There is something profoundly human about the act of singing together. When voices, each carrying their own texture and timbre, come together, they form something greater than the sum of their parts. The shared (or unshared) breath, and the presence of an audience gathered to witness the weaving of a fabric of voices, represent a powerful expression of community – not only as a gathering of people, but as an embodiment of collective purpose.

In Finland, where amateur choirs thrive in nearly every region and across all age groups, the tradition of choral singing continues to evolve in fascinating ways. Amateur choirs are particularly eager to commission works from contemporary composers, and we are constantly witnessing new creations emerging from older traditions, such as music for the Orthodox liturgy. Choirs today naturally preserve heritage but they are also pushing the boundaries of what communal music-making can achieve, and what coming together can mean in our times.

In this respect, we are living in fascinating times. While Finland has a long-standing tradition of choral singing, new technologies and innovations continue to reshape the choral landscape. In this special issue, for example, we see how choirs explore visual creativity by blending music with video art to reach audiences in new and unexpected ways. Choirs are also in constant search of new forms of expression and dissemination, as exemplified by the witty High and Mighty Royal Doomsday Choir of Tampere and the versatile work of composer and musician Anna-Mari Kähärä.

This special issue approaches these multifaceted themes from a variety of viewpoints and concludes with a playlist offering a unique overview of recent choral music in Finland. We extend our warmest thanks to the Alfred Kordelin Foundation, whose support has made the publication of our special issues in 2025 possible.

Featured image generated with the assistance of AI (ChatGPT / DALL·E by OpenAI, 2025).

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