The Ostrobothnians: Suite, Op.52

Composer: MADETOJA, Leevi
  • The music of The Ostrobothnians Suite is taken directly from Acts 1 and 2 of the opera (Op. 45) by the same name.
    • The opera was written in 1923 and premiered in Helsinki in 1924 with the Finnish Opera.1
    • Interestingly, the orchestral suite premiered before the opera. The first performance took place in Bergen, Norway, in 1923, conducted by Robert Kajanus.2
  • The suite is organized into five movements:
    1. Lakeus (The Plain)
    2. Vangin laulu (Song of the Prisoner)
      • Fun fact – this movement comes from a folk tune that the composer modified and serves as one of the main themes of the opera.
    3. Häjyt (The Ruffians)
    4. Tulopeli (Entrance Music)
    5. Hypyt (Leaps and Jumps)3

Sources

  1. Hannu Ilari Lampila, “Madetoja, Leevi,” Grove Music Online (2001), accessed January 17, 2023, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000017393.
  2. Erkki Salmenhaara, “The Ostrobothnians: Suite Op.52,” Madetoja: Symphony No. 3 performed by the Iceland Symphony Orchestra conducted by Petri Sakari, CHAN 9036, 1992, compact disc.
  3. Ibid.

Cut IDs

48491