HUOM
Reviving orchestral music that history forgot
Whose are the voices we hear at concerts? Which stories are conveyed through art music, and which are not? Questions like this are becoming increasingly common, and now we are starting to find answers to them. The HUOM project is reviving orchestral music written by Finnish woman composers in the 19th and 20th centuries.
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FMQ Special Feature 4/2021:
Music in the post-normal times
In FMQ Special Feature 4/2021, we take a look at the potential futures of music. Ecological reconstruction is an urgent priority, technology is everywhere, the economic system is in flux, and populations are ageing and diversifying. What are the impacts of these trends on the music industry?
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On my music and beyond
About the anatomy of an artwork
"Art of time requires dramaturgical precision from its creator, and because of this a key tool for the creator is a stopwatch. If a particular section of a composition is too short, it is unable to effectively convey its narrative; if it is too long, it will bore the listener. The aim is always to get the texture to breathe at the appropriate pace, to give it natural motion and clarity," writes composer Aulis Sallinen. This column is part of the series where composers and musicians write about their music.
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On my music and beyond:
Composing must be rooted in integrity
"For me, the most important function of music is to convey and catalyse emotions. This is why rich textures and powerful melodies play such a central role in my music," writes Mari Sainio. This column is part of the series where composers and musicians write about their music.
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Tampere Jazz Happening
40 years of pushing the boundaries, and self-obliteration
"What makes someone visit the same music festival for 40 years without a break? This is what has happened to me with Tampere Jazz Happening", writes music journalist Harri Tuominen.
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On my music and beyond:
HOPE – A positive musical perspective on the world’s ecological crisis
"When I compose music and write lyrics, I start from the concept of wanting to communicate true facts and real things to my listeners, and find issues that are relevant and common for all of us as humans. I love to connect with my audiences, and I want to speak out about things that matter to me. When it comes to lyrics, I love to be poetic. When it comes to music, I love grooves, patterns, odd and polyrhythms."
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As the canon turns
Reflections on the centenary of Joonas Kokkonen
Joonas Kokkonen began his life in a small town in the 1920s and went on to become one of Finland’s most celebrated and internationally most successful composers. Today, his music is rarely performed in concert.
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A new era:
Nicholas Collon starts as Chief Conductor of the FRSO
History will be made later this month, as Nicholas Collon becomes the first non-Finn to lead the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. What can Finland expect from the British musician – and should the rest of the world be listening too?
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From the Archives (1985–2005)
FMQ began life as a printed magazine – the Finnish Music Quarterly – in 1985. Until 2005, its articles were only available in hard copy.
Selected articles from our back catalogue have been posted online, and the selection is continuously being added to.
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