Fiasko Records
Frontpage
Records
Artists
Order
Audio/Video
Miscellaneous
Contact information
Press images

sitemap *
print *

Esa Onttonen - List of Compositions

This page contains a list of my compositions while the list of arrangements is available on a separate page. I haven't included any pieces that haven't been performed and/or recorded. There are also several pieces that have been performed, but which I have decided not to include in this list for a reason or another.

There are some compositions which have been adopted by groups other than the ones who performed them initially. In these cases I have listed the composition in the currently valid category.

Compositions for big band

These compositions are listed in the chronological order of the first performances:

  1. Infinity (1998) (6')
    (a big band version of Gourmet's Bela L, with lyrics by Johanna Niemelä)
    Fp: Helsinki 2.10.1998, UMO Jazz Orchestra, cond. Marko Vasama, sol. Johanna Niemelä, vocals
  2. Frozen Tango (1999/2000) (6')
    Fp: Savonlinna 2000, Savonlinna Big Band, sol. Mirja Mäkelä, vocals
  3. Noin viisi kappaletta saksofonille ja big bandille (2001) (40')
    (About Five Pieces for Saxophone and Big Band)
    • I (soprano sax)
    • II (alto sax)
    • III (soprano sax)
    • Jokeri: Uudet valtiot (alto sax)
    • V (baritone sax)
    Fp: Helsinki 23.11.2001, UMO Jazz Orchestra, cond. Kari Heinilä, sol. Mikko Innanen, soprano, alto and baritone saxophone
  4. Hobo Ways (1997/2002) (6')
    (originally titled 'Hiekkateitä ja huoltoasemia' and played by Gourmet)
    Fp: Helsinki 19.5.2002, Jyväskylä Big Band, cond. Ilkka Mäkitalo
  5. Keko (2002) (10')
    Fp: Helsinki 19.9.2002 & 20.9.2002 (live Euroradio broadcast), UMO Jazz Orchesta, cond. Kari Heinilä, sol. Tomasz Stanko
  6. Three older pieces re-composed and arranged for Hammond organ and big band:
    • Olivier II (1999, final 2005 version) (10')
    • Jubilee II (1997, final 2005 version) (8')
    • Coronation II (2001, final 2005 version) (9'30")
    Fp: Helsinki 29.9.2005, UMO Jazz Orchestra, cond. Markku Veijonsuo, sol. Jukka Gustavson

Compositions for orchestra

  1. Two semi-improvisational compositions for Gnomus and string orchestra:
    • Blues in C (2004)
    • Sound Plates (2004)
    Fp: Amiens Jazz Festival 27.3.2004, Gnomus with string orchestra

Compositions for Gourmet

Instrumentation: soprano/alto/baritone saxophone, slide trombone, electric guitar, accordion, double bass or tuba, drums.

  1. La Balada de Camarillo Kid (2004) (5'45")
    Fp: Helsinki 30.6.2004
    Recording: Six Acres of Broken Hearts (Fiasko Records FRCD-19)
  2. Bauhaus (1995/1998)
    Fp: Helsinki 30.8.1998
  3. Bb Tuning Note (1996/2001) (7'30")
    Fp: Helsinki 17.10.2001
  4. Bela L (1998) (3'45")
    Fp: Helsinki 30.8.1998
    Recording: Glamour & Decadence (Fiasko Records FRCD-3)
  5. Bellbottoms (2001) (5'30")
    Fp: Helsinki 17.10.2001
  6. Calisthenics (1996/2001) (5')
    Fp: Helsinki 17.10.2001
  7. Camaradas! (aka Comrades!) (2002/2004) (4'30")
    Fp: Helsinki 28.8.2002, final version: Helsinki 3.9.2004
    Recording: Six Acres of Broken Hearts (Fiasko Records FRCD-19)
  8. Epílogo (2004) (1'30")
    Fp: Helsinki 3.9.2004
    Recording: Six Acres of Broken Hearts (Fiasko Records FRCD-19)
  9. Everything Is Fine (2002) (4')
    Fp: Helsinki 7.3.2002
    Recording: Six Acres of Broken Hearts (Fiasko Records FRCD-19)
  10. A Face You Can Trust (1998)
    Fp: Pori Jazz 1998 (Big Brother), 7.3.2002 (Gourmet)
  11. Fanfarria (aka Fanfaari) (2002) (1'30")
    Fp: Helsinki 7.3.2002
    Recording: Six Acres of Broken Hearts (Fiasko Records FRCD-19)
  12. Ferry 'Cross the Prairie (aka Ihanat revontulet) (2002)
    Fp: Helsinki 28.8.2002
    Recording: Six Acres of Broken Hearts (Fiasko Records FRCD-19)
  13. Flesh And Some Bone (2003) (5')
    Fp: Helsinki 17.4.2004
    Recording: Six Acres of Broken Hearts (Fiasko Records FRCD-19)
  14. Green (1994/2001) (6')
    Fp: Helsinki 17.10.2001
  15. Kiduspoika Janus (1998) (8'30")
    Fp: Helsinki 30.8.1998
    Recording: Glamour & Decadence (Fiasko Records FRCD-3)
  16. Kukka (Flower) (1995/1998) (4'30")
    Fp: Helsinki 8.4.1998
    Recording: Glamour & Decadence (Fiasko Records FRCD-3)
  17. Lauluja tilaisuuksiin, osa 1: uudet valtiot (1996) (2'30")
    Fp: Helsinki 8.4.1998
    Recording: Glamour & Decadence (Fiasko Records FRCD-3)
  18. Mihail & Katjuska (1999) (3')
    Fp: Järvenpaa 22.1.2000
    Recording: Glamour & Decadence (Fiasko Records FRCD-3)
  19. Thy Master (1995/1998) (4'10")
    Fp: Helsinki 30.8.1998
    Recording: Glamour & Decadence (Fiasko Records FRCD-3)
  20. Tragedia (1996/1997/2001) (6'30")
    Fp: Helsinki 8.4.1998
    Recording: Glamour & Decadence (Fiasko Records FRCD-3)
  21. Xerox (2001) (6')
    Fp: Helsinki 17.10.2001

Co-composed with Mikko Innanen:

  1. Detroit (1997?)
    Recording: Glamour & Decadence (Fiasko Records FRCD-3)
  2. I Shot Liberty Valance (2004) (3'30")
    Fp: Helsinki 17.4.2004
    Recording: Six Acres of Broken Hearts (Fiasko Records FRCD-19)
  3. Las Palmas (1996) (3'30")
    Fp: Helsinki 1996, Salad
    Recording: Glamour & Decadence (Fiasko Records FRCD-3)
  4. Ludvig XIV (2002) (5')
    Fp: Helsinki 7.3.2002
  5. No Rain On Tuesday (2001) (5'30")
    Fp: Helsinki 17.10.2001

Compositions for small jazz groups

These are mostly lead sheet pieces, which can be performed on varying instrumentation. Big Brother (1996-1999) was a quintet (tenor saxophone, electric guitar, organ, double bass, drums), whose repertoire evolved from John Scofield tunes into pieces that were largely written by me and organist Mikko Helevä.

  1. Flagpole, Please (1995/1997)
    Recording: Yleisradio 10.-11.3.1999, Big Brother
  2. Freeze! (1997)
    Recording: Yleisradio 10.-11.3.1999, Big Brother
  3. Frozen Tango (1999)
    Fp: Helsinki 27.1.1999
    Recording: MiriaM. & Band: Secret Playground (smcd-001)
  4. Jubilee (1997)
    Recording: Yleisradio 10.-11.3.1999, Big Brother
  5. Passascoglia [sic] (1995/1997)
    Recording: Yleisradio 10.-11.3.1999, Big Brother
  6. Stay On The Scene-ah (1997)
    Fp: Helsinki 1997, Big Brother
  7. Sunday Afternoon (1996/1999)
  8. Supermarket (1997)
    Recording: Yleisradio 10.-11.3.1999, Big Brother
  9. Twisted Brother (1996)
    Fp: Big Brother
  10. Tähtivasara (Starhammer) (1996)
    Fp: Big Brother

Miscellaneous compositions

  1. Diez camaradas (aka Ten Comrades) (2003) (5'30")
    Fp: Lieksa Brass Festival 27.7.2003, Kaartin Seitsikko, sol. Jukka Perko, soprano sax; Severi Pyysalo, vibes
  2. Hamann eli vieraissa huoneissa (1998)
    incidental music for tin whistle, viola, classical guitar, piano, double bass and bodhran to a play by Otso Huopaniemi
    Fp: Helsinki 13.1.1999, Teatterikorkeakoulu, dir. Otso Huopaniemi
  3. Kiduspoika Janus (1997/2002) (7')
    for accordion and string quintet
    Fp: Helsinki 26.10.2002, Uusinta Chamber Ensemble
© 2000-2008 Fiasko Records (www.fiaskorecords.com)
Last updated: October 14, 2005