Concerto for Two Accordions, Strings and Percussion (Sallinen)

{{short description|Musical composition by Aulis Sallinen}}

The Concerto for Two Accordions, Strings and Percussion, Op. 115 by Aulis Sallinen was written in 2019. It was commissioned by the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, which premiered it under Anna-Maria Helsing on February 14, 2020 in the 22nd Kokkola Winter Accordion Festival, with soloists Sonja Vertainen and Janne Valkeajoki.[https://core.musicfinland.fi/works/kokkola-concerto Music Finland Composers & Repertoire] The work consists of two movements, titled Duo Concertante I and Duo Concertante II, and lasts about 20 minutes.

While Sallinen was initially commissioned to write a solo accordion concerto, he decided to add a second accordion which he thought provided a more versatile setting and allowed him to switch his brain "into a new position" as he had never written for accordion duo, while the percussion part was meant to work both as a contrasting element and a solid foundation holding the work together. The second movement includes a quote from a Kokkolan folksong. [https://www.keskipohjanmaa.fi/uutinen/589359 Aulis Sallisen konsertto kantaesitetään perjantaina Kokkolan Talviharmonikassa]. Keskipohjanmaa, 14 February 2020