Seishin, by Finnish composer Juha T. Koskinen is our Composition of the Week.
Written in 2010 and revised in 2022, Seishin was commissioned by Musica Nova Helsinki in commemoration of his fellow countryman Erik Bergman (1911 – 2006) in the occasion of his 100 years Jubilee.

The work was premiered on February 10, 2011, in Helsinki, Finland, by the Guard’s Band, Sami Hannula conducting.
The revised version of 2022 was premiered in Nagoya, Japan, on January 18, 2023, by the Aichi University of Arts Wind Orchestra under Yuri Nitta.

Juha T. Koskinen studied composition at the Sibelius Academy in 1990-98 with Kalevi Aho, Anders Eliasson, Paavo Heininen and Kaija Saariaho, and in Lyon under Philippe Manoury, Gilbert Amy and Philippe Schoeller. He also spent a year studying at IRCAM, Paris in 1999-2000. Koskinen has taught composition at the Aichi University of Arts as a visiting professor since 2016.
Koskinen has composed operas, orchestral works, music for chamber ensembles and several solo pieces. He is regarded modernist, and, in his music, he seeks colors and sound worlds, and explores time, movement and counterpoint.

Seishin, Juha T. Koskinen

Our composition of the Week is CUR? (Why?) from Finnish composer Jukka-Pekka Lehto (1958).
This work obtained the 1st prize in the 2009 International Composition Competition "Ciutat de Betera", in Spain. 
Cur? is a three movement 20 minutes long work written for symphonic wind orchestra, but also very suitable for the wind ensemble. Beside the standard Wind Orchestra Instrumentation, this Grade 6 challenging work calls for a Contrabass Clarinet, Contrabassoon, Soprano Saxophone, as well as piano.
This live recording is performed by the Finnish Defense Forces’ Guards Band, major Raine Ampuja conducting.

Seishin, Juha T. Koskinen

Composition of the Week

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