Ilkka Kuusisto

Aapeli of Kissala plays the Clarinet

Ilkka Kuusisto's raucous and technically somewhat challenging suite for clarinet and piano Kissalan Aapelin soitteita (Aapeli of Kissala plays the Clarinet) is a musical portrait gallery of the Seven Brothers by playwright Aleksis Kivi. They all get musical pictures played by Aapeli, a character also appearing in the play. Musical motives are derived from the characteristics of the main persons, ie. the movement Tuomas is in slow tempo, as if portraying the trustworthiness of stable Tuomas. Aapo's Menuetto may refer to the characters abilities to tell stories. Simeoni wrestles with the Devil, as he does in the book with both alcohol and in his religious beliefs. Eero, the youngest of the brothers is portrayed in a fast polka.  The suite was commissioned by Tapio Lötjönen for specifically for piccolo clarinet. In this volume the solo part is published both in B-flat and E-flat transpositions, as prepared by the composer. Contents: 1. Jussin polska - Jussi's polska  2. Tuomas  3. Menuetti Aapolle - A Menuetto for Aapo 4. Simeoni ja Perkele - Simeoni and the Devil  5. Timon Masurkka - Timo's mazurka  6. Laurin marssi - Lauri's march  7. Eeron polkka - Eeros's polka