Waiting to hear (2022)

Violin, piano
7 min.

Waiting to hear was commissioned by my publisher, Fennica Gehrman, as part of a volume of new duos celebrating their 30th anniversary. I got the request shortly before the untimely death of my friend the violinist, composer and conductor Jaakko Kuusisto, and I wanted to write something for him, for his instrument. The violin spins out a slow, blissful, tender melody over a peaceful, unchanging piano accompaniment. The expression is restrained and expectant, like bracing oneself for news one knows is coming, but not when.