1977 – a Violin Concerto

1977 – a Violin Concerto is my first large-scale concerto for soloist and orchestra, jointly commissioned by the Finnish Broadcasting Company (Yle), BBC Radio 3, and the National Arts Centre.

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In this work, the solo violin guides the listener through the course of a single year. The piece is made up of twelve movements, each representing one month and reflecting one or more real events that took place in 1977.

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These twelve months are arranged into three continuous arcs: the first captures the winter and spring (January–April), the second portrays summer (May–August), and the third expresses the transition from autumn into winter (September–December).

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The winter–spring movements are connected by themes of unexpected and life-altering experiences, as well as feelings of melancholy, longing, loss, and tragedy.

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Summer brings with it hope, resilience, and fresh starts — it introduces the exhilaration of falling in love, passion, joy, and optimism.

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The autumn–winter section opens with a dramatic break, leading into a solo violin cadenza. This moment conveys the innocence of a young child in the face of the world, playfulness, unconditional love, and a sense of care. The solitary violin is gradually joined by flickers and sparks from the orchestra that grow into a powerful, flowing blaze.

 

The journey from darkness, pain, and despair toward strength and empowerement leads to the final movement, where the central themes of the concerto come together: the unpredictability and randomness of life, injustice and hardships, love in its many forms, hope, and most of all, the will to endure and survival — falling from great heights and climbing back to the surface.

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The synopsis played a central role in the composition process, acting both as inspiration and as a libretto for the work’s form, musical material, characters, and emotions. The music can be experienced on its own, or together with the synopsis for those who wish to follow its narrative.

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Ultimately, the music draws from my personal experiences tied to the concerto’s themes. Feelings of despair, hope, and love have been shaped into the language of music. For this reason, the piece is dedicated not only to violinist Pekka Kuusisto, but also to my partner Sara and to our six children who never came into this world.

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And to our seventh, who did.