Time of Music 7.-12.7.2009

Music in music

The 27th edition of Time of Music festival will be celebrated in Viitasaari on July 7-12th. "The Festival of the Year 2009" by Finland Festivals will provide with encounters of different musics and composers, in a form of arrangements, influences, assimilation, or polemic aspects. By juxtaposing various music and traditions, the festival invites the audience to rejudge their relations. Time of Music surprises, freshens up, and brings up ideas also this year!

Guest composer from England

Picture: The University of Southampton

One of the most unique and composers of his generation is British Michael Finnissy (b. 1946), also known as a skilful pianist himself. He will visit Finland for the first time at the festival. The traditional music of various cultures have been his main influences, along with his own virtuosity. E.g. Grieg, Verdi, Gerschwin, or Vivaldi can also be heard in his music. His eclectic, multimetodic, and often also polemic style is many times linked to so-called "New Complexity" school. He himself notes that "often the most simple music can be complex, too". Currently Finnissy works as a professor at The University of Southampton.

Versatile concert program

The festival has invited the following international artists and groups to perform at the festival: ConTempo from Ireland, SMASH Ensemble from Spain, Dark Project from Italy, pianist Ian Pace from England, and Tomoya Nakai from Japan. Finnish performers will be e.g. cellist Juho Laitinen and Uusinta, who visited Viitasaari also in 2008, as well as Zagros and ‘kantele' players Eva Alkula and Eija Kankaanranta; there will indeed be many works composed for ‘kantele' heard at the festival. Due to the guest composer also piano music has a special role in this year's repertoire. The program will include many premiers, surprising cross-over acts, and world music, among others. Click here to see program >>

International discussion

There will be an international seminar organized at the festival on July 7th, focusing on the promotion of the Finnish contemporary music. Sibelius Academy's Continuing Education, Finnish Music Information Centre (Fimic), and Time of Music welcome all the interested composers, students, agents, managers, journalists, and music industry players to join the discussions. Please, see the program and registration instructions here.

At the festival one can also participate in courses of composition and improvisation, listen to lectures and presentations, and meet the composer guests. Click here to see workshops >>