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. Notes from a borderland: The composer Jukka Tiensuu
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