SKU:
FG.55011-604-7
Composed by Ann-Elise
Hannikainen. Fennica
Gehrman #55011-604-7.
Published by Fennica
Gehrman (FG.55011-604-7).
ISBN
9790550116047.
Ann-
Elise Hannikainen
(1946-2012) was born in
Hanko, Southern Finland,
but lived mainly abroad,
her father working as
diplomat. Her
grandfather's father was
P.J. Hannikainen, the
head of a prominent
Finnish musical family.
Ann-Elise's attraction to
music was first found at
age of five, when her
family, then living in
Warsaw, bought a grand
piano. Hannikainen
started to study piano
playing at the Sibelius
Academy in 1967, but
rheumatoid arthritis
prevented her from
pursuing a carrier as a
concert pianist. In 1972
she moved to Madrid and
started to study
composition with Ernesto
Halffter Ercriche, a
student of Manuel de
Falla. Hannikainen
advanced quickly in her
career, and her piano
concerto was premiered in
Helsinki Festival in
1976. Her composing style
evolved into luminous
melodies, free atonal
harmonies and
improvisatory forms.
Chachara (1980) is her
first composition for
solo instrument and
piano, and it was also
Hannikainen's last work
to be premiered during
her lifetime. The flute
has the main role
shifting between
virtuosic and bel canto
modes. The window of
love, a distinct section
of tonal harmony and
singing melody was
typical in many of
Hannikainen's
compositions. In Chachara
this confession of love
is heard in the middle of
the piece (Molto
moderato). In January
1981 Chachara was
recognized in Barcelona
with the first prize in
the competition for young
composers.