Kaija Saariaho

Mirage
for solo soprano, solo violoncello
and orchestra
(2007)

Full Score

Chester Music
Instrumentation
2 Flutes (Fl. 2 doubling Alto Flute and Piccolo)
2 Oboes
2 Clarinets in B -
2 Bassoons (Bsn. 2 doubling Contrabassoon)

4 Horns in F
2 Trumpets in C
2 Trombones
Tuba

Timpani
Percussion (3 players)

1: Vibraphone (with bow)

2 Suspended Cymbals (high, low) with bow
Crotales

2: 2 Suspended Cymbals (medium, large) with bow

Frame Drum
Marimba
Glass Chimes
Crotales

3: Small Triangle
Tamtam
Bass Drum
Crotales
2 Tomtoms (high, low)
3 Suspended Cymbals (small, medium, large) with bow
Xylophone

Harp
Piano

Strings

The score is transposed

Crotales sound two octaves higher than written

Mirage was commissioned by the Orchestre de Paris, BBC Symphony Orchestra and Deutsches
Symphonie-Orchester Berlin. The world premiere took place on 13 March 2008 in Salle Pleyel,
Paris, given by Karita Mattila (soprano), Anssi Karttunen (cello), with the Orchestre de Paris,
conducted by Christoph Eschenbach.

Duration: c.12 minutes

Orchestral parts are available on hire from the publisher

Notation
General
Trills should always be played up a semitone, unless otherwise specified.
Tremolo should always be as dense as possible.
change very gradually from one sound or one way of playing (etc.) to another.
>o diminuendo al niente
o< crescendo dal niente
When vibrato markings are not specified, players can use their usual vibrato. “Molto vibrato” always means
a rapid and quite narrow vibrato, unless otherwise specified.
l.v. laissez vibrer (allow to sound as long as possible)

quarter tone, between natural and sharp

quarter tone, between natural and flat
as high as possible

as low as possible
a wide, very slow vibrato
All glissandi should start immediately at the beginning of the note value.

Strings
S.P. always estremamente sul ponticello
S.T. sul tasto
X behind the bridge
N. normal (used with S.P. and S.T., otherwise ord.)
increase bow pressure into scratch tone
h a trill produced by alternating the finger pressure between normal ( ) and light (harmonic, ).
r The result should be alternating normal and harmonic sounds.
When playing long sustained notes, the bow changes should always be imperceptible and made independently
of the other players. During long slurs which include several long sustained notes a change of note should
preferably not coincide with a change of bow.

Woodwind

o breath tone: use the fingering needed to produce the marked pitch, however, do not
produce the normal tone but just blow air through the instrument.

• normal tone

Brass

° blow air through instrument, no normal tone

Straight mutes should be used unless otherwise specified.

Percussion
The choice of sticks is left to the musicians. Whether hard or soft, always choose sticks giving as much
resonance as possible.

Piano
If piano pedalling is not specified, use the pedal lightly according the nature of the textures.

Harp

circular glissando. Play several overlapping, circular glissandi, gradually ascending or

descending to the destination pitches.
Harp sounds should always be allowed to ring as long as possible.
I am a woman who flies.
I am the sacred eagle woman, [the mushroom] says;
I am the Lord eagle woman;
I am the lady who swims;
Because I can swim in the immense,
Because I can swim in all forms.
I am the shooting star woman,
I am the shooting star woman beneath the water,
I am the lady doll,
I am the sacred clown,
Because I can swim,
Because I can fly.

MARIA SABINA
Mazatec healer and Shaman
1896–1985