Klami, Uuno
Uuno Klami (20 September 1900 – 29 May 1961) became one of the leading Finnish Modernists during the 1920s. His main genre was orchestral music, and he experimented widely with his orchestration, combining national themes with international trends. His studies took him to Paris and Vienna, and Parisian influences are particularly marked in his musical language. He admired the orchestral sound of Ravel and was also influenced by Stravinsky.
Klami is one of the most frequent names on the Finnish concert programme, with his Kalevala Suite, Sea Pictures and other orchestral works. He also wrote popular overtures, such as those to King Lear and The Cobblers on the Heath, the latter virtually having the last word on the use of humour in this genre. One of his greatest works is the oratorio Psalmus (1936) for soprano, baritone, choir and orchestra.
Klami also wrote works for soloist and orchestra, among them the Cheremissian Fantasy (1931) for cello and orchestra and the Violin Concerto (1943/54). During the 1950s he worked on the ballet Whirls (Pyörteitä) featuring characters from the national epic, the Kalevala, but he never finished it. Kalevi Aho has since orchestrated the first Act and composed a third Act, Symphonic Dances. Hommage à Uuno Klami.
During recent years Fennica Gehrman has published a wealth of Klami’s previously unpublished pieces. They include the Sonata in C Minor for violin and piano, Sonata in B Flat Minor for viola and piano, Berceuse & Laulelma for violin and piano, Piano Trio in F Sharp Minor, Souvenir for violin and string ensemble as well as Valses lentes et amoureuses for string orchestra and piano. Uuno Klami’s piano works are available in a complete collection, and his pieces have also been arranged for organ by Esa Ylönen.
All'overtura
(1951)
for orchestra
2(II+picc)222-4231-12-hp-str Percussione: Tamtam, Campanelli, Triangolo, Sonagli
Duration: 8
Aurora borealis
(1948)
for symphony orchestra
4(III=picc;IV+picc)33(III=bcl)3(III=cfg)-4431-12-cel-2hp-str Percussioni (2 esecutori): Gran cassa, Tambour de basque, Piatti, Tamtam, Campanelli, Triangolo
Duration: 20
Cantiones
Symphonic Psalm (1932)
2222-2210-11-cemb-str Percussione: Gran cassa, Tamtam 1. Cantiones 2. Interlude 3. Cantio
Duration: 0
Cheremissian Fantasy
Original version (1931)
for violoncello and symphony orchestra
2222(II+cfg)-4231-13-pf-cel-str Percussion: Snare drum, Bass drum, Cymbals
Duration: 12
Cheremissian Fantasy
Radio Orchestra version (1931)
for violoncello and orchestra
2222-4200-10-pf-cel-str
Duration: 12
Concertino
(1933)
for ensemble
0110-0100-str(11111)
Duration: 9
Concerto for Piano No. 1
Une nuit à Montmartre (1925)
for piano and orchestra
222(I+asax;II+tsax)2(II+cfg)-4231-13-hp-str Percussione: Tamburo militare, Tamburo basco, Gran cassa, Piatti, Campanelli, Triangolo
Duration: 20
Concerto for Piano No. 2
(1950)
for piano and string orchestra
str
Duration: 29
Concerto for Violin
Original version (1943)
for violin and orchestra
2222-4200-10-hp-str
Duration: 39
Concerto for Violin
Revised version (1943 rev 1954)
for violin and orchestra
2222-4200-10-hp-str
Duration: 28
Cyclist, The
Rondo (1946)
for orchestra
2(II+picc)222-4231-12-hp-str Percussioni: Tamburo, Campanelli, Silofono, Triangolo
Duration: 7
Deux Sérénades espagnoles
for orchestra
111(+asax)1-1110-02-pf-str Percussione: Timpani, Tamburo basco, Gran cassa, Triangolo, Castagnetti 1. Malagueña 2'30 2. Tango sentimental
Duration: 6
Elegia
(1936)
for string orchestra
str
Duration: 5
Esquisse
(1932)
for violin and string orchestra
str
Duration: 3
Four Finnish Folksongs [SALES MATERIAL]
Neljä suomalaista kansanlaulua (1930)
for piano and string orchestra
str
Duration: 11
Habanera
(1924)
for orchestra
3(III=picc)3(III=ca)3(III=bcl)3(III=cfg)-4431-14-2hp-str Percussione: Tamburo militare, Tamburo basco, Gran cassa, Piatti, Campanelli, Triangolo, Castagnetti,
Duration: 6
Hommage à Haendel [SALES MATERIAL]
(1931)
for piano and string orchestra
str (vl1, vl2, vla, vc)
Duration: 17
Kalevala Suite
(Revised edition 2025)
for orchestra
3(III=picc)3(III=ca)3(III=bcl)3(III=cfg)-4431-13-hp-str Percussion: Snare drum, Bass drum, Cymbals, Tamtam, Bells, Xylophone, Triangle Movements: 1. Maan synty (The Creation of the Earth) 7’ 2. Kevään oras (The Sprout of Spring) 5’ 3. Terhenniemi 7’ 4. Kehtolaulu Lemminkäiselle (Cradle Song for Lemminkäinen) 6’ 5. Sammon taonta (Forging the Sampo) 7’
Duration: 30
Kalevala Suite
Version for Concert Band (arr. Seppälä) (1943 / 2011)
for concert band
3(I=picc)3(III=ca)7(I=ebcl;V=acl;VI=bcl;VII=cbcl)2-4sax(SATBar)-4432-euph-13-pf
Duration: 30
Karjalainen prazniekka
Karelian Kirmess (1934)
for string orchestra and piano
pf-str(+vl+vc solos)
Duration: 2
Karjalainen rapsodia
Karelian Rhapsody (1927)
for orchestra
4(III&IV=picc)3(III=ca)33(III+cfg)-4431-14-cel-2hp-str Percussione (3-4 esecutore): Tamburo militare, Gran cassa, Piatti, Tamtam, Campanelli, Triangolo
Duration: 14
Karjalainen tori
Overture (1947)
for orchestra
3(III=picc)23(III=bcl)2-44(I&II=cnt)31-13-hp-str Percussione: Tamburo, Tamtam, Campanelli, Silofono, Triangolo
Duration: 12
Karjalaisia tansseja
Orkesterisarja (1935)
for orchestra
2222-2210-11-pf-str Percussione: Tamburino, Campanelli, Triangolo
Duration: 6
King Lear
Overture (1946)
for orchestra
3(I=picc)23(III=bcl)3(III=cfg)-4431-12-2hp-str Percussione: Tamburo, Gran cassa, Piatti, Tamtam
Duration: 15
Lemminkäisen seikkailut saaressa
Symphonic Poem (1934)
for large orchestra
3(III=picc)333(III=cfg)-4431-13-hp-str Percussione: Tamburo militare, Gran cassa, Piatti, Tamtam, Campanelli, Silofono, Triangolo
Duration: 12
Nummisuutarit
Overture (1936)
for orchestra
2(II+picc)222-2200-10-str
Duration: 8
Opernredoute
Overture (1929)
for orchestra
3(III=picc)3(III=ca)33(III+cfg)-4331-13-hp-str
Duration: 12
Psalmus
Oratorio (1935)
for soprano, baritone, mixed chorus and orchestra
Text by Juhana Cajanus 2(II+picc)222-4231-12-org(opt.)-str Percussione: Tamburo militare, Gran cassa, Piatti, Tamtam, Campanelli
Duration: 50
Pyörteitä
Ballet in three acts
for orchestra
1st Act completed by Kalevi Aho: 3(III=picc+afl)3(III+ca)3(III=bcl)3(III=cfg)-433(III=btrb)1-13-pf(+cel)-hp-str Percussione 1: Tamburino, Piatti, 2 Piatti sospesi, Silofono, Campane tubolari, 2 Triangolo (medio & grande) 2: Tamburo piccolo, Gran cassa, Campanelli, 3 Almglocken 3: Tamburo militare, Piatti, Tamtam (medio & grande), Triangolo, Sonagli, 2 Incudini 2nd Act (original) by Uuno Klami: 2(II+picc)22(II+bcl)2(II+cfg)-4331-12-pf-cel-hp-str Percussione: Tamburo militare, Tamburo basco, Piatti, Piatto sospeso, Tamtam, Campanelli, Silofono, Campana, Triangolo, Sonagli 3rd Act was never written by Klami. Aho's Symphonic Dances have been used to replace the missing act.
Duration: 0
Pyörteitä. Act I
From the Ballet Whirls (1957-60)
for orchestra
Completed by Kalevi Aho. 3(III=picc+afl)3(III+ca)3(III=bcl)3(III=cfg)-433(III=btrb)1-13-pf(+cel)-hp-str Percussione 1: Tamburino, Piatti, 2 Piatti sospesi, Silofono, Campane tubolari, 2 Triangolo (medio & grande) 2: Tamburo piccolo, Gran cassa, Campanelli, 3 Almglocken 3: Tamburo militare, Piatti, Tamtam (medio & grande), Triangolo, Sonagli, 2 Incudini
Duration: 33
Pyörteitä. Act II
From the Ballet Whirls
for orchestra
2nd Act (original) by Uuno Klami: 2(II+picc)22(II+bcl)2(II+cfg)-4331-12-pf-cel-hp-str Percussione: Tamburo militare, Tamburo basco, Piatti, Piatto sospeso, Tamtam, Campanelli, Silofono, Campana, Triangolo, Sonagli
Duration: 42
Scènes de la vie campagnarde
Fete populaire en plein air (1932)
for orchestra
2(II+picc)22(II+ebcl)2-22(=tr+cnt)11-12-pf-str Percussione: Tamburo militare, Gran cassa, Piatti, Campanelli, Triangolo 1. Odotus (Dans l'attente) 2'00 2. V.P.K:n marssi (Marche des Sapeurs-pompiers) 2'30 3. Odotus (Dans l'attente) 1'00 4. Puhe (Discours) 1'30 5. Intermezzo 3'00 6. Iltatunnelma (Atmosphère du soir) 1'30
Duration: 12
Sea Pictures
Suite for Orchestra (1930-32)
for orchestra
2222(II+cfg)-4231-11-hp-pf-str Percussion: Snare drum, Bass drum, Suspended cymbal, Tamtam 1. Sumuinen aamu (A Foggy Morning) [1111-2000-10-pf-str] 3’ 2. Capitain Scrapuchinat [2221-2210-11-pf-str] 3’ 3. Hyljätty kolmimastoinen (The Deserted Three-Master) [2221-2100-10-str] 5’ 4. Nocturno – Vahtimiehen laulu (Song of the Watch) [fl-str] 3’ 5. Scene de ballet [1111-1000-str] 2’ 6. 3 Bf (Force 3) [2222(II+cfg)-4231-11-hp-str] 6’
Duration: 22
Sea Pictures (arr. Mikkola) [SALES MATERIAL]
Version for Concert Band
for concert band
2(II+picc)25(I=ebcl;V=bcl)2-4sax(A[+S]ATBar)-45(IV&V=cnt)3(III=btrb)1-euph-12-pf-cb
Duration: 22
Sea Pictures. 3 Bf (Force 3)
Movement No. 6 from the Orchestral Suite (1930)
for orchestra
2(II+picc)222(II+cfg)-4231-12-hp-str Percussione: Gran cassa (con piatto), Tamtam
Duration: 6
Sea Pictures. 3 Bf (Force 3) (arr. Saksa)
Version for Concert Band
for concert band
2(II+picc)132(II+cfg)-3sax(ATBar)-44(I&II=cnt)31-euph- 12 Percussione: Gran cassa, Piatti, Tamtam
Duration: 6
Sea Pictures. The Deserted 3-Master (arr.Saksa)
Version for Concert Band
for concert band
2241-2sax((AT)-3421-euph-10
Duration: 6
Sérénades espagnoles
Suite for orchestra
2(II+picc)222-4230-12-hp-str Percussione: Tamburo, Tamburo basco, Triangolo, Castagnetti 1. Malagueña 2. Bolero 3. Habanera 4. Jota
Duration: 18
Sérénades joyeuses
Suite for orchestra
2(II=picc)222-asax-2210-11-pf-cel-str Percussione: Tamburo piccolo, Gran cassa, Tamtam, Campanelli, Silofono, Triangolo 1. Allegro legeremente (1'30) 2. Tempo di valse lente (2'00) 3. Allegro (1'00) 4. Allegro moderato (2'00)
Duration: 7
Sonatine
(1934)
for string orchestra
str
Duration: 4
Song of the Watch / Vahtimiehen laulu [arr.Saksa]
From Sea Pictures / sarjasta Merikuvia
for wind band
1.0.5(IV=asax,V=tsax).0-2.2.1.2.baritono
Duration: 3
Suite for Small Orchestra
(1946)
2(II+picc)222-2200-11-hp-str Percussione: Tamburo, Tamburo basco I Serenade 5'00 II Intermezzo 5'00 III Marche militaire 4'00
Duration: 14
Suomenlinna
Overture (1940)
for orchestra
2(II+picc)222-4331-12-hp-str Percussione: Tamburo, Piatti, Triangolo
Duration: 12
Symphonie enfantine
(1928)
for small orchestra
12(II=ca)11-1100-11-hp-str Percussione: Tamburo basco
Duration: 17
Symphony No. 1
(1937-38)
for orchestra
3(III+picc)222-4331-12-str Percussione: Tamburo militare, Gran cassa, Piatti 1. Allegro non troppo (14') 2. Prestissimo (8') 3. Andante molto (12') 4. Allegro maestoso (10')
Duration: 44
Symphony No. 2
(1945)
for orchestra
3(III+picc)333(III=cfg)-4431-12-str Percussione: Tamburo, Gran cassa, Piatti 1. Moderato molto (14'30) 2. Allegro con vivo (6'00) 3. Misterioso e lugubre, tempo quasi adagio (6'00) 4. Allegro assai (9'30)
Duration: 36
