Aulis Sallinen (born April 9, 1935) is a Finnish contemporary classical music composer. He writes in a modern, though tonal and not experimental music style. He studied at the Sibelius Academy, where his teachers included Joonas Kokkonen. He has had works commissioned by the Kronos Quartet, and has also written 6 operas, 8 symphonies, a Violin Concerto and any number of chamber works. He won the Nordic Council Music Prize in 1978 for his opera Ratsumies (The Horseman).
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Childhood and studies
Sallinen was born in Salmi, in an area which was conquered by the USSR when he was nine. His first instruments were violin and piano. He would play both jazz and classical music. He was known to be extremely creative, and spent much time during his teenage years improvising. After a while, he began writing his ideas down on paper, and began to do serious composition. He attended the Sibelius Academy of Music, and studied with a number of prestigious teachers.
Early adult life
After graduating, Sallinen took a position as composition teacher at the Sibelius Academy, and continued composing. In his mid 20's, he was put on the board of directors of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. He became chairman of the board of Finnish Composers ten years after. Though he was a known teacher and was on many boards of directors, his compositions were not particularly noted until he was made "Professor of Arts for Life" by the Finnish government, giving him money so he could focus more on composition.
Later life
After receiving that award, Sallinen devoted great amounts of time to his composing. He has revived standard forms and harmonies, but puts them together in very contemporary ways. He has received a number of commissions from some very renowned groups and has composed eight symphonies, including one using material from a proposed ballet on The Lord of the Rings and containing two mediaeval Finnish tunes from the Piae Cantiones. He has written six operas, and is well-known as the composer of the title track of the Kronos Quartet's album Winter was Hard. Though Sallinen remains relatively obscure, he is a very accomplished composer.
Career highlights
- 1960 - awarded diploma from the Sibelius Academy.
- 1960-70 - administrator of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra.
- 1978 - Nordic Council Music Prize for The Horseman.
- 1981 - becomes the first person to be made a Professor of Arts for life by the Finnish Government, enabling him to concentrate on composing full-time.
- 1983 - Wihuri International Sibelius Prize.
- 2004 - first in series of recordings of complete orchestral music released on the cpo label.
Selected Works
Symphonies
- Symphony No. 1, Op. 24 (1971)
- Symphony No. 2 Symphonic Dialogue, Op. 29 (1972)
- Symphony No. 3, Op. 35 (1975)
- Symphony No. 4, Op. 49 (1979)
- Symphony No. 5 Washington Mosaics, Op. 57 (1985-1987)
- Symphony No. 6 From a New Zealand Diary, Op. 65 (1990)
- Symphony No. 7 The Dream of Gandolf, Op. 71 (1996)
- Symphony No. 8 Autumnal Fragments, Op. 81 (2001)
Orchestral
- Mauermusik, Op. 7 (1963)
- Variations for Orchestra, Op. 8 (1963)
- Chorali, Op. 22 (1970)
- Chamber Music I, Op. 38 (1975)
- Chamber Music II, Op. 41 (1976)
- Dies Irae, for soprano, bass, male choir and orchestra, Op. 47 (1978)
- Shadows, Op. 52 (1982)
- Chamber Music III The Nocturnal Dances of Don Juan Quixote, Op. 58 (1983; cello, strings)
- Sunrise Serenade, Op. 63 (1989)
- Songs of Life and Death, Op. 69 (1995; baritone, choir, orchestra)
- Palace Rhapsody, Op. 72 (1996)
- Introduction and Tango Overture for piano & strings, Op. 74b (1997)
- A Solemn Overture, Op. 75 (1997)
- Chamber Music IV Metamorphosis, for piano and strings, Op. 79 (2000)
- Chamber Music V Barabbas Variations, Op. 80 (2000)
- Chamber Music VI Trois invitations au voyage, Op. 88 (2006)
Concertos
- Violin Concerto, Op. 18 (1968)
- Cello Concerto, Op. 44 (1977)
- Flute Concerto Harlekiini, Op. 70 (1995)
- Horn Concerto Campane ed Arie, Op. 82 (2002)
- Chamber Concerto, for violin, piano and chamber orchestra, Op. 87 (2005)
Chamber Music
- String Quartet No. 1, Op. 14 (1958)
- String Quartet No. 2 Canzona, Op. 4 (1960)
- Quattro per quattro, Op. 12 (1965)
- String Quartet No. 3 Some Aspects of Peltoniemi Hintrik's Funeral March, Op. 19 (1969)
- Four Etudes for violin & piano, Op.21 (1970)
- String Quartet No. 4 Quiet Songs, Op. 25 (1971)
- Sonata for Solo Cello, Op. 26 (1971)
- Metamorphora, for cello & piano, Op. 34 (1974)
- String Quartet No. 5 Pieces of Mosaic, Op. 54 (1983)
- From a Swan Song, for cello & piano, Op. 67 (1991)
- Piano Quintet ...des morceaux oublies, Op. 85 (2004)
- Cello Sonata, Op. 86 (2005)
Operas
- The Horseman, Op. 32 (1974, Ratsumies (Finnish), Ryttaren (Swedish))
- The Red Line, Op. 46 (1978)
- 'The King goes forth to France, Op.53 (1983, Kuningas lähtee Ranskaan (Finnish))
- Kullervo, Op. 61 (1988)
- The Palace, Op.68 (1991-1993, Palatsi (Finnish))
- King Lear, Op. 76 (1999)
Selected recordings
- Symphony Nos 1 & 7 - CPO 999 918-2
- Kullervo - Ondine ODE 844-2
- Shadows; Symphonies 4 & 5; Chamber Music III - Ultima 8573819722
