Special Issue

Kaija Saariaho 70

Published

October 27, 2022

FMQ Special Feature 3/2022 joins the celebration of Kaija Saariaho’s extraordinary career and creative output by addressing the various facets of her work and the impact it has had on musicians, musicologists, composers, and audiences. Saariaho – or Kaija, as many of the writers of this Special Feature refer to her – represents an inspiration and a trailblazer: a composer of extraordinary music and a creator of new aural worlds; but also a teacher, a colleague, a friend, an incisive thinker, and a mother.

by

Anni Heino

,

Marjo Heiskanen

,

Anu Jormalainen

,

Juha T. Koskinen

,

Lasse Lehtonen

,

Susan McClary

,

Kaija Saariaho

,

Olli Virtaperko

,

"All pieces in this Special Feature share one theme: the significance of encounters," writes Lasse Lehtonen.

The Special Feature 3/2022 Editorial: On musical metaphors and human encounters

The Special Feature 3/2022 Editorial: On musical metaphors and human encounters

"All pieces in this Special Feature share one theme: the significance of encounters," writes Lasse Lehtonen.

Lasse Lehtonen

October 27, 2022

Over the decades, numerous musicians and ensembles around the world have performed the music of Kaija Saariaho. Without long-term relationships with trusted interpreters, the Finnish composer’s music would have travelled quite a different path.

“Known to her friends as Kaija”: A musical journey with trusted interpreters

“Known to her friends as Kaija”: A musical journey with trusted interpreters

Over the decades, numerous musicians and ensembles around the world have performed the music of Kaija Saariaho. Without long-term relationships with trusted interpreters, the Finnish composer’s music would have travelled quite a different path.

Anu Jormalainen

October 27, 2022

“With the opening sonority of each of her works, Kaija establishes a vibration that resonates deep inside the listener’s body along with a spectrum of overtones that grow out of that original sonority but that also foreshadow the complex contradictions that compel us to identify with and follow the web she weaves”, writes Susan McClary in her essay about Kaija Saariaho’s work.

Kaija Saariaho, Mater

Kaija Saariaho, Mater

“With the opening sonority of each of her works, Kaija establishes a vibration that resonates deep inside the listener’s body along with a spectrum of overtones that grow out of that original sonority but that also foreshadow the complex contradictions that compel us to identify with and follow the web she weaves”, writes Susan McClary in her essay about Kaija Saariaho’s work.

Susan McClary

October 27, 2022

“Studying under Kaija’s guidance proved to be an important experience to all of us who were learning from her – for some of us, you could say it was even life-changing.” In his essay, composer Juha T. Koskinen reflects on how having been taught by Kaija Saariaho has shaped his thinking as well as his compositional output and processes.

My teacher Kaija Saariaho: ”Five Miniatures”

My teacher Kaija Saariaho: ”Five Miniatures”

“Studying under Kaija’s guidance proved to be an important experience to all of us who were learning from her – for some of us, you could say it was even life-changing.” In his essay, composer Juha T. Koskinen reflects on how having been taught by Kaija Saariaho has shaped his thinking as well as his compositional output and processes.

Juha T. Koskinen

October 27, 2022

FMQ commissioned a poem about Kaija Saariaho's music
from Marjo Heiskanen, a poet and pianist. To celebrate
this special occasion, we publish the poem,
"Kaiunta" (From the Echoes of Dreams) in two languages.

From the Echoes of Dreams: A poem for Kaija Saariaho

From the Echoes of Dreams: A poem for Kaija Saariaho

FMQ commissioned a poem about Kaija Saariaho's music from Marjo Heiskanen, a poet and pianist. To celebrate this special occasion, we publish the poem, "Kaiunta" (From the Echoes of Dreams) in two languages.

Marjo Heiskanen

October 27, 2022

"The world is a mosaic of beliefs, of languages, of varied communities, and the question is not whether it is possible for them to coexist but how their coexistence could be facilitated, because we have no choice”, writes Kaija Saariaho in her column, originally published in FMQ in 2019.

Kaija Saariaho's column in FMQ from 2019: The world is a mosaic

Kaija Saariaho's column in FMQ from 2019: The world is a mosaic

"The world is a mosaic of beliefs, of languages, of varied communities, and the question is not whether it is possible for them to coexist but how their coexistence could be facilitated, because we have no choice”, writes Kaija Saariaho in her column, originally published in FMQ in 2019.

Kaija Saariaho

August 22, 2019

Kaija Saariaho, who settled in France in the early 1980s, spent the 1997- 98 academic year as visiting composition professor at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland. The FMQ asked her how she felt at the end of her stay.

The quest for identity – Kaija Saariaho spends a year in Finland

The quest for identity – Kaija Saariaho spends a year in Finland

Kaija Saariaho, who settled in France in the early 1980s, spent the 1997- 98 academic year as visiting composition professor at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland. The FMQ asked her how she felt at the end of her stay.

Anni Heino

January 9, 1998

Several works by Kaija Saariaho are mentioned in this Special Feature. Our playlist provides a cross-section of the music discussed in the articles.

Playlist: Kaija Saariaho in FMQ

Playlist: Kaija Saariaho in FMQ

Several works by Kaija Saariaho are mentioned in this Special Feature. Our playlist provides a cross-section of the music discussed in the articles.

FMQ

October 27, 2022

Composers Kaija Saariaho and Olli Virtaperko sat down to talk about the meaning of art and music. In this dialogue between composers from different generations, fascinating insights into the structures of and changes in writing music and the world of music at large emerged.

Kaija Saariaho and Olli Virtaperko: A conversation

Kaija Saariaho and Olli Virtaperko: A conversation

Composers Kaija Saariaho and Olli Virtaperko sat down to talk about the meaning of art and music. In this dialogue between composers from different generations, fascinating insights into the structures of and changes in writing music and the world of music at large emerged.

Olli Virtaperko

October 27, 2022

Translation

Featured photo

by Lasse Lehtonen (a detail from "Liisan taikahuilu" by Kaija Saariaho)