FMQ - FMQ 3-4/2015 Articles

UMO stands the test of time

2015 has been a milestone year for the 40-year-old UMO Jazz Orchestra. We invited three key figures to look back on the history of the internationally acclaimed big band.

Petri Silas

January 10, 2015

Features

Taking musicals seriously

Is music theatre a cash cow or a quality art form, or something in between? Who should perform musicals and why? Some Finnish institutions have become a cog in the machine of the international music industry.

Tove Djupsjöbacka

January 10, 2015

Features

The hidden market of second-hand vinyl

Vinyl might be even bigger than we’re told. But is it nostalgia, retro or hipster? Perhaps something else, at least according to Matti Nives.

Matti Nives

January 10, 2015

Columns

Taking note 3-4/2015: How to fund a festival startup

"The funding as of now is fragmented into bits and pieces, making every edition for the new event still trying to find its ground a very insecure undertaking."

January 10, 2015

Features

Composing, music and society at large

Composing always has a social dimension, because composers engage in it in the context created by society. Yet composers’ views on the relationship between music and society have varied a great deal over the centuries. What do today’s composers think about their work in relation to current social and political issues?

Juha Torvinen

January 10, 2015

Features

Erja Lyytinen: Blues owes me money (Notes & Letters column)

I was three and a half years old when I performed for the first time, at my father’s employer’s Christmas party. One of the guests gave me a Finnish ten-mark note. It seemed like a lot of money – especially for singing! We sang at home all the time, so it didn’t feel like work even though performing in front of such a large crowd felt exciting. Singing was something I loved doing and it moved something inside me. And someone liked my singing enough to give me money – paper money.

Erja Lyytinen

January 10, 2015

Features

W(h)ither arts support?

The Finnish arts subsidy system is considered efficient and effective by international standards. However, a recent report by the Finnish Cultural Foundation reveals that the structure is beginning to show its age. Change is desired by many, but sweeping visions for the future are offered by few, the FCF says.

Hanna Isolammi

January 10, 2015

Features

Finding and financing an instrument

A high-value instrument should be the principal tool of any top musician, but the real gems are available only to a select few. Tomas Djupsjöbacka set up an investment company with nine other shareholders, thus securing himself a rare cello for the duration of his active performing career.

Elina Roms

January 10, 2015

Columns

Give some get some

Art does not just magically appear in the world as a gift of grace that comes from divine inspiration. It is created through persistent and devoted work. This work is always funded by someone who has their own expectations of what to receive in return for their support.

Olli Virtaperko

January 10, 2015

Reviews

The Phantom of the National Opera is flesh and blood

The decision of the Finnish National Opera to produce The Phantom of the Opera turned out to be an opinion-divider. Musicals are a genre popular with the public at large, but many still do not consider them a serious art form.

Tove Djupsjöbacka

January 8, 1985

Columns

Guest column: Supporting the arts is no simple feat

"The best thing about the Finnish public grant system is the very existence of it. Even if the amount allocated for the arts in the state budget is minute, it has nevertheless been clear to the political decision makers for a long time that public funds must be invested in supporting the arts."

January 8, 1985

Reviews

Peat, smoke & seaweed storm

"...it’s another cross-country ramble, concerned more with the detail of the surrounding vistas than any ultimate goal, but even as it takes its time to unfold, its casual strength, flaring up as unpredictably as coastal weather, holds the interest."

January 8, 1985

Reviews

In a humanist’s chamber

"His organic music does not form (or grow) in a closed greenhouse, but always in an empathic connection to a wider world, nature and culture. These works are, in a unique way, interestingly novel and strangely familiar at the same time."

January 8, 1985

Reviews

Smiley goes west

"Mäkynen’s first-rate compositions alternate with some hand-picked standard tunes, such as “Love Is Here to Stay” or “For Dancers Only”."

Jan-Erik Holmberg

January 8, 1985

Features

Busy, but in a good way

Suvi Oskala has a lot going on. She plays the violin and sings but also writes music, teaches, produces and runs her own record label. Involved in both avant-garde art folk music and traditional folk music, she keeps her bands going through active performance sales and with grants.

Amanda Kauranne

January 8, 1985

Reviews

Convincing theme album

"...Aija Puurtinen and Esa Kuloniemi, known from the blues band Honey B & T-Bones, have composed a fine album to lyrics in English and Finglish (what an inspiring “language” for rhyming!)..."

Riikka Hiltunen

January 8, 1985

Reviews

Dancefloor burners

"Indeed, it is hard to imagine how Lassy’s quintet could sound any tighter or exuberant as they deliver their well-honed blend of soul jazz, hard bop and Latin jazz."

Pierre Ringwald

January 8, 1985

Reviews

Bubbling pleasure

"It is a refreshing experience for a Finn to listen to Tii ilo: there’s musically something quite familiar, but you don’t get much of the lyrics."

Riikka Hiltunen

January 8, 1985

Columns

Open rehearsal on the open sea - Editorial from FMQ 3-4/2015

Amid the maelstroms of crisis rocking the world, the FMQ takes a look at musicians’ finances. What is the colour of money in the world of music, and what is the outlook?

Anu Ahola

January 8, 1985

Features

Economy stalls – music export grows

Music Finland’s latest report on the market value of music export shows that it continues to be a growing industry. Compiling music statistics is not without its problems, but the figures portray a clear message about the importance of investing in music export.

Riikka Hiltunen

January 8, 1985

Reviews

Music meets pictures

"Accordionist Maria Kalaniemi is a master in her field, full of elegant emotion as always, and her duo work with younger colleague Eero Grundström (harmonium), known from the harmonica band Sväng, feels very fruitful."

Tove Djupsjöbacka

January 8, 1985

Reviews

Outstanding debut

"Fifth Avenue’s debut album, Tales, which features five of the finest up-and-coming Finnish jazz musicians, will only serve to reinforce Finland’s jazz pedigree."

January 8, 1985

Features

Musicians and money - prospects in the UK and Italy

In her article Paying the piper (FMQ 3-4/2015) Merja Hottinen writes about incomes of musicians and composers in Finland today. What is the current state of musicians' earnings and employment in the UK and Italy? Read Andrew Mellor's and Federico Ermirio's reports.

January 8, 1985

Reviews

Sparse elements, stunning beauty

"...it is a stunning album by one of the most interesting artists in the Finnish avant-garde underground. Throughout the album the listener is invited to witness how solitary and sparse elements create majestic soundscapes and dense emotional condensations."

Timo Harjuniemi

January 8, 1985

Reviews

The jouhikko broadening its field

"What can you actually play on the old folk instrument called the jouhikko (bowed lyre)? Ilkka Heinonen’s answer to that is: anything!"

Tove Djupsjöbacka

January 8, 1985

Reviews

Semi-surreal mojitos

"Jaakko Eino Kalevi succeeds in building a semi-surreal parallel world, a stress-free zone in which secular troubles turn into mojitos."

January 8, 1985

Reviews

Self-portraits and variations on different times

Viitasaari was once again the crossroads for different generations of composers: from the “dinosaurs” Brian Ferneyhough and Harrison Birtwistle to recent breakthroughs such as Mark André and Pierluigi Billone, to name just a few, along with the Finnish Lauri Supponen and Heinz-Juhani Hofmann.

Paola Livorsi

January 8, 1985

Reviews

Subterranean improvisation

"As experimental but more electronically enhanced than its predecessor, Under the Ground echoes with the sound of cyberpunk and sci-fi e-books rather than ancient manuscripts and dusty scrolls of parchment. "

Petri Silas

January 8, 1985

Reviews

Juicy praise of life

"In true soul tradition, the album is a praise of life with horns and percussion creating a full sound."

January 8, 1985

Features

Paying the piper

Rock star, bohemian, busker, creative genius, contemporary composer, pop singer, session player. Our images of music and musicians are easily associated with images of money and wealth, or the absence of same. Some of these people seem to be filthy rich, while others do not have two pennies to rub together – or simply do not care.

Merja Hottinen

January 8, 1985

Features

Reaching for a composer’s career

Being a freelance composer is much like being an entrepreneur – for one thing, your career development is entirely in your own hands. “You cannot wait and expect someone else to do it for you,” says composer Sebastian Hilli.

Merja Hottinen

January 8, 1985

Features

The importance of artistic freedom

“Without an artist grant, I would not be able to work as intensely as I do. I am very grateful for the existence of this system and for being admitted into it. This has enabled me to do my own thing, and I am trying to use my time as well as I possibly can,” says trumpet player Verneri Pohjola, who released his new album this spring.

Merja Hottinen

January 8, 1985

Reviews

A quarter of a century

"Under the Red Cloud, the confident twelfth album, represents “the new sound” of Amorphis well."

January 8, 1985

Reviews

A cornucopia of Pohjonen

"Northern by name and Northern by nature, Kimmo is a totally unique, open artist with an illustrious career ahead of him. Based on Sensitive Skin, the future’s so bright he’d better start wearing shades."

Petri Silas

January 8, 1985

Reviews

Wayne’s world

"It’s quite uncommon for Finnish jazz musicians to play music by someone else. Paakki surprises by serving up a whole vinyl album with compositions by Wayne Shorter. "

Jan-Erik Holmberg

January 8, 1985

Features

Success comes through collaboration

Helena Juntunen, one of Finland’s most sought-after opera singers, appears in a variety of roles and concert productions with many ensembles, but her busy freelancer’s schedule will be replaced by maternity leave in October.

Amanda Kauranne

January 8, 1985

Reviews

Roughly delicate

"Instead of lingering on single moods, Wennäkoski favours in her music filigree-like details. Flawless performances throughout."

Juha Torvinen

January 8, 1985

Reviews

Beethoven with analysis and passion

"Jumppanen’s performances of Beethoven combine analysis, passion, stylistic awareness and a fresh approach. There are hundreds of Beethoven recordings out there, but this is one that was definitely worth releasing."

Lauri Kilpiö

January 8, 1985

Reviews

Remarkable Finnish opera recording

"The musical profiling of the scenes is intense and accurate, and the music traces an arc of wonderful tension and emotional impact over the entire drama. As a result, Anna Liisa comes across as one of the most significant Finnish operas of all time."

Lauri Kilpiö

January 8, 1985

Reviews

A well-cooked tango menu

"This time I’m especially impressed by the slow and lyrical tangos, although sometimes I fear the danceable side of the tango starts to get lost."

January 8, 1985

Features

Spells, blood and bliss

Singing with the voice of old men and playing the jouhikko, an ancient bowed lyre, Pekko Käppi is hot stuff in Finland and abroad with his band. The archaic boogie performed by K:H:H:L seems to resonate with an incredible variety of audiences. Käppi is on the front line in the resurrection of one of Finland’s oldest instruments.

Riikka Hiltunen

January 8, 1985