and transformed again through my own universe.' - Kaija Saariaho

Par SAARIAHO KAIJA. Ce travail a été commandé par la Fondation Rudolf Steiner. Elle est dédiée à Anssi Karttunen, qui a donné la première représentation à Helsinki le 10 Septembre 2000. Papillons septembre a été la première pièce Saariaho a écrit après son opéra L'Amour de l'échine et c'était en partie écrite pendant les répétitions de l'opéra à Salzbourg. On sent le désir de trouver un monde nouveau, qui n'a rien à voir avec l'opéra, ni dans le style, ni dans le langage. De la métaphore de l'opéra qui ont tous une qualité éternelle - l'amour, le désir et la mort - elle a déménagé maintenant à une métaphore de l'éphémère: papillon. En outre, de la longue durée s'étend de l'opéra, elle a déménagé à ces sept figurines, où chaque semblent être des études sur un aspect différent du mouvement fragile et éphémère qui n'a ni commencement ni fin. / Niveau : Intermédiaire à Avancé / Rép Classique / Répertoire / Violoncelle

Amers is the title of a book of poems by Saint-John Perse dedicated to the sea. It is also the title chosen by Kaija Saariaho born in Finland in 1952 for a work completed in the studios of IRCAM in Paris.Amers is the Frenchword for 'navigation beacons' strategically spaced along the coast for sailors. One of the earliest ideas about the piece was the effect of a solo cello 'as a sailor charting a course through a sea of sounds' but his journey scattered with phrases defined by the existing sound material is hampered by the surroundings. To a certain extent Amers is a concerto even though the composer has tried to avoid the usual duel between orchestra and soloist. Instead the piece divides naturally on three levels - each with a certain independence. The cello juxtaposed with the instrumental ensemble and with computer generated sounds cannot reach its scheduled ports of call directlyand is often pulled off course.

This composition was written quickly in a matter of days however the composer describes the longer process of writing the piece as unconscious preparation. There are opposite elements on display within the piece fragile coloristic passages give birth to energetic events with clear rhythmic and melodic charachter.More sharpely focused figures pass through different transformations then finally merge back to less dynamic but no less intensive filigration. In bringing these compositional elements together and by forcing opposite modes of expression the composer has aimed to force the listener to stretch their own sensibility. Work for Cello and Electronics which waspremiered by Anssi Karttunen at the Musica Nova Festival Bremen in May 1988.