”Puumala-sarja (Puumala Suite) is named after the municipality of Puumala, located in Southern Savonia region by the vast Lake Saimaa. Since 2007 we have spent summer holidays in one of the rental cottages of Reposen lomamökit in Lietvesi (Hurissalo, Puumala), in which most of my solo viol works have been composed, including Puumala-sarja. The first movement Overtyyri is an overture in the spirit of French inegale style of the Baroque period combined with some rustic folk music allusions. The second movement Mixu (koira) is a portrait of the endlessly energetic barking machine Mixu, the dog of the landlord Heikki Reponen (apparently named after the Finnish football player Mika-Matti ”Mixu” Paatelainen). The musical treatment of Mixu is faithful to the true canine quality of the animal – the movement is fast, virtuosic and endlessly vigorous in spirit. Lepohetki (Resting) offers a peaceful interlude before the finale Reposen Heikin jig, again refering to the Reponen family, this time the landlord himself.
The characteristic instrumental feature of the original viol version is the constant use of double stops and chords, as well as the equal usage of all treble viol registers. Unlike in the historic treble consort repertoire Puumala-sarja takes use of the full range of the instrument including the lowest strings, which were practically never used in the 16th and 17th centuries. For Puumala-sarja the low g- and d-strings are a major musical resource, providing both the chord fundaments and melodic opportunities.” (O.V. August 2018)
Instrumentation
for treble viol
2015
version for two Baroque violins
2018
version for two bass viols (with optional chamber organ)
2018
