Marttinen, Tauno (Olavi)
Marttinen, Tauno (Olavi)
Marttinen, Tauno (Olavi), Finnish composer, pedagogue, and conductor; b. Helsinki, Sept. 27, 1912. He received training in conducting and composition at the Viipuri Inst. of Music (1920–35), and then was a student of Peter Akimov, Ilmari Hannikainen, and Selim Palmgren at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki (1935–37); later he studied with Vogel in Switzerland (1958). From 1949 to 1958 he was conductor of the Hämeenlinna City Orch. In 1950 he founded the Hämeenlinna Inst, of Music, serving as its director until 1975. In 1982 he was awarded an honorary prize by the Soc. of Finnish Composers and the Kalevala Soc. He received the 1st Sibelius Award in 1990. After composing in a late Romantic style, Marttinen developed a free serial mode of expression. Later he embraced free tonality before finding renewed creative resources in neo-Baroque and neo-Classical styles.
Works
dramatic: opera:Neiti Gamar àin talo (The House of Lady Gamard; 1960–71); Päällysviitta (The Cloak; 1962–63); Kihlaus (The Engagement; 1964; Helsinki, June 12, 1966); Apotti ja ikäneito (The Abbot and the Old Maid; 1965); Tulitikkuja lainaamassa (Borrowing Matches; Helsinki, Aug. 20, 1966); Lea (1967; Turku, Sept. 19, 1968); Poltettu oranssi (Burnt Orange), television opera (1968; Finnish TV, Oct. 6, 1971; 1ststage perf., Helsinki, Nov. 3, 1975); Mestavi Patelin (Master Patelin; 1969–72; Hämeenlinna, July 31, 1983); Noitarumpu (Shaman’s Drum; 1974–76); Psykiatri (The Psychiatrist; 1974); Laestadiuksen saarna (Laestadius’s Sermon; 1974–76; Oulu, April 29, 1976); Meedio (The Medium), chamber opera (1975–76); Jaarlin sisar (The Jarl’s Sister; 1977; Hämeenlinna, April 3, 1979); Faaraon kirje (Pharaoh’s Letter; 1978–80; Tampere, Oct. 18, 1982); Suuren pen laulu eli Najaadi (The Song of a Great River; 1980; Kemi, May 2, 1982); Häät (The Wedding), chamber opera (1984–85; Helsinki, Jan. 31, 1986); Noidan kirous (1987); Seitsemän veljestä (7 Brothers; 1989); Mooses (1990); Minna Graucher (1992). musical:Kullanmuru (The Golden Treasure; 1980). ballet:Tikkaat (The Ladder; 1955); Dorian Grayn muotokuva (The Picture of Dorian Gray; 1969); Lumikuningatar (The Snow Queen; 1970); Beatrice (1970); Päivänpäästö (The Sun Out of the Moon; 1975–77); Ruma ankanpoikanen (The Ugly Duckling; 1976, 1982–83). orch.: 9 syms. (1958; 1959; 1960–62; 1964; The Shaman, 1967–72; 1974–75; 1977; 1983; 1986); The Milky Way (1960–61); Rembrandt for Cello and Orch. (1962); Violin Concerto (1962); 4 piano concertos (1964, 1972, 1981, 1984); Birds of the Underworld (1964); Fauni (1965); Panu, God of Fire (1966); Dalai Lama, cello concerto (1966; rev. 1979); Creation of the Earth (1966); Mont Saint Michel (1968); Pentalia (1969); The North for Wind Orch. (1970–71); Bassoon Concerto (1971; rev. 1983–84); Flute Concerto (1972); On the Tracks of the Winter Moose, clarinet concerto (1974); Concerto espagnole for Flute and Orch. (1978); Night on the Fortress for Wind Orch. (1978); Elegia for Harp and Strings (1979); Voces polaris (1979); Sirius for Wind Orch. (1980); Concerto for 2 Pianos and Orch. (1981); Väinämöisen’s Birth (1981); Adagio (1982); Väinämöisen’s Departure for Pohjola (1982); The Maid of Pohjola (1982); Concerto grosso for Violin, Viola, Cello, and Orch. (1983); Profeetta (1984); A Trip to the Land of Dawn, homage to Hermann Hesse, for Strings (1984); Tiibetilainen fantasia (1985); Faustus, violin concerto (1987); Zither Concerto (1988); Uuden aamun soitto for Violin and Orch. (1990); Andante religioso for Strings (1990). chamber: Delta for Clarinet and Piano (1962); Silhouettes for Piano and Percussion (1962); The Conjuration for 3 Percussionists (1963); Alfa for Flute and 7 Cymbals (1963); 4 nonets for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, Violin, Viola, Cello, and Double Bass (1963, 1968, 1973, 1985); Visit to the Giant Sage Vipunen for 7 Double Basses (1969); 3 string quartets (1969, 1971, 1983); Duo for Clarinet and Percussion (1971); llman, Virgin of the Air for Piccolo (1974); Septemalia for 7 Double Basses (1975); 3 Preludes for Guitar (1975); Homage to Johann Sebastian Bach for Guitar (1977); Divertimento for Oboe or English Horn and Percussion (1977); Intermezzo for Flute and Guitar (1977–78); Impression for Cello (1978); Trio for Piano, Violin, and Cello (1978); The Old Mill Tells Its Tale for Clarinet (1978); Le Commencement for Flute, Oboe, and Piano (1978); Quo vadis for Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, and Harpsichord (1979); The Gnome for Bass Clarinet (1981); Duo for Viola and Piano (1981); Illusio for Clarinet (1982); Trio for Violin, Viola, and Cello (1982); Idyll for Oboe or Clarinet (1984); Suite for Wind Quintet (1984); Elegy for Violin and Cello (1985); Isis for Violin and Guitar (1986); Fantasia concertante for Flute and Piano (1986); Vedenhaltija, trio for Violin, Cello, and Piano (1990); Lasi for 5 Instruments (1991). keyboard: piano:4 Preludes (1965); Titisee (1965); Taara (1967); Sonatina (1970); Easter (1971); Sonata (1975); Giant Stride for 2 Pianos (1973); Water Drops (1976); Vibrations (1976); Glittering (1977); Japanese Garden (1983); Faustus (1987). organ:Intrada (1967); Adagio (1967); Notre Dame (1970); The Cupola (1971); Larghetto (1972); Orgelstück (1972); In the Beginning Was the Word. ..(1975); Prelude (1978); Largo religioso (1980); Fantasia on the Theme B-A-C-H (1982); Prophet (1984). vocal:Eagle, Bird of the Air for Mezzo- soprano and Orch. (1965); The Bow of Fire for Bass and Piano Trio (1969); Jesus and Peter for Baritone and Organ (1969–70); Sounds from Noah’s Ark for Men’s Chorus (1971); Love Songs from Ancient Times for Voice and Orch. (1972); Thus Was the Beginning for Soloists, Children’s Chorus, and Instruments (1977–80); The Bosom Friend for Bass and Wind Quintet (1977); Cantate Jehovae canticum novum for Mixed or Boy’s Chorus, Organ, and String Orch. (1978); Canticum canticorum for Mezzo-soprano and Piano or Harp (1978); Rohkea ratsastaja for Reciter and Men’s Chorus (1980); Kaupunkini for Voice and Orch. (1980); The Kiss of Judas for Bass, 2 Baritones, Tenor, Mixed Chorus, Men’s Chorus, and Organ (1981); Offenbarung Johannes for Bass, Men’s Chorus, and Organ (1981); The Maid of Pohjola for Reciter and Orch. (1982); Faunit for Voice and Orch. (1985); Seunalan Anna for Soprano, Speaker, Chorus, and Orch. (1989); Lemminkäinen’s Departure to the North for Chorus and Orch. (1990–91).
—Niciolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire