FMQ

15/11/2024

The music playschool is an extremely popular hobby in Finland. But how did it all begin? Read from FMQ!

The music playschool is an extremely popular hobby in Finland. But how did it all begin? This article, originally published in FMQ in 2006, features an intervie

08/11/2024

Finnish saxophonists are creating vivid music that leaps over fences between jazz, experimental and classical, as evidenced by four recent albums. Wif Stenger reviews the albums by Adele Sauros Quartet, Pauli Lyytinen, Heli Hartikainen and the group Orma, Päivinen, Espinoza, Rauhala, Laihonen — read on FMQ!

Finnish saxophonists are creating vivid music that leaps over fences between jazz, experimental and classical, as evidenced by four recent albums.

01/11/2024

In this column, composers working in Finland ask each other questions that can be on just about anything: their work, their technique, their philosophy or their career. Here Mikko Heiniö responds to a question from Aulis Sallinen. Next time, Mikko Heiniö will present a question to a composer of his choice.

In this column, composers working in Finland ask each other questions that can be on just about anything: their work, their technique, their philosophy or their

18/10/2024

Sointi Jazz Orchestra takes the big band tradition in new directions, blending rich orchestral sounds with spoken word to create a modern jazz experience. This collection of photographs features visual highlights of the 18-member orchestra’s album release concert in October 2024 – eleven years after their debut. Click the link for the photo feature.

Sointi Jazz Orchestra was assembled for a composition concert in the autumn of 2013. This collection of photographs features visual highlights of the 18-member

11/10/2024

Since the late 2010s, gender has become a widely debated and prominent topic in media discourses about classical music and composers. Contrary to what media discourses often suggest, however, the topic itself is far from new and has been a subject of academic debate for decades. This 1997 article, written by Pirkko Moisala, a pioneer of feminist music research in Finland, reflects on the situation in the late 1990s. While much has changed, there are still many critical issues that need to be addressed today.

Since the late 2010s, gender has finally become a widely debated and prominent topic in media discourses about classical music and composers. Contrary to what m

04/10/2024

Early music – broadly defined – is anything but static. FMQ published a special issue illustrating the dynamic, transformative nature of early music. The issue invites us not only to listen to the past but to imagine new futures. Read on FMQ!

This special issue illustrates the dynamic, transformative nature of early music and invites us not only to listen to the past but to imagine new futures.

27/09/2024

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. Read on FMQ!

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 ear

20/09/2024

An Indian-Italian composer studying Norwegian fiddling in Helsinki? It all comes naturally for Krishna Nagaraja, who traces parallels between far-flung genres, from Ars Subtilior and South Indian Konnakol to Irish folk and progressive metal. Read more on FMQ!

An Indian-Italian composer studying Norwegian fiddling in Helsinki? It all comes naturally for Krishna Nagaraja, who traces parallels between far-flung genres,

19/09/2024

Aino Peltomaa and Ilkka Heinonen are musicians who craft their sound beyond conventional boundaries. Embark on a journey with them as they blur the lines between tradition and innovation, creating music that defies categorization!

Aino Peltomaa and Ilkka Heinonen are musicians who excel in the no-man’s-land between genres, organically shaping their music into something that defies labels.

06/09/2024

“In Finland they are cutting money from culture. And even if you have a bigger enemy, they can’t kill you if you keep your culture,” states Kimmo Pohjonen. One of Finland’s most adventurous accordionists celebrated his 60th birthday with a concert at the Helsinki Festival in August. In this article, Pohjonen reflects on his past and shares his current pursuits and thoughts. Read on FMQ!

One of Finland’s most adventurous accordionists celebrated his 60th birthday with a concert at the Helsinki Festival in August. In this article, Pohjonen reflec

30/08/2024

"In Finland, immigrant and Finnish musicians are slowly but surely creating a new musical culture based on shared experiences", wrote professor Erkki Pekkilä in this article in FMQ from 2002. Multiculturalism is a topic that sparks a lot of discussion in 2024. This article offers a glimpse into the perspective of the early 2000s and reflects Finland as it was twenty years ago.

Read here: fmq.fi/articles/from-the-archives-immigrant-musics-and-multiculturalism

23/08/2024

The concerto remains a cornerstone of contemporary music. How do recent recordings reinterpret this classical genre? In this article, Jari Juhani Kallio reviews the latest concerto releases by Finnish composers.

The concerto remains a cornerstone of contemporary music. How do recent recordings reinterpret this classical genre? In this article, Jari Juhani Kallio reviews

16/08/2024

How do you start a new music festival? In this column, Professor Seppo Kimanen, founder and organiser of multiple prominent classical music festivals in Finland, looks at the past and the future, the latter with specific reference to the newly established Lauttasaari Music Festival. “It’s a paradox: in order for a festival to feel the same, its content must be different every time. Continuous renewal and remaining in touch with the times are the keys to long-term success,” Kimanen writes. Read his column on FMQ!

How do you start a new music festival? In this column, Professor Seppo Kimanen, founder and organiser of multiple prominent classical music festivals in Finland

09/08/2024

One of Europe’s most extraordinary bands, the harmonica quartet Sväng, celebrates 20 years. How did the group convince the world they weren’t just a gimmick, but a musical sensation? Read on FMQ!

One of Europe’s most extraordinary bands, the harmonica quartet Sväng, celebrates 20 years. How did the group convince the world they weren’t just a gimmick, bu

01/08/2024

When choral conductor Ida Olsonen does vocal painting, no one knows what the performance will be like. How is it possible to conduct choral improvisation in the first place? Read on FMQ!

When choral conductor Ida Olsonen does vocal painting with the Musta lammas choir (whose name translates as ‘black sheep’), no one knows what the performance wi

28/06/2024

This special issue of FMQ highlights improvisation, exploring this multifaceted phenomenon through various genres and approaches. We delve into the experiences of musicians who balance spontaneity and structure, revealing how improvisation shapes their creative processes and performances. Take a read!

This special issue of FMQ highlights improvisation, exploring this multifaceted phenomenon through various genres and approaches.

20/06/2024

Katarina Barruk sings in her native language, Ume Sámi, which is in the UNESCO’s red list of critically endangered languages with just an estimated 100 speakers. Making her language heard across borders, Barruk’s live performances have improvised elements, and improvisation is an important force in her music that mixes traditional joik with pop. In this interview with FMQ, Barruk talks about her relationship with improvisation.

Katarina Barruk is an Ume Sámi singer and songwriter from the Swedish side of the Sámi region, Sábmie. Barruk sings in her native language, Ume Sámi, which is i