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Peach

For orchestra

 

2010

 

Duration

9 min

 

Instrumentation

2222 2210 11 0, strings
or 1111 2110 11 0, strings

Commissioned by

The Finnish Chamber Orchestra and Jukka-Pekka Saraste

Premiered by

The Finnish Chamber Orchestra
Conducted by Jukka-Pekka Saraste
2.8.2019
Tammisaari, Finland

Notes

Peach paints a portrait of a moment or moments that evoke a feeling of a light and airy dream. In my mind, it is a warm summer day, a bright flicker that makes things feel unreal and fills the body with pleasure.

The various meanings of the word ’peach’ have inspired the shape, colors, textures and associations of the work. Soft and round shapes as well as rich and luscious harmonies and melodies color a story that radiates gentleness, weightlessness, sensuality and juiciness. An intimate and tender moment takes shape, a place where things are given time to mature.

In the composition, I wanted to capture that place and a particular feeling that breathes deep in the summer air and its light breezes, awakes the senses and bursts sweetness like a ripe fruit.

“Skilfully unique, intoxicated by the heat.”

– HELSINGIN SANOMAT

Listen

Peach (2019), performed by Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Jukka-Pekka Saraste

5.4.2023 Music Centre, Helsinki, Finland

Reviews

"Orchestral fireworks"

HBL, 3.8.2019

"Peach evoked sensations related to touch and warmth. Its motifs and sounds tickled, rattled, groaned, puffed and pounded various biorhythms."

HELSINGIN SANOMAT, 18.12.2021

“The work is a testament to Hilli’s great talent, it is taut and vital music.”

HELSINGIN SANOMAT, 6.4.2023

“The tone painting is skilfully unique, intoxicated by the heat.”

HELSINGIN SANOMAT, 18.12.2021

"The strings form a calm mat with small ripples on the surface, while the small, powerful color clicks stand out: some wild accents in the brass section, woodwinds ticking like small woodpeckers. The percussion colors are utilized clearly, so that every individual instrument gets its color heard, from timpani to tubular bells. 

HBL, 3.8.2019

PeachfororchestraSebastianHilli.png

Sheet Music

Schott Music
Schott Music GmbH & Co. KG
Weihergarten 5
55116 Mainz
info@schott-music.com
+49 6131 246-0

Past performances

5.4.2023

Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra

Conducted by Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Music Centre
Helsinki, Finland

21.1.2013 (Reduced version)

Asko|Schönberg

Conducted by Bas Wiegers
Concertgebouw, Grote Zaal

Amsterdam, Netherlands

3.9.2022 (Reduced version)

Secession Orchestra

Conducted by Clément Mao-Takacs

Production by La Chambre aux échos
Finnish National Opera and Ballet

Helsinki, Finland

2.9.2022 (Reduced version)

Secession Orchestra

Conducted by Clément Mao-Takacs

Production by La Chambre aux échos
Finnish National Opera and Ballet

Helsinki, Finland

31.8.2022 (Reduced version)

Secession Orchestra

Conducted by Clément Mao-Takacs

Production by La Chambre aux échos
Finnish National Opera and Ballet

Helsinki, Finland

17.12.2021

Tapiola Sinfonietta

Conducted by Olari Elts

Tapiola Hall

Espoo, Finland

1.4.2021 Cancelled due to covid-19

Tapiola Sinfonietta

Conducted by Ryan Bancroft

Tapiola Hall

Espoo, Finland

2.8.2019

The Finnish Chamber Orchestra

Conducted by Jukka-Pekka Saraste

Tammisaari Church

Tammisaari, Finland

© 2025 Sebastian Hilli

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