List of compositions by Leevi Madetoja

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Madetoja (c. 1920) Leevi Madetoja 1920.jpg
Madetoja (c.1920)

The following is a list of the works of the Finnish composer Leevi Madetoja. In total, his oeuvre comprises 82 works with opus numbers and about 40 without. While Madetoja composed in all genres, he found his greatest success with the orchestra: symphonies, operas, cantatas, and orchestral miniatures all flowed from his pen. [1] [2] Curiously, he composed no concerti, although at various times in his career he hinted at plans for a violin concerto. [3] Madetoja was also an accomplished composer for voice, as his numerous choral pieces and songs for voice and piano evidence; he found less success with—and composed sparingly for—solo piano. [4] Finally, Madetoja wrote little for chamber ensemble after his student years, [4] [1] although it is unclear if this was due to insufficient skill or waning interest in the genre.

Contents

Today, Madetoja is primarily remembered for his set of three symphonies (1916, 1918, and 1926, respectively); two operas, The Ostrobothnians (1924) and Juha (1935); the ballet-pantomime, Okon Fuoko (1927); the Elegia from the Symphonic Suite (1909); the Kalevalic symphonic poem, Kullervo (1913); and, The Garden of Death (1918, r. 1919), a three-movement suite for solo piano. In the inventory that follows, the dates provided indicate the year of composition, unless otherwise preceded by an "r.", for revision; an "a.", for arrangement; or, an "fp.", for first performance. Where possible, names in the original Finnish are included, with English translations in parentheses.

At present, this list is incomplete, particularly in the songs and choral works subsections.

Works for orchestra

Symphonies

Stage

Also see:

Excerpted suites

  • Op. 52: Sarja oopperasta Pohjalaisia (The Ostrobothnians Suite), arranged from the opera by Madetoja (a. 1923); fp. 8 March 1923, Kajanus & Bergen SO [22] [16]
    1. Lakeus (Open Plain)
    2. Vangin laulu (Prisoner's Song); utilizes motifs from the Ostrobothnian folk song, Tuuli se taivutti koivun larvan (The Wind Bent the Birch)
    3. Häjyt (Thugs)
    4. Tulopeli (Arrival Reel)
    5. Hypyt (Dances)
  • Op. 58: Sarja I musiikista balettiin Okon Fuoko (Okon Fuoko Suite No. 1), arranged from the ballet-pantomime by Madetoja (a. 1927); fp. 15 December 1927, Kajanus & Helsinki PO [12] [10] [n 1]
    1. Okon Fuoko, unitaikuri (The Dream Magician) —
    2. Vieraat saapuvat (Entrance of the Guests) —
    3. Nukkien tanssi (Dance of the Dolls) —
    4. Miehen tanssi (Man's Dance) —
    5. Naisen tanssi (Woman's Dance) —
    6. Irvokas tanssi (Danse grotesque)
  • Op. 74: Sarja oopperasta Juha (Juha Suite), arranged from the opera by Madetoja (a. 1934); [19] [21] fp: ?
    1. Traagillinen episodi (Tragic Episode)
    2. Koskenlasku (Rapids Shooting)

Also see:

Other (without voice or chorus)

Cantatas

Note: Additional national contributions by: Sigfús Einarsson  [ de ] (Iceland); Johan Halvorsen (Norway); Fini Henriques (Denmark); and, Kurt Atterberg (Sweden) [32]

Voice and orchestra

Voice and orchestra (still to source)

Works for choir a cappella

Female choir

Mixed choir

Male choir

The complete songs for unaccompanied male choir have been recorded by the YL Male Voice Choir under the Finlandia Label, over three volumes. In the list that follows, '*' signifies a song on Vol. I, '†' a song on Vol. II, and '‡' a song on Vol. III.

also on Vol. I: Op. 30b/3 – Tuolla ylhaal asunnoissa (Up There In the Mansions)

also on Vol. II: Op. 57/1 – Läksin minä kesäyönä käymään (One Night in Summer)

also on Vol. III: Lauluseppele (A Garland of Song): 1) Muistojen laulu (Song of Memories), 2) Serenadi (Serenade), and 3) Hymni Isänmaalle (Hymn to the Fatherland)


Works for solo instrument

Piano


Works for voice and piano

Solo voice

From 2001–02, Gabriel Suovanen  [ fi ] (baritone) and Helena Juntunen (soprano) recorded the complete songs for solo voice and piano under the Ondine label (piano accompaniment: Gustav Djupsjöbacka). In the list that follows, '*' signifies a soprano recording and '†' a baritone recording. Note, however, that many of Madetoja's songs can be sung by either male or female voice.


Multiple voices

Works for chamber ensemble

Stage

Also see:

Notes, references, and sources

Notes

  1. The Okon Fuoko Suite is played without pause; moreover, the score does not make the kind of clear divisions typical of a multi-movement suite and no titles are provided. Typically, however, conductors have recorded the suite across six tracks, although John Storgårds and the Helsinki PO take just four. For more, see Okon Fuoko discography.
  2. The catalogue of Madetoja's works compiled by Lauriala (2005) at madetoja.org incorrectly lists the premiere date for the Concert Overture, Op. 7, as 14 November 1913. Pulliainen (2000b), in the liner notes to Vol. 2 of Madetoja's complete orchestral works (Volmer & Oulu SO), also gets the date wrong, writing "Kajanus' Finnish Orchestra [Helsinki PO] gave the first performance ... on October 10, 1913 in Madetoja's second composition concert". [26] This is clearly a typo, as Pulliainen gets the date of Madetoja's second composition concert, 14 October 1913, correct in the liner notes to Vol. 3. [27] The catalogue by Salmenhaara (1987) is thus the only one to list the correct date of the Concert Overture's first performance, 14 October. Pesonen (1982) makes no mention of a premiere date.
  3. Lauriala (2005) at madetoja.org lists the date of first performance as 1 November 1928, whereas Salmenhaara (1987) provides 1 October 1928.
  4. As Salmenhaara (1987) makes clear in his biography of Madetoja, the Nordic Joint Cantata Sagen i Norden was first performed in Copenhagen on 2 June 1929; [32] only later, in March 1930, did Madetoja himself conduct Finland's individual contribution in Finland. [33] The catalogue of Madetoja's works edited by Pesonen (1982) thus is incorrect when it lists the date of first performance as 6 March 1929 in Helsinki, with Leevi Madetoja conducting the Helsinki PO and Suomen Laulu. [30]
  5. The catalogue of Madetoja's works compiled by Lauriala (2005) at madetoja.org incorrectly lists the choir accompaniment as "male", although the score available on the same website calls for mixed choir. Salmenhaara (1987) and Pesonen (1982) each correctly list the choir as mixed ("sekakuorolle").

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<i>Okon Fuoko</i> Ballet-pantomime in one act by Leevi Madetoja

Okon Fuoko, Op. 58, is a ballet-pantomime for orchestra, vocal soloists, and choir by the Finnish composer Leevi Madetoja, who wrote the piece from 1925–27 concurrent with the composition of his Third Symphony. The Japonisme-influenced libretto is by Danish playwright Poul Knudsen. The story takes place in ancient Japan and, similar to Coppélia, centers around the (successful) efforts of the eponymous puppet-maker to bring a female creation to life. The result is a tragic love-triangle between the seductive doll, the infatuated Okon Fuoko, and his devastated wife. With its unique and exotic musical language, Okon Fuoko is one of Madetoja's "finest" scores; indeed, the last of his "masterpieces".

<i>Juha</i> (Madetoja) Opera in three acts by Leevi Madetoja

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<i>Kullervo</i> (Madetoja) Symphonic poem by Leevi Madetoja

Kullervo, Op. 15, is a symphonic poem for orchestra written in 1913 by Finnish composer Leevi Madetoja. The piece premiered on 14 October 1913 with Madetoja conducting the Helsinki Philharmonic Society.

<i>Chess</i> (Madetoja) Incidental music by Leevi Madetoja

Chess, Op. 5, is a theatre score—comprising four numbers—for orchestra by the Finnish composer Leevi Madetoja; he wrote the music in 1910 to accompany the Finnish author Eino Leino's one-act "historical tableau" of the same name. In particular, Madetoja's music occurs during the pantomime divertissement in the middle of the play. The scene, a dream sequence in which 16 white and 16 black chess pieces come to life and play a game, is an allegory for the political intrigue that transpired in 1464 between rivals for the Swedish thrown: Charles VIII of Sweden and Christian I of Denmark. Chess premiered on 15 February 1910 in Helsinki at Finnish National Theatre during a lottery soirée, with Madetoja conducting the Apostol's Concert Orchestra.

<i>Hymn of the Earth</i> Patriotic cantata by Jean Sibelius (1920)

Hymn of the Earth, Op. 95, is a single-movement cantata for mixed choir and orchestra written in 1919–1920 by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. The piece, which is a setting of Eino Leino's Finnish language poem of the same name, is the third in a series of four "little known, but beautiful" cantatas from the composer's mature period—including My Own Land ; Song of the Earth ; and Väinämöinen’s Song. Hymn of the Earth premiered on 4 April 1920 in Helsinki.

References

  1. 1 2 Korhonen (2007), p. 50
  2. Karjalainen (1982), p. 15
  3. Salmenhaara (1987), p. 297–98, 339
  4. 1 2 Karjalainen (1982), p. 16
  5. Pesonen (1982), p. 27
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Salmenhaara (1987), p. 379
  7. 1 2 3 Pesonen (1982), p. 29
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Salmenhaara (1987), p. 380
  9. 1 2 Pesonen (1982), p. 35
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Salmenhaara (1987), p. 382
  11. Salmenhaara (1987), p. 263, 305
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 Lauriala (2005)
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Salmenhaara (1987), p. 377
  14. 1 2 Pesonen (1982), p. 32
  15. Finnish National Opera (1924)
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Salmenhaara (1987), p. 381
  17. Pesonen (1982), p. 36
  18. Finnish National Opera (1930)
  19. 1 2 3 Pesonen (1982), p. 40
  20. Finnish National Opera (1935)
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Salmenhaara (1987), p. 383
  22. 1 2 Pesonen (1982), p. 34
  23. Pesonen (1982), p. 18–19
  24. Pesonen (1982), p. 19
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Salmenhaara (1987), p. 378
  26. 1 2 Pulliainen (2000b), p. 6
  27. Pulliainen (2000c), p. 4
  28. 1 2 Pesonen (1982), p. 21
  29. Pesonen (1982), p. 22
  30. 1 2 3 4 Pesonen (1982), p. 38
  31. 1 2 Pesonen (1982), p. 41
  32. 1 2 Salmenhaara (1987), p. 256
  33. Salmenhaara (1987), p. 263
  34. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Salmenhaara (1987), p. 384
  35. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Pesonen (1982), p. 31
  36. 1 2 Salmenhaara (1987), p. 380–81
  37. 1 2 Pesonen (1982), p. 42
  38. Pesonen (1982), p. 19–20
  39. Pesonen (1982), p. 25–26
  40. 1 2 Pesonen (1982), p. 28
  41. Pesonen (1982), p. 30
  42. Pesonen (1982), p. 37
  43. Pesonen (1982), p. 23
  44. Pesonen (1982), p. 25
  45. Rännäli (2000), p. 6–7
  46. Salmenhaara (1987), p. 378–79
  47. Pesonen (1982), p. 39
  48. 1 2 Pesonen (1982), p. 43
  49. Salmenhaara (1987), p. 377–78

Sources

  • Finnish National Opera (1924). "Pohjalaisia Oct 25, 1924: Information on performance". encore.opera.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  • Finnish National Opera (1930). "Okon Fuoko Feb 12, 1930: Information on performance". encore.opera.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  • Finnish National Opera (1935). "Juha Feb 17, 1935: Information on performance". encore.opera.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  • Karjalainen, Kauko. "Leevi Madetoja". In Pesonen (1982).
  • Korhonen, Kimmo (2007). Inventing Finnish Music: Contemporary Composers from Medieval to Modern . Finnish Music Information Center (FIMIC). ISBN   978-952-5076-61-5.
  • Lauriala, Miika (2005). "The Works of Leevi Madetoja". madetoja.org (Music Finland). Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  • Pesonen, Olavi [in Finnish], ed. (1982). "Teosluettelo" [Catalogue of Works]. Leevi Madetoja: Teokset[Leevi Madetoja: Works] (in Finnish). Helsinki: Suomen Säveltäjät [Society of Finnish Composers]. ISBN   951-99388-4-2.
  • Pulliainen, Riitta (2000b). Madetoja Orchestral Works 2: The Spirit Home of My Soul (booklet). Arvo Volmer & Oulu Symphony Orchestra. Tampere, Finland: Alba. p. 4–6. ABCD 144.
  • Pulliainen, Riitta (2000c). Madetoja Orchestral Works 3: The Infinity of Fantasy (booklet). Arvo Volmer & Oulu Symphony Orchestra. Tampere, Finland: Alba. p. 4–6. ABCD 156.
  • Rännäli, Mika (2000). Intimate Garden: Leevi Madetoja Complete Piano Works (booklet). Mika Rännäli. Tampere, Finland: Alba. p. 4–8. ABCD 206.
  • Salmenhaara, Erkki (1987). Leevi Madetoja (in Finnish). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN   951-30-6725-4.