Artistic components of the doctoral degree of Iryna Gorkun-Silén
Each concert represented a different stage of my doctoral studies. The aim of it was to put me in a position to play unfamiliar music together with pieces that I knew before. In my preparation process for every concert, I asked myself how with this program I could learn more about the French flute school and the style of playing.
First concert : La Flûte Française.
Musiikkitalo, Camerata Hall. 13 April 2016
The first concert served as an introduction to the history of the French flute school. It gave an overview of French music from different periods, which served as a framework for the later concerts.
Programme
Joseph Bodin de Boismortier (1689–1755), Sonata for flute and harpsichord G-major op.91
Rondement
Gayment
Air
Gracieusement
Gayement
Jacques-Martin Hotteterre (1674–1763), Suite No.1 in D Major
Lentement
Allemande
Rondeau
Sarabande
Gavotte
Menuett
Claude Debussy (1862–1918): Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune, version for flute and piano (1892–1894)
Francis Poulenc (1899–1963), Sonata for flute and piano (1957)
Allegretto malincolico – Cantilena – Presto giocoso
Mel Bonis (1858–1937), Suite – trio, Op.59 for flute, violin and piano (1903)
Sérénade–Pastorale–Scherzo
Musicians
- Sebastian Silén, violin
- Lauri Honkavirta, cembalo
- Johanna Kilpijärvi, cello
- Aura Go, piano
Second concert: Hommage à Paul Taffanel.
Musiikkitalo, Camerata Hall, 10 March 2017.
My second doctoral concert was dedicated to Paul Taffanel, a great figure of the modern French flute school, and flute teacher at the Paris Conservatoire. The programme of this concert was focused on Taffanel and showcased composers influenced by his playing and teaching. I decided to add Enescu’s Cantabile et Presto, which was dedicated to Taffanel, and the trio by Martinů, which was written for Taffanel’s pupil, Marcel Moyse. With this addition, I wanted to add variety to the program of the concert and to follow the influence of the French flute school on international composers. One of my reasons for choosing this repertoire was to work on my ability to play romantic music, especially French romantic music, where the sound colors, dynamics, and characters are the core ingredients. I was lucky to play the program for my recital for some distinguished teachers, including Petri Alanko, Sir James Galway, and Pierre-Yves Artaud. Each of them has given me very valuable advice, and one of the most common suggestions was to make the music free and poetic.
Programme
Paul Taffanel (1844–1908), Andante Pastoral et Scherzettino for flute and piano (1907)
Philippe Gaubert (1879–1941), Nocturne et Allegro scherzando (1906)
Bohuslav Martinů (1890–1959), Sonata for flute, violin and piano (1937)
Allegro poco moderato – Adagio – Allegretto – Moderato (Poco Allegro)
George Enescu (1881–1955), Cantabile et Presto for flute and piano (1904)
Charles-Marie Widor (1844–1937), Suite for flute and piano (1877)
Moderato – Scherzo. Allegro vivace – Romance. Andantino – Final. Vivace
Musicians
- Iryna Gorkun-Silén, flute
- Eveliina Sumelius-Lindblom, piano
- Sebastian Silén, violin
Third concert: New directions.
Music Centre. Camerata Hall. 27 April 2018.
In this concert, I tried two different music pieces which I had never played before. Both were so complex and demanding that I did not dare to add any other pieces to this concert’s repertoire. In the process of deciding on the programme for the present concert, I realized that the two pieces I chose were premiered by the prominent French flutist Jean-Pierre Rampal (1922–2000). Rampal was the first to play Jolivet’s Suite en concert as well as Bolling’s Suite for flute and jazz piano trio, which was written at his suggestion. Claude Bolling’s Suite for flute and jazz piano trio was written for Jean-Pierre Rampal. This part of the concert was particularly rewarding to play, as it gave me the possibility to step away from the usual classical way of playing and enjoy the jazzy style of the piece.
Programme
André Jolivet (1905–1974) Suite en concert (1965) for flute and percussion
Andante cantabile – Allegro scherzando – Largo – Allegro risoluto
Claude Bolling (1930–2020) Suite for flute and jazz piano trio (1973)
Baroque and Blue – Sentimentale – Javanaise – Fugace – Irlandaise – Versatile – Véloce
Musicians
- Iryna Gorkun-Silén, flute
- Jaan Ots, conductor
- Juha Lauronen, Antti Suoranta, Virva Kuusi, Elmeri Uusikorpi, percussion
- Anna Kuvaja, piano
- Frederik Emil Bülow, drums
- Akseli Porkkala, double bass
Fourth concert: The art of collaboration.
Music centre. Organo Hall. 23 November 2019.
This concert represented the flute in different instrumental combinations while simultaneously serving as an experiment between myself and the visual artist Aino Koski in search of connections between music and visual art.
Programme
Edgar Varèse (1883–1965), Density 21.5 for flute solo (1936)
André Jolivet (1905–1974), Sonatine pour flute et clarinette (1961)
Andantino – Quasi cadenza e allegro – Intermezzo, vivace e presto
Claude Debussy (1862–1918), Sonata for flute, viola and harp (1915)
Pastorale – Interlude – Final
Maurice Ravel (1875–1937), Chansons madécasses for voice, cello, flute, and piano (1925-26)
Nahandove – Aoua! – Il est doux
André Jolivet, Sonata for flute and piano (1958)
Fluide – Grave – Violent
Visual artist: Aino Koski
Musicians
- Kirill Kozlovski, Piano
- Olga Heikkilä, Voice
- Sebastian Silén, Viola
- Lucy Abrams, Clarinet
- Katri Tikka, Harp
- Joasia Cieslak, Cello
- Iryna Gorkun-Silén, Flute