FMQ - On my music and beyond Articles

On my music and beyond: Composing as a means of survival

In this deeply personal column, Markku Klami reflects on how music became his survival strategy, why composing remains his greatest calling, and how culture can give us a reason to live. “Art fosters hope, opens up new perspectives and brings us together”, writes Klami.

Markku Klami

February 7, 2025

Columns

On my music and beyond: Towards the golden era of the classical accordion

The accordion is poised to redefine its place in the musical world – its golden era is only just beginning. In this column, composer and accordionist Veli Kujala discusses the resurgence and evolution of the classical accordion.

Veli Kujala

December 13, 2024

Columns

On my music and beyond: Composing music as a family

Composing is often thought of as a lonely pursuit where a piece of music gradually takes shape in the mind of a solitary creator. But what if a work has two composers who also have a strong personal bond? In this column, Sanna Ahvenjärvi and Tapio Lappalainen, joint recipients of the distinguished Teosto Prize, discuss the challenges, rewards and human aspects of co-composing music.

Sanna Ahvenjärvi, Tapio Lappalainen

November 22, 2024

Columns

On my music and beyond: Escaping the romantic orchestra’s grasp

What happens when a composer turns away from the lush, uniform sound of the Romantic orchestra? In this column by composer Olli Virtaperko, the journey from early music instruments to contemporary orchestral challenges reveals a fresh perspective on navigating between different musical ideals.

Olli Virtaperko

September 27, 2024

Columns

On my music and beyond: Creating connections and togetherness through music

“In a time of disinformation warfare and polarisation, where people gain power and money by spreading fear and hate and by polarising people against each other, what we need the most is love and a sense of connection,” writes composer Cecilia Damström in her column.

Cecilia Damström

April 19, 2024

Columns

On my music and beyond: How do you win composition competitions?

On the date of publication of this column, Tomi Räisänen’s organ concerto Pulmo, which was awarded the grand prize in the Kaija Saariaho Organ Composition Competition, is being premiered on the new organ at the Music Centre in Helsinki. “As a composer, it is good for you to aim to improve and challenge yourself”, writes Räisänen.

Tomi Räisänen

February 2, 2024

Columns

On my music and beyond: On the outer ranges of composerhood

“The biggest part of my professional life so far has been writing game music arrangements, which have been performed by symphony orchestras around the world”, writes composer and arranger Jonne Valtonen, who is known for both his contemporary works and for composing and arranging game music.

Jonne Valtonen

June 15, 2023

Columns

On my music and beyond: On the search for enjoyable contemporary music

"I would be delighted if an audience member said: 'Those ten minutes passed so quickly' after hearing my music", writes Mioko Yokoyama.

Mioko Yokoyama

November 23, 2022

Columns

On my music and beyond: How I learned to stop worrying and love the pressure

"I used to think of tight schedules as something that stand in the way of creativity. That the mind always needs time to ponder, weigh and analyse before the music can flow. I’ve since come to realise it’s far more complicated than that," writes film composer Panu Aaltio. This column is part of the series "On my music and beyond" where composers and other music makers write about their music.

Panu Aaltio

August 24, 2022

Columns

On my music and beyond: Opening up enclosed compositions in an enclosed space

"I am a composer of contemporary music, but also frequently an ordinary concertgoer – a music listener. My purpose here is to consider an art music concert event from the perspective of an audience member," writes Riikka Talvitie. This column is part of the series where composers and musicians write about their music.

Riikka Talvitie

June 30, 2022

Columns

On my music and beyond: A forever expanding sphere

"Musical evolution is not linear. Musical styles do not change all at once, and music does not develop – let alone ‘progress’ – in any single direction. Musical evolution is also spherical; we are living in a continuous Big Bang that is endlessly expanding our musical universe in all directions," writes composer Osmo Tapio Räihälä. This column is part of the series where composers and musicians write about their music.

Osmo Tapio Räihälä

January 26, 2022

Columns

On my music and beyond: About the anatomy of an artwork

"Art of time requires dramaturgical precision from its creator, and because of this a key tool for the creator is a stopwatch. If a particular section of a composition is too short, it is unable to effectively convey its narrative; if it is too long, it will bore the listener. The aim is always to get the texture to breathe at the appropriate pace, to give it natural motion and clarity," writes composer Aulis Sallinen. This column is part of the series where composers and musicians write about their music.

Aulis Sallinen

December 8, 2021

Columns

On my music and beyond: Composing must be rooted in integrity

"For me, the most important function of music is to convey and catalyse emotions. This is why rich textures and powerful melodies play such a central role in my music," writes Mari Sainio. This column is part of the series where composers and musicians write about their music.

Mari Sainio

December 8, 2021

Columns

On my music and beyond: HOPE – A positive musical perspective on the world’s ecological crisis

"When I compose music and write lyrics, I start from the concept of wanting to communicate true facts and real things to my listeners, and find issues that are relevant and common for all of us as humans. I love to connect with my audiences, and I want to speak out about things that matter to me. When it comes to lyrics, I love to be poetic. When it comes to music, I love grooves, patterns, odd and polyrhythms," writes Elena Mîndru. This column is part of the series where composers and musicians write about their music.

Elena Mîndru

November 12, 2021

Columns

On my music and beyond: What joik is

"Joik comes in many guises, and I have been obliged to accept that my joik language is mixed up with all sorts of things. The main thing, however, is that my joik language is for expressing my feelings on my own terms," writes Sámi musician Ánnámáret (Anna Näkkäläjärvi-Länsman). This column is part of the series where composers and musicians write about their music.

Anna Näkkäläjärvi-Länsman

October 14, 2021

Columns

On my music and beyond: The greatest achievement of humanity is art

“Composing is for me largely a matter of random meandering, and writing down the notes is only the tip of the iceberg in my process. My composing does not adapt to office hours, does not progress in a linear fashion and is not easily predictable; instead, it is variable and fragmented, and largely a complete mystery to me,” writes composer Sauli Zinovjev. This column is part of the series where composers and musicians write about their music.

Sauli Zinovjev

September 16, 2021

Columns

On my music and beyond: Engawa, listening out

"During my three-month teaching period [in Japan], I learned greater respect for individuals who build bridges between cultures that are distant from each other, both geographically and mentally," writes composer Juha T. Koskinen. This column is part of the series where composers and musicians write about their music.

Juha T. Koskinen

April 30, 2021

Columns

On my music and beyond: Hypnotic and captivating, not dusty antiquities

“Although I have delved deep into archives and particularly into the traditional music of the Suistamo area through my research, the fact is that modern folk music finds its inspiration absolutely anywhere, not just in dusty antiquities,” writes Anne-Mari Kivimäki, a composer and the developer of the modern Karelian accordion trance style, who is also known as a member of the band Suistamon Sähkö.

Anne-Mari Kivimäki

March 5, 2021

Columns

On my music and beyond: Advocating for the human touch

"With my works and with the way I write them, I advocate for the human touch in our increasingly cold and technological world," writes composer Kalevi Aho. This column is part of the series where composers and other music makers write about their music.

Kalevi Aho

January 15, 2021

Columns

On my music and beyond: The Chrome Plated Megaphone of Destiny

“During the previous year of my studies in Utrecht I had added theory of music and composition to my curriculum. I knew I wanted to be a performer, but the traditional jazz piano wasn’t where my heart was. I had studied Clare Fischer’s harmonic concepts, which seemed to open windows towards the contemporary classical sounds I had heard in Donaueschingen,” writes composer and pianist Sid Hille. This column is part of the series where composers and other music makers write about their music.

Sid Hille

August 6, 2020

Columns

On my music and beyond – Over, past, thence and yonder

“A certain material, tone combination or chord is nothing on its own, but in the context of a work, it and its significance reaches beyond itself. And similarly, a musical entity can – when all pieces click together – reach over and beyond music as a phenomenon, to interpret humanity. To be available to others, to be recognised: as evidence of what it means to exist,” writes composer Lotta Wennäkoski. This column is part of the series, where composers and other music makers write about their music.

Lotta Wennäkoski

April 23, 2020

Columns

On my music and beyond: Repository of Hope

“Nature exposes the artifice of art, the craftedness of it, the smallness and egotism of it before the vastness of creation. To invoke nature is to admit the wild, the unplanned, into art,” writes composer Matthew Whittall. This column is part of the series, where composers and other music makers write about their music.

Matthew Whittall

April 8, 2020

Columns

On my music and beyond: Notes from a drummer’s underworld

"Music was omnipresent in my home, but when drummer friends older than myself introduced me to jazz, I was properly hooked. I decided that the best drummers play jazz, and thus began an exploration that remains as interesting today as it was when I was twelve."

Teppo Mäkynen

December 5, 2019

Columns

On my music and beyond: The world is a mosaic

"With my teaching this summer, I have found a new and hopeful vista opening before me," writes Kaija Saariaho. This column is part of the series On my music and beyond, where composers and other music makers write about their music.

Kaija Saariaho

August 22, 2019

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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

Columns

On my music and beyond: Orchestration Balancer

"I am currently exploring ways of ensuring the audibility of a specific instrument in orchestral texture before rehearsals even begin." This column is part of the series "On my music and beyond", where composers and other music makers write about their music.

Uljas Pulkkis

March 31, 2019

Columns

On my music and beyond: Composing or producing?

"My music is born out of the life I live and is influenced by the inspiring people I meet, the books I read, the films and theatre performances I see, the trips I take." This column is part of the series "On my music and beyond", where composers and other music makers write about their music.

Valtteri Laurell Pöyhönen

December 13, 2018

Columns

On my music and beyond: The archaic is avant-garde

“'The archaic is avant-garde!', is a provocative catch-cry, but also the truth. It is also true that both the archaic and the avant-garde are necessary for the arts." This column is part of the series "On my music and beyond", where composers and other music makers write about their music.

Heikki Laitinen

December 13, 2018

Columns

On my music and beyond: Listening to the mind

"The first dramatic moment in listening in the mind is when that internal sound latches on to something tangible and becomes performable music." This column is part of the series "On my music and beyond", where composers and other music makers write about their music.

Kimmo Hakola

December 13, 2018

Columns

On my music and beyond: What do I hear, how do I hear?

"I write music like I hear it. A composer’s voice is a blend of encounters, influences, sharing and privacy, life situations and changes in the living environment." This column is part of the series "On my music and beyond", where composers and other music makers write about their music.

Minna Leinonen

December 13, 2018

Columns

On my music and beyond: Freedom within limits

"The element of surprise and freedom that improvisation offers remains to this day present in my music and in the way it is experienced."

Sebastian Hilli

December 13, 2018