Works

 

Composer Esa Pietilä´s work is rooted in avant-garde aesthetics, dense orchestral textures, and the lineage of Finnish modernism. He has been commissioned to write works for the Avanti! Chamber Orchestra, Zagros Ensemble, Tampere Raw, St Michel String Orchestra, Osuma ensemble, UMO Jazz Orchestra and others.

Pietilä’s music operates at the intersection of rigorously constructed scores and a highly physical approach to sound. His orchestral writing is marked by layered timbral thinking, extended formal processes, and a strong sense of compelling dramaturgy. When involved, the saxophone functions not as an external solo voice but as an integrated orchestral element—capable of both structural clarity and radical coloristic expansion.

In his writing, Pietilä brings an exceptional command of complex contemporary notation, micro-rhythmic detail, and extended techniques. His background in jazz and both, free & structured improvisation is not stylistic but technical: it enables a rare fluidity in navigating highly demanding modern passages and rapid transformations of material within precisely notated contexts.

Through his many compositions and collaborations, he is dedicated to expanding the concerto repertoire of the saxophone. Examples of this are his concerto Graffiti Play for tenor saxophone, freejazz trio and orchestra, Kairos Ludus – Double Concerto for violin, tenor saxophone and orchestra, Baltic Sea Concerto –  Double  Concerto for two saxophones & orchestra. At the moment he is writing his second violin concerto.

Scores available (buy/rental) from Fennica Gehrman  & Musicfinland

 

LIST OF WORKS:

 

For orchestra:

• Kairos Ludus, Double concerto for violin, tenor saxophone and orchestra, 35´ (2022). Soloists: Minna Pensola (vl) & Esa Pietilä (tenor sax). fl (doubling sopr. recorder, picc), fl (doubling sopr. recorder), oboe (doubling alto redorder), cl, bcl, bsn/cbsn, trp in Bb, 2 hn in F, trb, timpani, perc, 1. 2., strings (min. 8-6-5-4-3,) Fennica Gehrman F.P. TBA in 2026   PROGRAM NOTE

• Pulses, Waves & Dialoques for Tenor Saxophone & String Orchestra, 18´ (2017), (min. 4-3-2-2-1) Fennica Gehrman, F.P 2017 by St. Michel Strings & Pietilä Video from first performance

• Graffiti Play  for Contemporary Jazz-Trio (ts, bs, drs) & Chamber Orchestra 36´, (2014)  (fl, picc, ob, cl, cl/bcl, bsn/cbsn, trp in Bb, 2 hn in F, trb, perc, strings min. 4-4-4-2-1, Fennica Gehrman, F.P. 2014 by Avanti! chamber orchestra, Esa-Pekka Salonen and Esa Pietilä Trio. PROGRAM NOTE   LISTEN

 

For chamber ensemble:

• Valleys of Soliloquy,  String Quartet No. 3, 26:57´(2025), Fennica Gehrman, F.P. Oct. 2025 by Skatta String Quartet

• Ulappani  for Saxophone Quartet, 14:06´(2023), Fennica Gehrman, F.P. aug.2024. by Saxtronauts Quartet

• Icons of Blue, Black & Sun,  String Quartet No. 2, 14:27´(2022), Fennica Gehrman, F.P. feb.2022. PROGRAM NOTE   LISTEN, BUY

• Fanfaro for Horn Quartet, 4:23´, Fennica Gehrman, (2022) F.P. TBA PROGRAM NOTE

• Blazing Flames for Tenor Saxophone & String Quartet, 28´, (2018). Fennica Gehrman, F.P. 2018 with Kamus String quartet & Pietilä. Video from first performance

• Asterion (Pietilä), 18´, for tenor saxophone & 8-piece chamber group, 18´, (fl, cl/bscl, vl, vla, vlc, cb, hn in F, piano), (2014) Fennica Gehrman, F.P. 2014 with Pietilä & Zagros Ensemble. Video from first performance

• Glow  for Tenor Saxophone, Acc., Perc & live-electronics, 16´. (2018). Fennica Gehrman, F.P. 2018 with Veli Kujala (acc), Janne Tuomi (drs & perc.) & Pietilä. PROGRAM NOTE . Video from first performance

• Hyperhelium  for 6-piece chamber group, 18´, (fl, cl, vl, vlc, cb, piano) & tenor saxophone,  (2016) Fennica Gehrman, F.P. 2016 by Tampere Raw & Pietilä. PROGRAM NOTE

• HUNT!  for Tenor Saxophone & Percussion Quintet,20´, (bass dr/FX sampler, crot, tam-tam, tenor dr, vib, w.b., t.b., doundoun, met pan, marimba 4.3. oct, marimba 5 oct, drum-set), (2016)  Fennica Gehrman, F.P. 2016 by Osuma Percussion Ensemble & Pietilä. PROGRAM NOTE

• The Wind Wants for Woodwind Quintet, 16´, (fl, ob, cl, bsn, hn in F)  (2017) Fennica Gehrman, F.P. TBA. PROGRAM NOTE   BUY

• Seven In Amazonas  for Recorder Quartet, 18´, (sopr./F bass, tenor, tenor, Sub Bass)  (2018) Fennica Gehrman, F.P. TBA 

• Lake of Clang  for Saxophone Quartet (s-a-t/rec, brs) 12´, (2010) Musicfinland, F.P. 2010

• Seppo´s Hammer  for Chamber Strings, 20´, (vl 1&2, vla, vc 1&2) & jazz quintet (ts & tp or as & voc, pno, ac bass, drs), (2010) Musicfinland, F.P. 2011

• People People  for Voc. (with lyrics), Chamber Strings (vl 1&2, vla, vlc) and jazz trio (pno, ac. bass, drs), 11´ (2010) Musicfinland, F.P. 2011

• Mirage, String Quartet No. 1., 12´, (vl 1&2, vla, vlc),  (2006) Musicfinland, F.P. 2006 by Zagros string Quartet

 

For duo:

• Zefyros, Flute Sonata, for Piano and Flute, (2022) 9:14´, Fennica Gehrman, F.P 2022 with Sami Junnonen (fl) & Tuomas Turriago (p), Tampere Biannale. PROGRAM NOTE

• Brisk  for Cello and Marimba,12´, (2016) Fennica Gehrman, F.P. 2016 by Eeva Rysä, vlc & Kazutaka Morita, perc. PROGRAM NOTE   BUY

• Ahead – Electric Microland,  for Saxophone, Accordion and live-electronics, 24´ F.P. Veli Kujala & Esa Pietilä, 2013

• Orbits,  for Electric Kantele and Saxophone, 11´ F.P. Eija Kankaanranta & Esa Pietilä, 2013

For solo:

• Forest X  for Cello solo, 8:45´, F.P. by Iida-Wilhelmiina Sinivalo, May 15th 2025

• Good Spell  for Flute solo, 10:40´ (2023), Fennica Gehrman, F.P. 2023 by Annaleena Jämsä PROGRAM NOTE   Video from first performance

• Sphere  for Tenor Saxophone solo, 9:50´, Fennica Gehrman, F.P. 2022 by Esa Pietilä

• Fata Morgana  for Harpsichord solo, 5:34´, F.P. 2019 by Assi Karttunen. PROGRAM NOTE   BUY SHEET MUSIC

• Fire!  for Tenor Saxophone solo, 12´ (2018), Fennica Gehrman, F.P. 2018 by Pietilä 

• Three Strides of Light  for Piano solo, 14´, (2009) Fennica Gehrman, F.P. 2018 by Risto-Matti Marin. PROGRAM NOTE   BUY SHEET MUSIC  Video from first performance.

• House Of Bells  for Piano solo, 9´, (2006) Musicfinland, F.P. 2006 by Mirka Viitala

For Choir:

• Uirapuru  for Tenor Saxophone &  male choir (40 voices and up), 11´, (2017) Fennica Gehrman, F.P. 2017 by Akademiska Sångföreningen & Pietilä. PROGRAM NOTE    BUY SHEET MUSIC

For organ & saxophone:

• Triptych  for Tenor Saxophone & Pipe Organ, 18´, Musicfinland, F.P. 2016

• Saturn – Fantasy  for Tenor Saxophone & Pipe Organ, 16´, Fennica Gehrman, F.P. by 2012 by Pétur Sakari & Esa Pietilä. PROGRAM NOTE

For Big Band:

• Big Fun for 12- piece jazz ensemble (any instruments), 30´, (2014) Musicfinland F.P. 2014

• Turms for Big Band, 14å, (2000) Musicfinland F.P. in 2000

• Labyrinth for Big Band, 9´, Musicfinland F.P. in 2000

• Code Red for Big Band, 7´, Musicfinland F.P. in 1998

• Before Moon for Big Band, 7´, (1998) Musicfinland F.P. In 1996

• Tricks for Big Band, 14´ (1996) Musicfinland F.P. in 1996

Other:

• various works for solo saxophone