Special Issue

Video game music in Finland

Published

June 15, 2023

Video game music has become increasingly prominent in musical life in Finland. Live performances of game music attract sold-out audiences in prominent concert halls, such as Finlandia Hall, and a number of Finnish professional musicians have recalled that their serious interest in music was sparked by music in games. And yet, the status of game music in public discourse remains somewhat ambivalent. How does one create game music, and how does one become so intrigued by it? This special issue introduces some of the fascinating and diverse aspects of game music in Finland.

by

Lasse Lehtonen

,

Salla Hakkola

,

Elina Lajunen

,

Ari Pulkkinen

,

Janne Sala

,

Jonne Valtonen

,

"Video game music has become increasingly prominent in musical life in Finland. This special issue introduces some of the fascinating and diverse aspects of game music in the country," writes Lasse Lehtonen.

Editorial: Video game music – all around us yet often ignored

Editorial: Video game music – all around us yet often ignored

"Video game music has become increasingly prominent in musical life in Finland. This special issue introduces some of the fascinating and diverse aspects of game music in the country," writes Lasse Lehtonen.

Lasse Lehtonen

June 15, 2023

September 2017, Finlandia Hall. One of Finland’s most iconic concert halls hosts an orchestral concert with a full audience that is decidedly younger than average. That’s thanks to the programme, which features music composed for video games. As thousands rise for a standing ovation for the Game Music Collective, the atmosphere is electric: something new has been born.

Game Music Collective: Redefining concert culture

Game Music Collective: Redefining concert culture

September 2017, Finlandia Hall. One of Finland’s most iconic concert halls hosts an orchestral concert with a full audience that is decidedly younger than average. That’s thanks to the programme, which features music composed for video games. As thousands rise for a standing ovation for the Game Music Collective, the atmosphere is electric: something new has been born.

Janne Sala

June 15, 2023

Game Music Everyday Memories, or GAMEM, is a research project undertaken at the University of Jyväskylä in 2020-2022. Funded by the Kone Foundation, the project examined people’s fondest and most lasting game music memories from a range of different perspectives, and the effect of these memories in their everyday life. The research results indicate that the impact of game music is significant.

Let’s play GAMEM – Research project explores the significance of game music in everyday life

Let’s play GAMEM – Research project explores the significance of game music in everyday life

Game Music Everyday Memories, or GAMEM, is a research project undertaken at the University of Jyväskylä in 2020-2022. Funded by the Kone Foundation, the project examined people’s fondest and most lasting game music memories from a range of different perspectives, and the effect of these memories in their everyday life. The research results indicate that the impact of game music is significant.

Elina Lajunen

June 15, 2023

Salla Hakkola and Ari Pulkkinen exchange thoughts and experiences on creating game music. Each having won several international awards, they have made music for the global superhit game Angry Birds and are among the top names in Finnish game music. What does it take to write game music – and what is the state of the genre in Finland today?

Salla Hakkola and Ari Pulkkinen: Conversation between two game music composers

Salla Hakkola and Ari Pulkkinen: Conversation between two game music composers

Salla Hakkola and Ari Pulkkinen exchange thoughts and experiences on creating game music. Each having won several international awards, they have made music for the global superhit game Angry Birds and are among the top names in Finnish game music. What does it take to write game music – and what is the state of the genre in Finland today?

FMQ

June 15, 2023

“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.

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

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

I still vividly remember how surprised I was when, more than 20 years ago, I first popped Final Fantasy V Dear Friends (1993) into my CD player. I was expecting to hear the energetic main theme with its iconic harp, strings and trumpet. Instead, the CD started with joik from Lapland – followed by a piece that begins with a kantele solo! Indeed, Dear Friends is one of the few game music albums to feature kantele and joik. But is there anything ‘Finnish’ about the album?

Between different worlds – Locating “Finland” in Final Fantasy V Dear Friends

Between different worlds – Locating “Finland” in Final Fantasy V Dear Friends

I still vividly remember how surprised I was when, more than 20 years ago, I first popped Final Fantasy V Dear Friends (1993) into my CD player. I was expecting to hear the energetic main theme with its iconic harp, strings and trumpet. Instead, the CD started with joik from Lapland – followed by a piece that begins with a kantele solo! Indeed, Dear Friends is one of the few game music albums to feature kantele and joik. But is there anything ‘Finnish’ about the album?

Lasse Lehtonen

June 15, 2023

This playlist highlights the work of composers, arrangers and performers of video game music in Finland. Our list boasts a selection of addictive sounds from epic orchestral textures to quirky technopop and tunes that make you want to dance. How about next trying them as part of a gaming experience?

Playlist: Video game music from Finland

Playlist: Video game music from Finland

This playlist highlights the work of composers, arrangers and performers of video game music in Finland. Our list boasts a selection of addictive sounds from epic orchestral textures to quirky technopop and tunes that make you want to dance. How about next trying them as part of a gaming experience?

FMQ

June 15, 2023

Translation

Featured photo

created with DALL·E 2