List of compositions by Kaija Saariaho

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Kaija Saariaho
Born
Kaija Laakkonen

(1952-10-14) 14 October 1952 (age 70)
Helsinki
EraContemporary

Kaija Saariaho (Finnish: [ˈkɑi̯jɑ ˈsɑːriɑho]; née Laakkonen; born 14 October 1952) is a Finnish composer based in Paris, France.

Saariaho studied composition in Helsinki, Freiburg, and Paris, where she has lived since 1982. Her research at the Institute for Research and Coordination in Acoustics/Music (IRCAM) marked a turning point in her music away from strict serialism towards spectralism. Her characteristically rich, polyphonic textures are often created by combining live music and electronics.

During the course of her career, Saariaho has received commissions from the Lincoln Center for the Kronos Quartet and from IRCAM for the Ensemble Intercontemporain, the BBC, the New York Philharmonic, the Salzburg Music Festival, the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, and the Finnish National Opera, among others.[1] In a 2019 poll of composers by BBC Music Magazine, Saariaho was ranked the greatest living composer.[2]

Orchestra[edit]

Title Year Duration Notes
Asteroid 4179 2005 4 min.
Chimera 2019 1 min.
Ciel d'hiver 2013 10 min.
Circle Map 2012 26 min. for orchestra and electronics
Du Cristal 1989 12 min. for orchestra and electronics
Forty Heartbeats 1998 3 min.
Laterna Magica 2008 20 min.
Lumière et Pesanteur 2009 6 min.
Nymphéa Reflection 2001 27 min. for string orchestra
Orion 2002 22 min.
Song for Betty 2001 5 min.
Terra Memoria 2009 20 min. string orchestra version of the 2006 string quartet
Verblendungen 1984 14 min. for orchestra and tape
Vista 2019 25 min.
Semafor 2020 14 min. for sinfonietta

Soloist(s) and orchestra[edit]

Instrumental[edit]

Title Year Soloist(s) Duration Notes
...à la Fumée 1990 alto flute and cello 19 min. sequel to Du Cristal
Aile du songe 2001 flute 18 min.
D'Om le Vrai Sens 2010 clarinet 35 min.
Graal théâtre 1994 violin 25 min.
Maan varjot 2013 organ 15 min.
Notes on Light 2006 cello 28 min.
Trans 2015 harp 20 min.

Vocal[edit]

Title Year Soloist(s) Duration Text writer Language Notes
Adriana Songs 2006 mezzo-soprano 29 min. Amin Maalouf[3] French[3]
Cinq reflets 2001 soprano and baritone 30 min. Amin Maalouf[4] French[4]
Émilie Suite 2011 soprano 25 min. Amin Maalouf[5] French[5]
Leino Songs 2007 soprano 13 min. Eino Leino[6] Finnish[6]
Mirage 2007 cello and soprano 12 min. Maria Sabina[7] English[7]
Quatre Instants 2002 soprano 23 min. Amin Maalouf[8] French[8] orchestral version of the 2002 art song
True Fire 2014 baritone 25 min. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Seamus Heaney, trad. Native American, Mahmoud Darwish[9] English[9]
Saarikoski-laulut 2020 soprano 15 min. Pentti Saarikoski[10] Finnish[10] orchestral version of the 2017 song cycle

Large ensemble (7 or more players)[edit]

Title Year Instrumentation Duration Notes
Aer 1991 flute, percussion, harp, harpsichord, violin, viola, cello, and electronics 17 min.
Io 1987 2 flutes (2nd doubling piccolo and alto flute), bass flute, 2 horns, trombone, tuba, percussion, harp, piano, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass and electronics 17 min.
Lichtbogen 1986 flute (doubling piccolo and alto flute), percussion, harp, piano, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass and electronics 17 min.
Neiges 1998 for 8 or 12 cellos 15 min. one version available for 8 cellos, one for 12
Solar 1993 flute (doubling piccolo), oboe, clarinet, trumpet, 2 percussionists, harp, 2 pianos, violin, viola, double bass and electronics 18 min.

Soloist(s) and large ensemble (7 or more players)[edit]

Instrumental[edit]

Title Year Soloist Ensemble instrumentation Duration Notes
Amers 1992 cello piccolo, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, horn, 2 percussionists, harp, 2 keyboards, and electronics 20 min.
Graal théâtre 1997 violin flute (doubling piccolo), oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, 2 horns, trumpet, bass trombone, 2 percussionists, harp, piano, 2 violins, viola, cello, and double bass 25 min. chamber version of the 1994 orchestra piece
Notes on Light 2010 cello flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, timpani, 2 percussionists, harp, piano, celesta, 2 violins, viola, cello, and double bass 28 min. ensemble version of the 2006 orchestra piece
Vers toi qui est si loin 2018 violin piccolo, harp (optional), 2 violins, viola, cello, and double bass 7 min. adaptation of the final aria of L'Amour de loin

Vocal[edit]

Title Year Soloist Ensemble instrumentation Duration Text writer Language Notes
Message pour Gérard 2000 mezzo-soprano alto flute (doubling piccolo), percussion, harp, violin, viola, cello, and double bass 4 min. Kaija Saariaho (text collage)[11] French[11]
Tempest Songbook 2004 soprano and baritone original: flute, clarinet, harp, guitar, mandolin, violin, viola, cello, and double bass

alternate: recorder, harpsichord, lute, 2 violins, viola, cello, and double bass

21 min. Shakespeare[12] English[12] one version for modern instruments, one for period instruments
Vers toi qui est si loin 2018 soprano piccolo, harp (optional), 2 violins, viola, cello, and double bass 7 min. Amin Maalouf[13] French[13] adaptation of the final aria of L'Amour de loin

Works for 2-6 players[edit]

Title Year Instrumentation Duration Notes
Aure 2011 violin and viola (or cello) 5 min.
The Bosun's Cheer 2014 sprechstimme speaker, flute (or violin), cello, and double bass 4 min. one version for modern instruments, one for period instruments
Calices 2009 violin and piano 10 min.
Cendres 1998 alto flute, piano, and cello 10 min.
Ciel étoilé 1999 percussion and double bass 5 min.
Cloud Trio 2009 violin, viola, and cello 20 min.
Concordia 2017 violin and cello 20 min.
Figura 2016 solo clarinet, piano, and string quartet 14 min.
Gates 1991 flute, harpsichord, cello, and electronics (optional) 10 min.
Im Traume 1980 cello and piano 10 min.
Je sens un deuxième coeur 2003 viola, cello, and piano 15 min.
Light and Matter 2014 piano, violin, and cello 12 min.
Light still and moving 2016 flute and kantele 12 min.
Mirrors 1997 flute and cello 4 min.
New Gates 1996 flute, harp, and viola 12 min.
Nymphéa 1987 string quartet and electronics 18 min.
Offrande 2014 organ and cello 7 min.
Oi Kuu 1990 bass clarinet (or bass flute) and cello 6 min.
Serenatas 2008 piano, cello, and percussion 14 min.
Terra Memoria 2006 string quartet 20 min.
Terrestre 2002 solo flute, percussion, harp, violin, and cello 10 min.
Tocar 2010 violin and piano 7 min.
Trois Rivières 1994 percussion quartet and electronics 16 min.

Solo works[edit]

Title Year Instrumentation Duration Notes
Arabesques et adages 2016 piano 7 min.
Ballade 2005 piano 6 min., 30 sec.
Couleurs du vent 1998 alto flute 9 min.
...de la Terre 1991 violin and electronics 15 min.
Dolce Tormento 2004 piccolo 5 min.
Dreaming Chaccone (Variation on the Chiacona of Giuseppe Colombi) 2010 cello
Duft 2012 clarinet 10 min.
Fall 1991 harp and electronics 5 min.
Folia 1995 double bass and electronics 10 min.
Frises 2011 violin and electronics 20 min.
Jardin Secret II 1986 harpsichord and electronics 11 min.
Laconisme de l'aile 1982 flute and electronics 9 min.
NoaNoa 1992 flute and electronics 10 min.
Nocturne 1994 violin 6 min.
Petals 1988 cello and electronics 9 min.
Prelude 2007 piano 7 min., 30 sec.
Près 1992 cello and electronics 18 min.
Sense 2016 violin
Sept Papillons 2000 cello 10 min.
Six Japanese Gardens 1994 percussion and electronics 19 min.
Spins and Spells 1997 cello 7 min.
Trois Rivières: Delta 2001 percussion and electronics 16 min.
Vent nocturne 2006 viola and electronics 15 min.

Chorus (a capella and with accompaniment)[edit]

Title Year Instrumentation Duration Text writer Language Notes
Château de l'âme 1996 solo soprano, SA chorus, and orchestra 22 min. Kaija Saariaho (text collage)[14] French[14]
Echo! 2007 2 sopranos, alto, countertenor, 2 tenors, 2 basses, and electronics 10 min. Aleksi Barrière[15] French[15]
Horloge, Tais-Tois! 2007 original: SA chorus and piano

alternate: SA chorus, flute, clarinet, basson, percussion, and strings

3 min., 30 sec. Aleksi Barrière[16] French[16]
Kesäpäivä 2011 SA chorus and 2 percussionists Aleksi Barrière[17]
Nuits, adieux 1996 SATB chorus 10 min. Jacques Roubaud, Honoré de Balzac[18] French[18] choral version of the 1991 piece for solo voices
Oltra mar 1999 SATB chorus and orchestra 22 min. Amin Maalouf, Abou Said[19] French[19]
La Passion de Simone 2006 soprano solo, SATB chorus, and orchestra (or chamber orchestra) 1 hour, 15 min. Amin Maalouf[20] French one version for large orchestra, one for chamber orchestra
Reconnaissance SATB chorus, percussion, and double bass 20 min. Aleksi Barrière[21]
Tag des Jahrs 2001 SATB chorus and electronics 15 min. Friedrich Hölderlin[22] German[22]
Überzeugung 2001 3 female voices, violin, cello, and crotale (can be played by one of the singers) 2 min. Friedrich Hölderlin[23] German[23]

Solo voice with up to 6 players[edit]

Title Year Instrumentation Duration Text writer Language Notes
Ariel's Hail 2000 soprano, flute, and harp 3 min. Shakespeare[24] English[24]
Die Aussicht 1996

1998

original: soprano, flute, guitar, violin, and cello

alternate: soprano, flute, piano, and cello

4 min. Friedrich Hölderlin[25] German[25]
Caliban's Dream 1993

1995

original: baritone, clarinet, harp, guitar, mandolin, and double bass

alternate: baritone, alto flute, harp, and cello

3 min. Shakespeare[26] English[26] part of The Tempest Songbook[26]
Changing Light 2002

2005

2019

original: soprano and violin

alternate: soprano and flute

alternate: baritone and cello

6 min. translated from the Hebrew by Rabbi Jules Harlow[27] English[28]
Ferdinand's Comfort 2004 soprano, baritone, flute, harp (or piano), violin, cello, and double bass 4 min. Shakespeare[29] English[29] part of The Tempest Songbook[29]
From the Grammar of Dreams 1988

2002

original: 2 sopranos

alternate: soprano and electronics

10 min. Sylvia Plath[30] English[30]
Grammaire des Rêves 1988 soprano, alto, 2 flutes, harp, viola, and cello 11 min. Paul Éluard (text collage)[31]
Il pleut 1986 soprano and piano 2 min. Guillaume Apollinaire[32] French[32]
Iltarukous 2000 soprano and piano 3 min. Eino Leino[33] Finnish[33]
Leino Songs 2007 soprano and piano 13 min. Eino Leino[34] Finnish[34] chamber version of the 2007 piece for soprano and orchestra
Lonh 1996 soprano and electronics 20 min. Jaufre Rudel[35] Old Occitan[35]
Luonnon kasvot 2013 voice and piano Pentti Saarikoski[36] Finnish[36]
Mirage 2007 soprano, cello, and piano 12 min. Maria Sabina[37] English[37]
Miranda's Lament 1997

2000

original: soprano, clarinet, harp, viola, and double bass

alternate: soprano, flute, harp, violin, andcello

6 min. Shakespeare[38] English[38] part of The Tempest Songbook[38]
Nuits, adieux 1991 SATB and electronics 10 min. Jacques Roubaud, Honoré de Balzac[39] French[39]
Prospero's Vision 2002

2019

original: baritone, clarinet, harp, violin, and double bass

alternate: tenor and string quartet

5 min. Shakespeare[40] English[40] part of The Tempest Songbook
Quatre Instants 2002 soprano and piano 23 min. Amin Maalouf[41] French[41]
Quatre Messages 1999 2 sopranos, flute, and harp 8 min. Kaija Saariaho (text collage)[42] French[42]
Saarikoski-laulut 2017 soprano and piano 11 min. Pentti Saarikoski[43] Finnish[44]
Sombre 2012 voice, bass flute, percussion, harp, and double bass 18 min. Ezra Pound[45] English[45]
Tag des Jahrs 2006 2 sopranos, mezzo-soprano, countertenor, 2 tenors, bass, and electronics 15 min. Friedrich Hölderlin[22] German[22] arranged by Rachid Safir

Opera and musical theatre[edit]

Title Year Voices Orchestra instrumentation Duration Librettist Language Notes
Adriana Mater 2005 mezzo-soprano, soprano, tenor, bass-baritone, and SATB chorus large orchestra and electronics 2 hours Amin Maalouf[46] French[46]
L'Amour de loin 2000 soprano, mezzo-soprano, baritone, and SATB chorus large orchestra and electronics 2 hours Amin Maalouf[13] French[13]
Émilie 2008 soprano chamber orchestra and electronics 1 hour, 20 min. Amin Maalouf[47] French[47]
Innocence 2018 soprano, tenor, baritone, and SATB chorus large orchestra 1 hour, 45 min. Sofi Oksanen, translated by Aleksi Barrière[48] mainly English (also Finnish, Czech, French, Romanian, Swedish, German, Spanish, and Greek)[48]
Only the Sound Remains 2015 countertenor, bass-baritone, and SATB ensemble flute (doubling alto flute and bass flute), percussion, kantele, 2 violins, viola, cello, and electronics 1 hour, 30 min. inspired by Noh dramas (Always Strong and Feather mantle), translated by Ezra Pound and Ernest Fenollosa[49] English[49]

Music for dance[edit]

Title Year Instrumentation Duration
Maa 1991 flute, percussion, harp, harpsichord, violin, ciola, cello, and electronics 1 hour, 30 min.

Electronic music[edit]

Title Year Duration
Jardin Secret I 1985 10 min., 48 sec.
Stilleben 1988

References[edit]

Sources[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Kaija Saariaho (1952–)."". Ondine (album label). N.p., n.d. Web. 20 August 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  2. ^ "Kaija Saariaho voted greatest living composer by BBC Music Magazine". Music Finland. Retrieved 2019-12-05.
  3. ^ a b "Adriana Songs | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  4. ^ a b "Cinq reflets | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  5. ^ a b "Emilie Suite | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  6. ^ a b "Leino Songs | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  7. ^ a b "Mirage | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  8. ^ a b "Quatre Instants (orchestral version) | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  9. ^ a b "True Fire | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  10. ^ a b "Saarikoski-laulut (orchestra version) | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2021-08-20.
  11. ^ a b "Message pour Gérard | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  12. ^ a b "Tempest Songbook | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  13. ^ a b c d "L'Amour de loin | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  14. ^ a b "Château de l'âme | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  15. ^ a b "Echo! | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  16. ^ a b "Horloge, Tais-Toi! | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  17. ^ "Kesäpäivä | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  18. ^ a b "Nuits, adieux (a cappella version) | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  19. ^ a b "Oltra mar | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  20. ^ "La Passion de Simone | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  21. ^ "Reconnaissance | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  22. ^ a b c d "Tag des Jahrs | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  23. ^ a b "Überzeugung | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  24. ^ a b "Ariel's Hail | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  25. ^ a b "Die Aussicht | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  26. ^ a b c "Caliban's Dream | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  27. ^ "Changing Light | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  28. ^ "Saariaho, Kaija - Changing Light for soprano and violin". www.boosey.com. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
  29. ^ a b c "Ferdinand's Comfort | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  30. ^ a b "From the Grammar of Dreams | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  31. ^ "Grammaire des rêves | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  32. ^ a b "Il pleut | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  33. ^ a b "Iltarukous | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  34. ^ a b "Leino Songs | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  35. ^ a b "Lonh | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  36. ^ a b "Luonnon kasvot | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  37. ^ a b "Mirage | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  38. ^ a b c "Miranda's Lament | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  39. ^ a b "Nuits, adieux | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  40. ^ a b "Prospero's Vision | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  41. ^ a b "Quatre Instants | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  42. ^ a b "Quatre Messages | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  43. ^ "Saarikoski Songs | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  44. ^ "Kaija Saariaho: Saarikoski Songs". Presto Sheet Music. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
  45. ^ a b "Sombre | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  46. ^ a b "Adriana Mater | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  47. ^ a b "Emilie | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  48. ^ a b "Innocence | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  49. ^ a b "Only The Sound Remains | Kaija Saariaho". www.wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
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