Triptych

My Triptych was originally written for three cellos a cappella. It was commissioned by Sam Steppel, whose interview I happened to read and I was very moved by the way he talked about his late wife. As requested, the piece is dedicated to her memory. The three movements are very different in character: the first is titled ‘Misterioso’, the second ‘Furioso’ and the third one ‘Ad astra’. The third movement starts as a rather dissonant and severe passacaglia, but in the end rises to ecstatic and uplifting heights. The version for string orchestra has been commissioned by the Helsinki Strings in connection with the 50th anniversary celebrations of the East Helsinki Music Institute. Olli Mustonen