Rhapsody for Bassoon and Wind Ensemble

 Jukka-Pekka Lehto, 2002

Commissioned by the North Cheshire Wind Orchestra, Mark Heron and Kevin O’Sullivan with support from LUSES (The Foundation for the Promotion of Finnish Music).

Jukka-Pekka Lehto is developing an international reputation as a composer to watch. Currently principal flute with the Pori Chamber Orchestra in Finland, his best known work to date is his flute concerto. We commissioned J-P to write another solo work, this time for bassoon and wind ensemble accompaniment, which was also premiered at the 2002 International Wind Festival held at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester on Saturday 23 March 2002. The bassoon soloist was Kevin O’Sullivan. For ordering information or perusal scores email J-P direct.

Jukka-Pekka Lehto was born in 1958 in Ahlainen, Finland After graduating from Porin Lyseo high school in 1977, Jukka-Pekka Lehto achieved a Military musicians degree in Finnish Navy Band, Turku. Afterwards he worked there for one year as an officer musician (1980-81). At the same time Lehto studied flute in the Turku Music Conservatory under the direction of Dr Ilari Lehtinen. He was awarded a flute diploma from the Sibelius Academy, Helsinki 1987 and continued his flute studies in master classes with Hans-Martin Linde, Peter-Lucas Graf, Istvan Matuz, and William Bennet.

J-P Lehto’s first orchestral work as a flutist was with the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra (1981-83). In 1983 he was selected to work as a regional artist in Turku and Pori District, for developing and educating wind ensembles and concert bands. In 1984 Lehto served as a music instructor in the city of Uusikaupunki. His responsibility was conducting local orchestras and leading the international Crusell music week (woodwind contests, masterclasses and concerts).

In 1987 Lehto was appointed solo flute with the Pori Sinfonietta. Since then he has performed in solo and chamber concerts all over Finland and in many European countries.

In his role as a composer Jukka-Pekka Lehto has become familiar since the 1990’s. He started more in light music style but continued progressively to modern and sophisticated expression. Now his work has been recognised by many significant foundations. His concert band music has been recorded and he has had many commissions. His “Air” for flute and piano was a chosen work for the international Quanz flute competition 1997 in Ikaalinen, Finland.

The Turku Conservatory flute ensemble played the music of Jukka-Pekka Lehto at the festival of Hungarian flute association in Vac, Hungary 1998 and in 1999 the Finnish Navy Band recorded and published a CD of Lehto’s wind band music. Lehto’s music is performed in several European countries and America by Finnish solo flutists, ensembles and concert bands. Since1999 Lehto has been a member of “Society of Finnish composers”.

In February 2000 his “Concertino for trombone and band” was played at the MMEA conference, Minneapolis, USA. In the same conference J-P Lehto gave a lecture “Flute playing in the new millennium”.

Nowadays Lehto works more with symphony orchestra music. Pori Sinfonietta-orchestra commissioned a work for the new concert hall in Pori. This piece, called “Promenade” was premiered in April 2000.

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