Kaija Saariaho: Reconnaissance: I. The First Martian in a Long Time
Helsinki Chamber Choir, conducted by Nils Schweckendiek
Let’s start at the top. Finland has only a handful of professional choirs; among them, the Helsinki Chamber Choir has carved out a reputation as a dedicated performer and recorder of contemporary music. Reconnaissance, the last choral work by the late superstar composer Kaija Saariaho, pairs singers with the contrabass and percussions of the Uusinta Ensemble. In 2024, the album won the Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance.
Selma Savolainen: Kerouac
Signe (Josefiina Vannesluoma, Selma Savolainen, Riikka Keränen, Kaisa Mäensivu)
The interplay of contrabass and human voices is also central to the Signe quartet, consisting of bassist Kaisa Mäensivu and vocalists Selma Savolainen, Riikka Keränen and Josefiina Vannesluoma. With backgrounds in jazz, the artists embark on a three-album journey in the 2020s – Phonemes, Morphemes and Syntax – traversing from isolated phonemes to full lyrical structures. Along the way, they collaborate with figures from the experimental music scene.
Bengt Johansson: Kartago
Ahjo Ensemble, conducted by Julia Lainema
Among the high-quality Finnish mixed choir recordings of recent years, special mention goes to Ahjo Ensemble’s 2024 album I Long For…, which exclusively features choral works by the Finnish-Swedish composer Bengt Johansson (1914–1989).
Alex Freeman: Sidereus Nuncius
Akademiska Damkören Lyran, conducted by Jutta Seppinen
Riikka Talvitie: Varjot: II. Tyhjä kiertyy ympärille
KYN, conducted by Kaija Viitasalo
Two leading female choirs are represented here: the Swedish-speaking Lyran, whose album Vid horisonten (On the Horizon) features Sidereus Nuncius by American-born Helsinki-based composer Alex Freeman, and KYN (Student Union of Helsinki School of Economics Female Choir), whose latest album includes Varjot (Shadows), a work by Riikka Talvitie.
Sini Koskelainen: Taival (Passage)
Tuuletar (Venla Ilona Blom, Sini Koskelainen, Johanna Kyykoski, Piia Säilynoja)
Martin O’Donnell, arr. William Häggblom: Halo Theme
Munx Gregoriana (William Häggblom, Tuomas Tenkanen, Joonas Pajari, Johan Krogius)
A cappella vocal ensembles in Finland have never achieved the same visibility or popularity as choirs, but occasionally, there are groups that break through internationally within their niche. The folk-inspired Tuuletar, which describes its music as “vocal folk hop”, has toured major folk and world music festivals and even landed a piece in a Game of Thrones trailer.
Meanwhile, Munx Gregoriana, inspired by medieval and Renaissance polyphony, has gained recognition for its vocal arrangements of video game music. Their rendition of the Halo series theme has amassed nearly five million views on YouTube.
Leevi Haapanen & Linnea Hildén: Ykkösii ja nollii
Musta lammas, conducted by Ida Olsonen
Compared to their counterparts in art music, pop-influenced choirs remain a minority in Finland. Musta lammas (Black Sheep), composed largely of young professional singers and music students, brings vibrancy to our playlist in this genre.
Einojuhani Rautavaara: Rakkaus ei koskaan häviä
CandoMini, conducted by Viena Kangas
Veera Lummi: Taivaalla on tilaa
Vox Aurea, conducted by Sanna Salminen
The roots of Finland’s vibrant choral tradition – and the beginnings of many professional musicians – lie in children’s and youth choirs. The Tapiola Choir was the first to gain major international attention in the 1970s. Representing the recent wave of youth choir recordings on this playlist are two ensembles: CandoMini from Espoo and Vox Aurea from Jyväskylä, whose singers range in age from 10 to 18.
