# List of compositions by Kaija Saariaho

This is a list of compositions by Kaija Saariaho.
Saariaho's compositions were published by Chester Music and Edition Wilhelm Hansen.

## Orchestra

| Title | Year | Duration | Notes |
| Asteroid 4179 | 2005 | 4 min. | |
| Chimera | 2019 | 1 min. | |
| Ciel d'hiver | 2013 | 10 min. | |
| Circle Map | 2012 | 26 min. | for orchestra and electronics |
| Du Cristal | 1989 | 12 min. | for orchestra and electronics |
| Forty Heartbeats | 1998 | 3 min. | |
| Laterna Magica | 2008 | 20 min. | |
| Lumière et Pesanteur | 2009 | 6 min. | |
| Nymphéa Reflection | 2001 | 27 min. | for string orchestra |
| Orion | 2002 | 22 min. | |
| Song for Betty | 2001 | 5 min. | |
| Terra Memoria | 2009 | 20 min. | string orchestra version of the 2006 string quartet |
| Verblendungen | 1984 | 14 min. | for orchestra and tape |
| Vista | 2019 | 25 min. | |
| Semafor | 2020 | 14 min. | for sinfonietta |

## Soloist(s) and orchestra
### Instrumental

| Title | Year | Soloist(s) | Duration | Notes |
| ...à la Fumée | 1990 | alto flute and cello | 19 min. | sequel to Du Cristal |
| Graal théâtre | 1994 | violin | 25 min. | |
| Aile du songe | 2001 | flute | 18 min. | |
| D'Om le Vrai Sens | 2010 | clarinet | 35 min. | |
| Maan varjot | 2013 | organ | 15 min. | |
| Notes on Light | 2006 | cello | 28 min. | |
| Trans | 2015 | harp | 20 min. | |
| HUSH | 2023 | trumpet | 25 min. | premiered posthumously; written for soloist Verneri Pohjola. |

### Vocal

| Title | Year | Soloist(s) | Duration | Text writer | Language | Notes |
| Adriana Songs | 2006 | mezzo-soprano | 29 min. | Amin Maalouf | French | |
| Cinq reflets de L’Amour de loin | 2001 | soprano and baritone | 30 min. | Amin Maalouf | French | |
| Émilie Suite | 2011 | soprano | 25 min. | Amin Maalouf | French | |
| Leino Songs | 2007 | soprano | 13 min. | Eino Leino | Finnish | |
| Mirage | 2007 | cello and soprano | 12 min. | Maria Sabina | English | |
| Quatre Instants | 2002 | soprano | 23 min. | Amin Maalouf | French | orchestral version of the 2002 art song |
| True Fire | 2014 | baritone | 25 min. | Ralph Waldo Emerson, Seamus Heaney, trad. Native American, Mahmoud Darwish | English | |
| Saarikoski-laulut | 2020 | soprano | 15 min. | Pentti Saarikoski | Finnish | orchestral version of the 2017 song cycle |

## Large ensemble (7 or more players)

| Title | Year | Instrumentation | Duration | Notes |
| Aer | 1991 | flute, percussion, harp, harpsichord, violin, viola, cello, and electronics | 17 min. | |
| Io | 1987 | 2 flutes (2nd doubling piccolo and alto flute), bass flute, 2 horns, trombone, tuba, percussion, harp, piano, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass and electronics | 17 min. | |
| Lichtbogen | 1986 | flute (doubling piccolo and alto flute), percussion, harp, piano, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass and electronics | 17 min. | |
| Neiges | 1998 | for 8 or 12 cellos | 15 min. | one version available for 8 cellos, one for 12 |
| Solar | 1993 | flute (doubling piccolo), oboe, clarinet, trumpet, 2 percussionists, harp, 2 pianos, violin, viola, double bass and electronics | 18 min. | |

## Soloist(s) and large ensemble (7 or more players)
### Instrumental

| Title | Year | Soloist | Ensemble instrumentation | Duration | Notes |
| Amers | 1992 | cello | piccolo, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, horn, 2 percussionists, harp, 2 keyboards, and electronics | 20 min. | |
| Graal théâtre | 1997 | violin | flute (doubling piccolo), oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, 2 horns, trumpet, bass trombone, 2 percussionists, harp, piano, 2 violins, viola, cello, and double bass | 25 min. | chamber version of the 1994 orchestra piece |
| Notes on Light | 2010 | cello | flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, timpani, 2 percussionists, harp, piano, celesta, 2 violins, viola, cello, and double bass | 28 min. | ensemble version of the 2006 orchestra piece |
| Vers toi qui est si loin | 2018 | violin | piccolo, harp (optional), 2 violins, viola, cello, and double bass | 7 min. | adaptation of the final aria of L'Amour de loin |

### Vocal

| Title | Year | Soloist | Ensemble instrumentation | Duration | Text writer | Language | Notes |
| Message pour Gérard | 2000 | mezzo-soprano | alto flute (doubling piccolo), percussion, harp, violin, viola, cello, and double bass | 4 min. | Kaija Saariaho (text collage) | French | |
| Tempest Songbook | 2004 | soprano and baritone | original: flute, clarinet, harp, guitar, mandolin, violin, viola, cello, and double bass alternate: recorder, harpsichord, lute, 2 violins, viola, cello, and double bass | 21 min. | Shakespeare | English | one version for modern instruments, one for period instruments |
| Vers toi qui est si loin | 2018 | soprano | piccolo, harp (optional), 2 violins, viola, cello, and double bass | 7 min. | Amin Maalouf | French | adaptation of the final aria of L'Amour de loin |

## Works for 2–6 players

| Title | Year | Instrumentation | Duration | Notes |
| Aure | 2011 | violin and viola (or cello) | 5 min. | |
| The Bosun's Cheer | 2014 | sprechstimme speaker, flute (or violin), cello, and double bass | 4 min. | one version for modern instruments, one for period instruments |
| Calices | 2009 | violin and piano | 10 min. | |
| Cendres | 1998 | alto flute, piano, and cello | 10 min. | |
| Ciel étoilé | 1999 | percussion and double bass | 5 min. | |
| Cloud Trio | 2009 | violin, viola, and cello | 20 min. | |
| Concordia | 2017 | violin and cello | 20 min. | |
| Figura | 2016 | solo clarinet, piano, and string quartet | 14 min. | |
| Gates | 1991 | flute, harpsichord, cello, and electronics (optional) | 10 min. | |
| Im Traume | 1980 | cello and piano | 10 min. | |
| Je sens un deuxième coeur | 2003 | viola, cello, and piano | 15 min. | |
| Light and Matter | 2014 | piano, violin, and cello | 12 min. | |
| Light still and moving | 2016 | flute and kantele | 12 min. | |
| Mirrors | 1997 | flute and cello | 4 min. | |
| New Gates | 1996 | flute, harp, and viola | 12 min. | |
| Nymphéa | 1987 | string quartet and electronics | 18 min. | |
| Offrande | 2014 | organ and cello | 7 min. | |
| Oi Kuu | 1990 | bass clarinet (or bass flute) and cello | 6 min. | |
| Serenatas | 2008 | piano, cello, and percussion | 14 min. | |
| Terra Memoria | 2006 | string quartet | 20 min. | |
| Terrestre | 2002 | solo flute, percussion, harp, violin, and cello | 10 min. | |
| Tocar | 2010 | violin and piano | 7 min. | |
| Trois Rivières | 1994 | percussion quartet and electronics | 16 min. | |

## Solo works

| Title | Year | Instrumentation | Duration |
| Arabesques et adages | 2016 | piano | 7 min. |
| Ballade | 2005 | piano | 6 min., 30 sec. |
| Couleurs du vent | 1998 | alto flute | 9 min. |
| ...de la Terre | 1991 | violin and electronics | 15 min. |
| Dolce Tormento | 2004 | piccolo | 5 min. |
| Dreaming Chaccone (Variation on the Chiacona of Giuseppe Colombi) | 2010 | cello | |
| Duft | 2012 | clarinet | 10 min. |
| Fall | 1991 | harp and electronics | 5 min. |
| Folia | 1995 | double bass and electronics | 10 min. |
| Frises | 2011 | violin and electronics | 20 min. |
| Jardin Secret II | 1986 | harpsichord and electronics | 11 min. |
| Laconisme de l'aile | 1982 | flute and electronics | 9 min. |
| NoaNoa | 1992 | flute and electronics | 10 min. |
| Nocturne | 1994 | violin | 6 min. |
| Petals | 1988 | cello and electronics | 9 min. |
| Prelude | 2007 | piano | 7 min., 30 sec. |
| Près | 1992 | cello and electronics | 18 min. |
| Sense | 2016 | violin | |
| Sept Papillons | 2000 | cello | 10 min. |
| Six Japanese Gardens | 1994 | percussion and electronics | 19 min. |
| Spins and Spells | 1997 | cello | 7 min. |
| Trois Rivières: Delta | 2001 | percussion and electronics | 16 min. |
| Vent nocturne | 2006 | viola and electronics | 15 min. |

## Chorus (a cappella and with accompaniment)

| Title | Year | Instrumentation | Duration | Text writer | Language | Notes |
| Château de l'âme | 1996 | solo soprano, SA chorus, and orchestra | 22 min. | Kaija Saariaho (text collage) | French | |
| Echo! | 2007 | 2 sopranos, alto, countertenor, 2 tenors, 2 basses, and electronics | 10 min. | Aleksi Barrière | French | |
| Horloge, Tais-Tois! | 2007 | original: SA chorus and piano alternate: SA chorus, flute, clarinet, basson, percussion, and strings | 3 min., 30 sec. | Aleksi Barrière | French | |
| Kesäpäivä | 2011 | SA chorus and 2 percussionists | | Aleksi Barrière | | |
| Nuits, adieux | 1996 | SATB chorus | 10 min. | Jacques Roubaud, Honoré de Balzac | French | choral version of the 1991 piece for solo voices |
| Oltra mar | 1999 | SATB chorus and orchestra | 22 min. | Amin Maalouf, Abou Said | French | |
| Reconnaissance | 2020 | SATB chorus, percussion, and double bass | 20 min. | Aleksi Barrière | | |
| Tag des Jahrs | 2001 | SATB chorus and electronics | 15 min. | Friedrich Hölderlin | German | |
| Überzeugung | 2001 | 3 female voices, violin, cello, and crotale (can be played by one of the singers) | 2 min. | Friedrich Hölderlin | German | |
| Nej och inte | 1979 | female choir a cappella | 5 min. | Gunnar Björling | Swedish | |
| Suomenkielinen sekakuorokappale | 1979 | solo soprano, solo baritone, mixed choir | 9 min. | | Finnish |

## Solo voice with up to 6 players

| Title | Year | Instrumentation | Duration | Text writer | Language | Notes |
| Ariel's Hail | 2000 | soprano, flute, and harp | 3 min. | Shakespeare | English | |
| Die Aussicht | 1996 1998 | original: soprano, flute, guitar, violin, and cello alternate: soprano, flute, piano, and cello | 4 min. | Friedrich Hölderlin | German | |
| Caliban's Dream | 1993 1995 | original: baritone, clarinet, harp, guitar, mandolin, and double bass alternate: baritone, alto flute, harp, and cello | 3 min. | Shakespeare | English | part of The Tempest Songbook |
| Changing Light | 2002 2005 2019 | original: soprano and violin alternate: soprano and flute alternate: baritone and cello | 6 min. | translated from the Hebrew by Rabbi Jules Harlow | English | |
| Ferdinand's Comfort | 2004 | soprano, baritone, flute, harp (or piano), violin, cello, and double bass | 4 min. | Shakespeare | English | part of The Tempest Songbook |
| From the Grammar of Dreams | 1988 2002 | original: 2 sopranos alternate: soprano and electronics | 10 min. | Sylvia Plath | English | |
| Grammaire des Rêves | 1988 | soprano, alto, 2 flutes, harp, viola, and cello | 11 min. | Paul Éluard (text collage) | | |
| Il pleut | 1986 | soprano and piano | 2 min. | Guillaume Apollinaire | French | |
| Iltarukous | 2000 | soprano and piano | 3 min. | Eino Leino | Finnish | |
| Leino Songs | 2007 | soprano and piano | 13 min. | Eino Leino | Finnish | chamber version of the 2007 piece for soprano and orchestra |
| Lonh | 1996 | soprano and electronics | 20 min. | Jaufre Rudel | Old Occitan | |
| Luonnon kasvot | 2013 | voice and piano | | Pentti Saarikoski | Finnish | |
| Mirage | 2007 | soprano, cello, and piano | 12 min. | Maria Sabina | English | |
| Miranda's Lament | 1997 2000 | original: soprano, clarinet, harp, viola, and double bass alternate: soprano, flute, harp, violin, andcello | 6 min. | Shakespeare | English | part of The Tempest Songbook |
| Nuits, adieux | 1991 | SATB and electronics | 10 min. | Jacques Roubaud, Honoré de Balzac | French | |
| Prospero's Vision | 2002 2019 | original: baritone, clarinet, harp, violin, and double bass alternate: tenor and string quartet | 5 min. | Shakespeare | English | part of The Tempest Songbook |
| Quatre Instants | 2002 | soprano and piano | 23 min. | Amin Maalouf | French | |
| Quatre Messages | 1999 | 2 sopranos, flute, and harp | 8 min. | Kaija Saariaho (text collage) | French | |
| Saarikoski-laulut | 2017 | soprano and piano | 11 min. | Pentti Saarikoski | Finnish | |
| Sombre | 2012 | voice, bass flute, percussion, harp, and double bass | 18 min. | Ezra Pound | English | |
| Tag des Jahrs | 2006 | 2 sopranos, mezzo-soprano, countertenor, 2 tenors, bass, and electronics | 15 min. | Friedrich Hölderlin | German | arranged by Rachid Safir |

## Opera and musical theatre

| Title | Year | Voices | Orchestra instrumentation | Duration | Librettist | Language | Notes |
| Adriana Mater | 2005 | mezzo-soprano, soprano, tenor, bass-baritone, and SATB chorus | large orchestra and electronics | 2 hours | Amin Maalouf | French | |
| L'Amour de loin | 2000 | soprano, mezzo-soprano, baritone, and SATB chorus | large orchestra and electronics | 2 hours | Amin Maalouf | French | |
| Émilie | 2008 | soprano | chamber orchestra and electronics | 1 hour, 20 min. | Amin Maalouf | French | |
| La Passion de Simone | 2006 | soprano solo and SATB chorus | orchestra (or chamber orchestra) | 1 hour, 15 min. | Amin Maalouf | French | one version for large orchestra, one for chamber orchestra |
| Innocence | 2018 | soprano, tenor, baritone, and SATB chorus | large orchestra | 1 hour, 45 min. | Sofi Oksanen, translated by Aleksi Barrière | mainly English (also Finnish, Czech, French, Romanian, Swedish, German, Spanish, and Greek) | |
| Only the Sound Remains | 2015 | countertenor, bass-baritone, and SATB ensemble | flute (doubling alto flute and bass flute), percussion, kantele, 2 violins, viola, cello, and electronics | 1 hour, 30 min. | inspired by Noh dramas (Always Strong and Feather mantle), translated by Ezra Pound and Ernest Fenollosa | English | |

## Music for dance

| Title | Year | Instrumentation | Duration |
| Maa | 1991 | flute, percussion, harp, harpsichord, violin, ciola, cello, and electronics | 1 hour, 30 min. |

## Electronic music

| Title | Year | Duration |
| Jardin Secret I | 1985 | 10 min., 48 sec. |
| Stilleben | 1988 | |