Stories by

The band Sähköpaimen combines folk music heritage with electronic sounds. Their latest album, Hämärä (Twilight), is at once a refreshing listening experience and an intellectually stimulating mini-journey. Led by the band, we dive into various archives and countries, surrounded by a murky colour spectrum.

Among Finnish jazz musicians, those who have completed an entire degree abroad remain very much a minority. Yet seeking perspective away from home may help find a voice that can become internationally distinctive. This article features three pianist-composers for whom studying abroad proved to be a meaningful choice.

The theme of the Tampere Biennale contemporary music festival in April 2024 was ‘Worlds in Metamorphosis’. The event approached the theme through works with a strong societal message, multi-faceted aesthetics, compositional pedagogy and multidisciplinary collaborative projects. The concert programmes were fascinating, and helped the festival reach new audiences.

Kalevi Aho has a natural productivity that is never forced: his composition process flows as naturally as breathing.

“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.

Rauno Nieminen turned the jouhikko and kantele into contemporary marvels. Recently awarded a lifetime achievement for his work, Nieminen’s work isn’t just about instruments – it’s a bridge between eras. In this article, Nieminen unveils the unexpected convergence of the old and new in the world of folk music.

"The dualism of serenity and restlessness on the one hand and the leaps of a monkey mind on the other can be found on the appropriately titled album Monkey Mind released by trumpet player Verneri Pohjola in November 2023," writes Santeri Kaipiainen.

"This special issue of FMQ allows the vibrancy and joy of children’s music to shine through verbally, visually, and aurally," writes Lasse Lehtonen.

Composer Anna Nora and author Timo Parvela discuss culture meant for children and the interfaces between music and literature. Both have had to come to terms with the field in which they work, its practicalities and its public perception. What does it take to create music and literature for children – and why does this field of culture gain so little media attention compared with many others?