- Minna Leinonen (b. 1977): Vyöry – Avalanche:
- 1 Leinonen: Vyöry – Avalanche 16:18
- Aulis Sallinen (b. 1935): Concerto Op.115, Duo Concertante I:
- 2 Sallinen: Concerto Op.115, Duo Concertante I 06:20
- Concerto Op.115, Duo Concertante II:
- 3 Djupsjöbacka: Concerto Op.115, Duo Concertante II 12:54
- Veli Kujala (b. 1976): Shape Shifter:
- 4 Kujala: Shape Shifter, I. Lento affettuoso - II. Allegro con brio 06:27
- 5 Kujala: Shape Shifter, III. Largo intensivo 06:23
- 6 Kujala: Shape Shifter, IV. Allegro con fuoco 08:12
Info for Finnish Accordion Concertos
Finnish Accordion Concertos contains the works of three Finnish composers for accordion. The album opens with Vyöry (2021), composed by Minna Leinonen (b. 1977), one of the rising names of her generation, performed by accordion artist and pedagogue Antti Leinonen as soloist of KPKO. The piece was premiered with the same force in 2022, and the composer says that during the composition process, "worldwide changes swept through society", and in the piece you can hear "accelerating eruptions, flows and culminations". Concerto for two accordions, string orchestra and percussionist by Aulis Sallisen (b. 1935), one of the most internationally respected living Finnish composers, op. 115 (2018–19) was commissioned by Sampo Purontaus, Kokkola city's director of culture, Kokkola Talviharmonika and KPKO. In the piece originally planned for one accordion, two soloists – artists of the younger generation Janne Valkeajoki and Sonja Vertainen – are now able to dialogue. The composer wanted to anchor the piece in Ostrobothnian landscape and use the local folk tune in the second part of the concerto. The work premiered in 2020. The third piece on the album is the accordion concerto Shape-Shifter by composer, accordion virtuoso and Sibelius Academy lecturer Veli Kujala (b. 1976), whose soloist is Petteri Waris. The accordion acts as a "tone color chameleon" in the concerto; the accordion, which strives to blend in, grows through various transformations into the extrovert virtuoso soloist of the work. The work received its premiere performance in 2019.
"With an album, it's always about the success of the recording, of course. On an album they are always top quality, and now you can admire that on the first recording of three Finnish accordion concertos." (Kari Pitkänen, Kulttuuritoimitus 13.3.2024)
"Aulis Sallinen's Duo concertante, with Sonja Vertainen and Janne Valkeajoki as soloists, brings out fast spots, lyrical pauses and a playing manikin." (Jukka Isopuro, Helsingin sanomat 24.3.2024)
"The Keski-Pohjanmaan Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Tomas Djupsjöbacka, gives its all in the demanding pieces." (Jari Hoffrén, Keskisuomalainen 1.3.2024)
Antti Leinonen, accordion
Sonja Vertainen , accordion
Janne Valkeajoki, accordion
Petteri Waris, accordion
Central Ostrobothnia Chamber Orchestra
Tomas Djupsjöbacka, conductor
The Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra (OCO)
Formed in 1972, the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra (OCO) is one of the best-known Finnish orchestras in the international arena. Under its founder, conductor Juha Kangas, it established an ambitious profile marked by a dynamic, quick-to-react sound and a repertoire stretching from the Baroque to the present day. Juha Kangas served as the orchestra’s Artistic Director until the end of 2008 and is now its Honorary Conductor.Collaboration with composer Pehr Henrik Nordgren (1944–2008) spanning many decades is one example of the partnerships on which the OCO’s eminence is founded. The orchestra’s active role in promoting contemporary music has yielded over 190 premieres, many of which it has commissioned. The OCO has close relations with both Finnish composers and others in the Nordic and Baltic countries. Enjoying a wide international reputation, it has been awarded such honours as the Nordic Council Music Prize in 1993.The OCO has made over 80 recordings that have won acclaim and spread its name abroad. Recent examples are the CD of the Hamburg Symphonies by C.Ph.E. Bach conducted by Sakari Oramo (the Orchestra’s Artistic Director 2013–2019) that won a Finnish classical Emma in 2014 and was nominated as Record of the Year by the BBC Music Magazine, and A Finnish Elegy (Alba, 2018), conducted by Juha Kangas and nominated for both an Emma and an International Classical Music Award.In addition to performing in its home town, Kokkola, the OCO regularly tours both in Finland and abroad. In summer 2019 it made a return visit to the celebrated Würzburg Mozart Festival in Germany. Outside Europe, it has held concerts in Japan and New York.Sakari Oramo has been succeeded as Artistic Director by Swedish violinist Malin Broman, a renowned soloist, chamber musician and music director, who took over in autumn 2019.
Tomas Djupsjöbacka
Known as a versatile musician with strong roots in chamber music, Djupsjöbacka is the founding cellist of the string quartet Meta4 as well as a member of the renowned Chamber Orchestra of Europe.
Since his conducting debut in 2013 with the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, Djupsjöbacka has appeared with most of the Finnish orchestras including debuts with the Finnish Radio Orchestra, the Helsinki Philharmonic, Sinfonia Lahti and Oulu Sinfonia. He regularly guest conducts the Turku Philharmonic, Jyväskylä Sinfonia and AVANTI! Djupsjöbacka has premiered works by Jukka Tiensuu, Veli Kujala, Sampo Haapamäki and Mikko Heiniö often teaming up with unusual partners such as dancers, jugglers or foley-artists.
Djupsjöbacka studied conducting privately with Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Music director of the New York Metropolitan opera. He completed his studies in the conducting program of the Sibelius Academy in 2017 and has also participated in master classes by Jorma Panula.
Tomas Djupsjöbacka has been appointed Principal conductor and artistic director of Vaasa City orchestra starting in 2021. He worked as the first ever Principal Guest Conductor of the Lapland Chamber Orchestra from autumn 2019 to summer 2022.
Booklet for Finnish Accordion Concertos