FMQ 4/2013

"Playing together for all these years has made these ladies a stunning couple – you can almost see their hands intertwining. The rhythm is incredibly tight with all its stunning syncopation and swinging backbeats."

"The work, with choreography by Kenneth Greve and Pirjo Toikka, was an immediate success. Obviously this was much thanks to Kantelinen’s accessible music, written clearly with people of every age and background in mind."

"In traditional cultures, singing, music-making and dancing are all one. Although music and dance have subsequently split into separate genres in Western countries, the age-old link has never been totally severed. The 4/2013 FMQ presents a selection of ways in which the marriage of music and dance is manifest in present-day Finland."

As trends wax and wane, street dance is becoming globally more prominent with each cycle. In Finland, it’s at the height of its popularity and making inroads into uncharted territory, both artistically and socially.

Avanti! was formed – with an exclamation mark – in April 1983. At that time, Finland was ruled by Urho Kekkonen and Finnish music by Joonas Kokkonen. Consensus was the name of the game, and any deviation was regarded as childish provocation.

"This album is focused more on the beautifully melodic and lyrical side to a surprising extent. The compositions are so strong that it is probably the right decision to construct the album around them and to let the melodies speak for themselves."

"The extensive output for male choir of Toivo Kuula (1883–1918) inspired two Finnish male choirs to release a complete recording on the occasion of the 130th anniversary of his birth. This allows for a tantalising direct comparison..."

Three internationally acclaimed Finnish choreographers - Marjo Kuusela, Kenneth Kvarnström and Tero Saarinen - describe how movement and music engage in dialogue in their dance works.

"Pekka Kuusisto astounds the listener once again with his agility in Lindberg’s Violin Concerto (2006), a virtuoso work that is one of his most successful scores."

"How does a performance by three dancers merge with, differ from, complement or disagree with an enormous symphonic monolith? After all, Shostakovich’s Leningrad Symphony has already been interpreted, explained and provided with a note-by-note narrative time and time again. Personal Symphonic Moment by Elina Pirinen embraces the challenge."

"Our Nation is musically relaxed and witty. Shine 2009 know their musical history yet reach forward in a way that might reflect the way Pykäri and Suova would like Finland circa 2013 to be."

Dancing and music used to be joined at the hip. In folk music, this symbiotic relationship was preserved for a long time due to the fact that the bulk of traditional music is actually dance music. Today the connections between these two art forms are being examined at the Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department and through the many and varied projects of the Tsuumi Dance Theatre.