Jukka Tiensuu

Jukka Santeri Tiensuu (born 30 August 1948) is a Finnish contemporary classical composer, harpsichordist, pianist and conductor.

Career

Tiensuu was born in Helsinki. After extensive musical studies (piano, harpsichord, conducting, composing, historically informed performance, electroacoustic and computer music a.o.t.) at the Sibelius Academy, Helsinki (1967–1972), the Juilliard School, New York (1972–1973), Hochschule für Musik Freiburg (1974–1976), IRCAM, Paris (1978–1982) and other institutes Jukka Tiensuu toured three continents giving numerous concerts with a wide repertoire ranging from the Renaissance to the latest avant-garde and performing both classical and free improvisations. He has received numerous prizes for his compositional work as well as for his recordings and performances. In 2020, he won the Wihuri Sibelius Prize. According to the jury report his "compositions emanate a deep spirituality, and his unwavering adherence to artistic goals is impressive".

Along with over a hundred works in the traditional instrumental, vocal and orchestral fields – in various styles, often microtonal and with electronic or computer music parts – Tiensuu's compositional output also includes many curiosities such as works for Chinese orchestra, accordion ensemble, clarinet choir, instrumental theatre, Baroque orchestra, jazz orchestra, kantele, sheng and works for any ensemble. Most of his works have remained in the repertoire and are available on disc.

His compositions have been premiered by major orchestras and ensembles in three continents by conductors such as Susanna Mälkki, Ernest Bour, Sakari Oramo, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Lorraine Vaillancourt, Diego Masson, Ilan Volkov, Leif Segerstam, Jacek Kaspszyk, John Storgårds, Hannu Lintu, Dima Slobodeniuk, Yan Huichang, Juha Kangas, Jacques Mercier, Stefan Asbury, among others.

In the late 70's, as the president of the ISCM Finnish Section, Tiensuu started the first ever regular contemporary music concert series in Helsinki. He then became a founder and the first artistic director of Helsinki Biennale (now Musica nova Helsinki) as well as the founder and a long-time artistic director of Time of Music contemporary music festival and summer academy in Viitasaari. His other activities include teaching, writing for books and magazines and making evocative radio programs on both baroque music and on music of our time. According to Finnish Music Quarterly (3/2007) Jukka Tiensuu's influence on the contemporary Finnish music scene is virtually beyond compare.

Awards (selection)

* 1973 Koussevitzky Award
* 1978 Léonie Sonning Talent Prize
* 1979 Gaudeamus International Interpreters Award, 2nd prize (as pianist)
* 1987 Record of the Year "The Fantastic Harpsichord" (Finlandia FACD 357)
* 1988 International Rostrum of Composers Winner/Selected work (''Tokko'')
* 1996 Erik Bergman Prize
* 1999 Janne Award (Best solo album) for "The Frivolous Harpsichord"
* 2003 First prize for ''oddjob'' (given by the audience) at Hultgren Solo Cello Works Biennial
* 2004 First prize for ''Lots'' in the Aliénor Awards composition competition
* 2004 Teosto Prize for the most original and innovative work in 2004 (''Umori'')
* 2006 Emma Award (Best Classical Album) for "Minds and Moods" (Alba Records ABCD 224)
* 2008 Emma Award (Best Classical Album) for "Gamba nova" (''Musica ambigua'' on Alba Records ABCD 259)
* 2008 Record of the year for "nemo, Puro, Spiriti" (Alba Records ABCD 258)
* 2008 Pizzicato magazine "Supersonic Award" and Süddeutsche Zeitung "Best Record" (''Erz'' on Hänssler Classic)
* 2010 Emma Award (Best Classical Album) "Tiensuu Plus" (Alba Records ABCD 287)
* 2012 Finnish State Prize
* 2015 Record of the year (''Rack'' on Alba Records ABCD 383)
* 2015 Pro Musica award
* 2019 Coup de cœur des Jeunes Mélomanes (Fondation Prince Pierre de Monaco) for ''Teoton''
* 2020 Wihuri Sibelius Prize

Discography

Compositions and performances.

Works (selection)

Tiensuu's works are available from his home page www.tiensuu.fi (downloadable) and Musicfinland.fi (printed sheet music)

* 1972 ''Cadenza (on one note)'' for flute
* 1972 ''Ouverture'' for flute and harpsichord
* 1974 ''Four Etudes'' for flute
* 1974 ''preLUDI, LUDI and postLUDI'' for guitar
* 1975 ''Aspro'' for clarinet, trombone, cello and piano
* 1975 ''Rubato'' for any ensemble of melody instruments
* 1976 ''Prélude non-mesuré'' for piano
* 1977 ''Sinistro'' for accordion and guitar
* 1977 ''Mxpzkl'' for orchestra
* 1978–79 ''Yang'' for two ensembles
* 1979 ''Narcissus'' for oboe and tape
* 1980 ''Tombeau de Beethoven'' for oboe or clarinet, cello, piano, and sampler or tape
* 1980 ''Passage'' for soprano voice, ensemble and live-electronics
* 1980 ''M'' concerto for microtonally tuned harpsichord, percussion and string orchestra
* 1981 ''/L'' for piano 4-hands and optional live-electronics
* 1982 ''P=Pinocchio?'' for soprano voice, ensemble and computer
* 1984 ''Fantango'' for any keyboard instrument
* 1985 ''Tango lunaire'' for oboe or flute, clarinet, violin, cello and any keyboard instrument
* 1985 ''mutta'' for three accordions
* 1987 ''Tokko'' for male choir and tape
* 1988 ''Manaus'' for kantele
* 1989 ''Puro'' concerto for clarinet and orchestra
* 1990 ''Grround'' for piano
* 1990 ''Tombeau de Mozart'' for clarinet, violin and piano
* 1990 ''Arsenic and Old Lace'' for microtonally tuned harpsichord and string quartet
* 1993 ''Sound of Life'' radiophonic piece
* 1993 ''Halo'' a symphony for orchestra in three parts
* 1994 ''Plus V'' concerto for accordion and string orchestra
* 1994 ''Ai'' for 6-track tape
* 1995 ''Vento'' for clarinet choir
* 1995 ''oddjob'' for violin or viola or cello and live electronics
* 1995–98 ''Alma: I Himo, II Lumo, III Soma'' for orchestra and sampler
* 1996 ''Aion'' for two accordions
* 1996 ''Fra Tango'' for three accordions
* 1997 ''Padrigal'' for male choir
* 1997 ''nemo'' for ensemble and electronics
* 1997 ''Beat'' for clarinet, cello and piano
* 1998 ''Drang'' for guitar
* 1998 ''Musica ambigua'' for baroque ensemble (recorder, violin, viol, harpsichord)
* 1999 ''Asteletsa'' for walking bassoonist or bass clarinetist
* 1999 ''Mood'' stereophonic music for orchestra
* 2000 ''Ember'' concertino for microtonal flute and ensemble
* 2000 ''Koi'' for orchestra
* 2000 ''Etudes: 1. train 2. drain 3, grain'' for harpsichord
* 2000 ''Mind'' concerto for piano and orchestra
* 2001 ''Tri'' for three pianos
* 2002 ''Zolo'' for accordion
* 2003 ''Lots'' for baroque ensemble (recorder or traverso flute, violin, viol or cello, harpsichord)
* 2004 ''Umori'' for jazz orchestra (Big band)
* 2005 ''Spiriti'' concerto for accordion and orchestra
* 2005 ''Aim'' concerto for guitar and orchestra
* 2005 ''Balzo'' for cello
* 2006 ''Ote'' for cello and contrabass
* 2006 ''Tanzikone'' for recorder, trombone and cello
* 2007 ''Erz'' 14 companion pieces for J. S. Bach's Goldberg Variations (for accordion)
* 2007 ''Missa'' concerto for clarinet and orchestra
* 2007 ''Vie'' concerto for orchestra
* 2007 ''Hei'' for four melody instruments (tribute to Paavo Heininen)
* 2008 ''False Memories I-III'' Morphoses for orchestra
* 2008 ''Sun Games'' for orchestra (tribute to Magnus Lindberg)
* 2008 ''Doch – Apotheose von Papa Haydn'' for string quartet
* 2008 ''Ikisyyt'' for ensemble
* 2008 ''Rack'' for string quartet
* 2009 ''Blow/Blau'' fanfares for three wind instrument trios
* 2010 ''Nous'' for clarinet, violin, viola, cello and piano
* 2010 ''bLeuelein'' for cello (tribute to Anssi Karttunen)
* 2011 ''Bleu-El'' for contrabass
* 2011 ''Sulci'' for string orchestra
* 2011 ''Egregore'' microtonal music for kantele, guitar, accordion and piano
* 2011 ''Brandi'' a 2nd movement for J. S. Bach's 3rd Brandenburg concerto
* 2011 ''Kvagmaa'' for two string quartets tuned a quarter-tone apart
* 2012 ''Voice Verser'' for soprano voice and orchestra
* 2012 ''Hou'' concerto for violin and ensemble
* 2012 ''Mora'' for tenor voice and baroque or small orchestra
* 2012 ''Armotta'' for viola, guitar and cello
* 2012 ''Kalaasi'' a theatrical piece for flute, clarinet, trombone and contrabass (tribute to Kaija Saariaho)
* 2013 ''Egeiro'' for piano left hand
* 2014 ''Hehkuu'' stereophonic music for sheng and ensemble
* 2014 ''Oire'' concerto for cello and orchestra
* 2015 ''Anomal Dances'' concerto for quarter-tone accordion and orchestra
* 2015 ''Ihmix'' for Chinese orchestra
* 2015 ''Kuuhiomo'' for any ensemble of melody instruments
* 2015 ''Teoton'' concerto for sheng and orchestra
* 2016 ''Tarinaoopperabaletti'' concerto for electric cello and ensemble
* 2016 ''Daydreams'' for guitar and electronics
* 2017 ''Sinfoniaviis'' for orchestra
* 2017 ''Suuna'' concerto for trombone and orchestra
* 2017 ''Appo'' concerto for recorder and orchestra
* 2017 ''Innuo'' for baroque orchestra
* 2018 ''Collateral'' three solos as string trio
* 2018 ''Tuleks'' a fanfare for ensemble

External links

Homepage of the composer

*Nieminen, Risto
Music Finland's page
Includes Tiensuu's list of works, biographical information, articles, audio clips and PDF scores
Finnish Broadcasting Company.
Includes a recording of Jukka Tiensuus ''Aim'' for guitar and orchestra
Sävellyspaja Composition Masterclass & Workshop

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tiensuu, Jukka
1948 births
20th-century classical composers
21st-century classical composers
21st-century conductors (music)
21st-century male musicians
21st-century pianists
Finnish classical composers
Finnish conductors (music)
Finnish harpsichordists
Finnish male composers
Finnish pianists
International Rostrum of Composers prize-winners
Living people
Musicians from Helsinki
20th-century male musicians
20th-century Finnish composers
21st-century Finnish composers