Sinfonietta No.3 is scored for small orchestra and is cast in three movements. It was written in 2013 especially for, and was entered in the last Uuno Klami Composition Competition. It won no prize!

Finnish tango - with its characteristic “drooping” triplet figuration coupled with bitonal major/minor harmony provides the direct inspiration for the second movement. The string section is required to use several tango-effects including triplo pizzicato, and latigo (whip-sound): the woodwind collectively imitate a bandoneon or “squeeze-box” and the solo trumpet has a prominent – alla latina – solo accompanied by side-drum. The central, scherzo, section comprises the traditional counterpart, faster, milonga with “not quite a fugue” which, indeed, goes nowhere fast! A section for solo violin – in tango style – leads the movement to a close.