Hope 2021

Composer, musician Timo Alakotila (b. 1959) is a distinguished, active and versatile talent in the Finnish music scene whose long career working with different genres of music – folk music in particular – has been ground-breaking. Alakotila’s works showcase his versatility: he has produced highly acclaimed classical music compositions and arrangements for Pekka and Jaakko Kuusisto, the Meta4 quartet, the Kamus and Tempera quartets, Eeva Oksala, Dalia Stasevska and Jorma Hynninen, among others.

Timo Alakotila's Hope 2021 was commissioned by Kaustinen Chamber Music Week and its artistic director, violinist Kaija Saarikettu. The topic of the work invokes the hope for brighter future after the pandemic. It is scored for string quintet (two violins, viola, cello and double bass) and piano. The middle section, a wistful minuet with folk music features is enveloped with hopeful melody both opening and closing the work.