Meriläinen's trio for flute, piano and cello
Mikael Helasvuo, flute
Tuija Hakkila, piano
Anssi Karttunen, cello

Usko Meriläinen: Henriette's Feast (Henrietten juhlat)

Pentti Saaritsa - Ascensus

read by Pentti Saaritsa

Pentti Saaritsa - Ascensus (poem)

T.J. Borden, violoncello
Whitmore Recital Hall, University of Missouri-Columbia
T.J. Borden Cello Recital
04/10/2019
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When I wrote my string quartet Culs-de-sac (en passacaille) in 2009, it was evident to me that I should develop the sonic soundscape that I have created in that piece. I have decided that I write a cycle of compositions for string quartet and its subsets. Tr (épilogue) marks the second piece that I completed in this cycle. Its title has a precursor; Tr for violoncello and piano, of which I took the formal scheme as a point of reference for the solo piece. I took the duo piece, stripped away the piano part, and enlarged the piece by adding musical commentaries. As the title may suggest, I intend that this piece concludes the cycle. In the spirit of concluding the cycle, my focus in this piece was to illuminate the gestures of ‘farewell,’ in the sense that the envelope of the phrases has the conscious trajectory of fade-out. Many thanks to Patrick McGuire who, in the symposium Creative Dialogue V, premiered the work-in-progress version as a part of Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival. Also thanks are due to Anssi Karttunen and Magnus Lindberg, whose commentaries and feedbacks were crucial to the development of the piece. Tr (épilogue) is dedicated to Pierre Morlet and Mark Andre.

Tr (épilogue) (2012/14)

Parts 1-10
Workshop

Alexa Ciciretti, cello

Cité Int. des Arts de Paris
Paris, France
Oct. 2023

Ciaccona: la forza distruttive della tradizione orale, var. i-x

Toimii ensemble in studio 1998.
Anssi Karttunen, Timo Korhonen, Kari Kriikku, Magnus Lindberg, Juhani Liimatainen, Riku Niemi


Kurt Schwitters:  Ursonate,  Toimii ensemble

Episode Cinquième for cello (1983)

Composed at the beginning of 1983, this work, following Berio’s example, is the fifth of a series of nine pieces named episode, featuring different solo instruments. It is also the first I devoted to a stringed instrument. Next would come episodes for viola, electric guitar, double bass and clarinet.

In Episode #5, rather than virtuosity, I have chosen to emphasize the exceptional lyrical qualities of the cello, while however, keeping them at all times under control through a rigorous yet flexible structure. Anecdotally, this structure  is based on the notes of a congratulation message I sent Antoine Vitez, on his appointment at the head of the Théâtre de Chaillot.

Episode Cinquième was premiered in Paris in 1985 by Sonia- Wieder-Atherton.

Music by Betsy Jolas with cello, Anssi Karttunen, cello

Betsy Jolas - Episode Cinquième, for solo cello

An improvisation inspired by and recorded looking at a monotype by Visa Norros. The picture is impossible to reproduce being all in different textures of black. I felt that the best way to share the impression of looking at it was to transform my feelings into music.

December 18th, 2020

Betsy Jolas - Episode Cinquième, for solo cello

Anssi Karttunen

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