aura Alto flute and electronics Composed: 2009 Watch / listen Hanna Kinnunen , alto flute, Markku Klami , electronics Live recording from Time of Music Festival, July 11, 2009 Score / parts nkoda Music Finland Instrumentation and duration Alto flute and live electronics (2 or 4 channels) Duration: 7 minutes Commission / dedications Dedicated to Hanna Kinnunen First performance Hanna Kinnunen, alto flute, Markku Klami, electronics, Time of Music Festival, Viitasaari, Finland, July 11, 2009 Composer's Notes I composed aura for Hanna Kinnunen as a part of Composition comments project at Time of Music Festival in Viitasaari, Finland in 2009. My work comments on two other works for flute, bass flute and electronics: Poison Mushroom by Dai Fujikura and Atem-Lied by Toshio Hosokawa . aura was my first work for acoustic instruments enhanced further by the use of electronics. The work is dedicated to Hanna Kinnunen, who premiered the work at the Time of Music Festival in 2009. < Back to Music

aava Guitar and electronics Composed: 2015 Score / parts Music Finland Instrumentation and duration Amplified guitar with live and fixed electronics (4 channels) Duration: 16 minutes Movements I. RAIN; fantasy II. in the distance: Cadenza III. Exposed Commission / dedications Commissioned by Timo Korhonen with funding from Teosto Commission Fund. Dedicated to Timo Korhonen First performance Timo Korhonen, guitar, Josue Moreno, Davis Ozolins and Markku Klami, electronics, Musica nova Helsinki Festival, Black Box hall, Helsinki Music Centre, Helsinki, Finland, February 9, 2015 Reflections Concert review, published on Helsingin Sanomat by Jukka Isopuro February 11, 2015 The electronic guitar concert, which filled the BLACK BOX, proceeded in the spirit of tentative experimentation. Timo Korhonen’s acoustic guitar was amplified, and the electronic component was either modified in real-time or pre-recorded. [--] Markku Klami’s subtle and expansive aava fortunately awakened more imaginative electric timbres. Composer's Notes I have already composed a number of works for the guitar, partly because, the guitar having once been my main instrument, I'm familiar with it and naturally I know lots of guitarists. aava expands the instrument's timbral potential by electronic means. It is dedicated to my former teacher, Timo Korhonen , who commissioned and now premieres it. I didn't become a guitarist, but then that wasn't my dearest wish – I had wanted to be a composer from a pretty early age. Timo has been one of the important people who has taught me to come to grips with the essential, and he has encouraged me along my own road forwards. I am extremely grateful to be able to collaborate with him over our communal passion, music. < Back to Music

Oi surkaa Mixed choir or vocal ensemble Composed: 2010 Score / parts Music Finland Instrumentation and duration Vocal ensemble or mixed choir (8 parts) Duration: 4 minutes Text Poem Nuori karhunampuja (“The Young Bear Hunter”) by Risto Oikarinen First performance Vocal ensemble of Helsinki Chamber Choir, cond. Eric-Olof Söderström, Concert hall of Sibelius Academy, Helsinki, Finland, December 5, 2010 Composer's Notes This piece is based on a poem by Risto Oikarinen , which in turn draws inspiration from Aleksis Kivi’s poem Nuori karhunampuja (“The Young Bear Hunter”). In both texts, I feel that dark and desolate shades of transience and loss rise to the surface. My interest in shifting vocal timbres and sustained tones inevitably emerges in this work as well. So here is a brief atmospheric piece for eight-part vocal ensemble which, despite its somber subject matter, dares to burst into a major triad. My apologies. < Back to Music

Elegia Soprano and ensemble Composed: 2022 Watch / listen Tuiki Järvensivu , soprano, TampereRaw Ensemble Live recording from Tampere Biennale Festival, April 7, 2022 Recording by the Finnish Broadcasting Company. Released with permission from the Finnish Broadcasting Company. Score / parts nkoda Music Finland Instrumentation and duration Soprano and ensemble: flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano Duration: 13 minutes Movements I. Minä kuvittelin sinulle elämän (I imagined a life for you) II. Hiipuen (Fading) III. Palava maa (The burning earth) Text Poems by Katja Klami Commission / dedications Commissioned by Tampere Biennale Festival 2022 with support from Sibelius Fund First performance Tuiki Järvensivu, soprano, TampereRAW Ensemble: Anna Angervo, violin, Maija Juuti, cello, Seppo Planman, flute, Janne Pesonen, clarinet, Ville Hautakangas, piano, visualization by Arttu Nieminen, Tampere Biennale Festival, Tampere Old Church, Tampere, Finland, April 7, 2022 Reflections Concert review, published on Kulttuuritoimitus by Kikka Holmberg April 8, 2022 The first premiere of the evening was Elegia (2022), a commission by Tampere Biennale, composed by Markku Klami to poems by Katja Klami . Scored for soprano, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, and piano, the piece formed a beautiful union of music and text. Markku Klami does not lean on overtly modernist means of expression, which leaves generous space for the poetry to resonate. The musical textures unfold harmoniously and richly. Tuiki Järvensivu’s soprano shimmered with colour, and the highest notes, in particular, blossomed beautifully in the acoustics of the Old Church. Katja Klami’s understated yet powerfully expressive poems emerged as both timeless and timely—deeply affecting in their simplicity. Concert review, published on Hufvudstadsbladet by Mats Liljeroos September 5, 2022 Elegia for soprano and instrumental quintet, composed by Markku Klami and premiered earlier this year, leans somewhat closer to a traditional modernist idiom. Set to poems by his wife, Katja Klami , the work’s expressive and at times breathtakingly beautiful musical language left a thoroughly personal impression. Tuiki Järvensivu’s wonderfully supple and resonant soprano soared effortlessly on its elegiac wings. Concert review, published on Jälkikaikuja Korvakäytävillä by Jari Hoffrén April 22, 2022 The compactness of the Old Church as a performance space seemed to be echoed in the profile of the evening’s program. Markku Klami’s Elegia received its world premiere—a work that listeners could prepare for in advance through the composer’s own program notes available online. This leads us to an essential question about the origins of music and the elements—bodily experience included—that, in line with the festival’s theme, shape the landscapes emerging in a composer’s mind. In this work, written to texts by Katja Klami (the composer’s spouse), various forms of loss are explored. The first movement, Minä kuvittelin sinulle elämän (“I imagined a life for you”), begins from above—only to let go and descend. Amid this stripped-back atmosphere comes a brief moment of bubbling, sparkling energy. A dramatic shift follows, painting a vision of imagined love, exuding bittersweet brightness: “the first love, piercing and enchanting.” In the second movement, Hiipuen ("Fading"), the disintegration of identity and mind is examined, slowly unraveling—“your self is being stripped from you.” It feels as though the fate-knocking piano asks whether it might be time to surrender. The movement ends with a beautiful solo passage. “I clench the soil in my hand. How can mercy hurt so much?” asks soprano Tuiki Järvensivu , touchingly. The third movement, Palava maa (“The burning earth”), drifts into a kind of cosmic mood—perhaps because there’s nothing else left. The musical language here leans toward stylized resignation, steering clear of bombastic dramatization or destructive roaring. A central message is repeated: “there are only great fiery winds / and the fading flight of life.” The glimmer fades, and the astral piano brings this premiere to a resonant close. The music, emotionally charged and true to its own voice, serves these songs well. — The composer later shared his delight with the performance and specifically mentioned how deeply moved he was by the vocal delivery. Composer's Notes Translation by Susan Sinisalo Elegia (Elegy) was commissioned by the Tampere Biennale festival. The commissioner's wish was that the texts in my work would focus on human destinies. Inspired by this desire, my interest focused on human destinies at both personal and global levels. The first movement, I imagined a life for you , concentrates on the thoughts and feelings aroused by involuntary childlessness. Longing, grief, hope and sadness merge from time to time with emotional turmoil: Why us? Could our dream still come true? Might we take part in the miracle of a new life, and follow the growth and development of that life? These and many other thoughts must surely face anyone suffering from involuntary childlessness. In the second movement, Fading , the music solidifies into slow, lingering and at times crumbling timbres. The words focus on the experiences and conflicting emotions engendered in the sole caregiver by the decline of a dear one ravaged by senile decay. The gradual decline of another's personality causes great anguish. Impending death may therefore also appear to be a liberating end to that person's demise. The short, laconic text of the last movement, The burning earth , strikes to the very heart of the inexorable advance of climate change and global conflicts. What makes individuals and even large communities act in ways that erode the prerequisites for a safe and peaceful life and a sustainable future? Faced with these huge questions, we often feel helpless, and in our own personal lives the chances of influencing seem small, even negligible. We are obliged to observe the great change as mere bystanders, as it were. Elegia was composed with a grant from the Sibelius Fund of The Society of Finnish Composers. I warmly thank my wife, Katja Klami , for her moving poems, the Tampere Biennale for its commission, the Sibelius Fund for its support, and the musicians who premiered my work for their magnificent collaboration. < Back to Music

FUME Clarinet and orchestra Composed: 2008 Watch / listen Lauri Sallinen , clarinet, Avanti! Chamber Orchestra , cond. Jani Telaranta Live performance from Ung Nordisk Musik Festival, September 24, 2010 Score / parts Music Finland Instrumentation and duration Clarinet and orchestra: 2(A.fl.).2(E.hn).2(B.cl).2/2.2.0.0./perc./Str. (minimum: 6.6.5.4.2., preferred: 8.6.6.4.3.) Duration: 23 minutes Movements I. ...bursting into... II. ...a serenade... III. ...to one out of reach, Commission / dedications Dedicated to Lauri Sallinen Accolades Selected to the Jury's list of recommended works in the 2nd International Uuno Klami Composition Competition 2009 First performance Lauri Sallinen, clarinet, Avanti! Orchestra, cond. Jani Telaranta, Ung Nordisk Musik: COLLISION! Festival, Concert hall of the Sibelius Academy, Helsinki, Finland, September 24, 2010 Reflections Concert review, published on Hufvudstadsbladet by Mats Liljeroos September 26, 2010 Markku Klami’s FUME for Clarinet and Chamber Orchestra stood out as a case of its own. The Turku-born composer (b. 1979) clearly possesses more than enough talent, and the piece was crafted with considerable professional skill. A name worth remembering. The same applies to clarinetist Lauri Sallinen , who handled the demanding solo part with effortless technique and a refined tone. Avanti! performed with the attentiveness and the kind of sonic brilliance one has come to associate with the ensemble in this type of repertoire. Composer's Notes FUME was my first concerto work and I wrote it especially for Lauri Sallinen . This marvellous musician (and also a very nice person) was of much help during the writing process of the work. I'm forever grateful for all his comments on my ideas and writings during the composing process. FUME was selected to the Jury's list of recommended works in the tremendously successful 2nd International Uuno Klami Composition Competition in 2009. The premiere was given by Lauri Sallinen and Avanti! Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Jani Telaranta at Ung Nordisk Musik Festival in 2010. FUME is dedicated to Lauri Sallinen. < Back to Music

sight – energy – vague – ocean Orchestra Composed: 2005 Watch / listen The Helsinki University Symphony Orchestra , cond. David Searle Live recording from Sigyn hall of Turku Conservatory of Music, April 21, 2007 Score / parts Music Finland Instrumentation and duration Orchestra: 3(pic).2.3(B.cl).2./4.3.3.1/timp., 2 perc./harp/Str. Duration: 14 minutes Accolades Shared First Prize in the national SävellYS 2006 Composing Competition, organized by the Helsinki University Symphony Orchestra for their 80th anniversary First performance Helsinki University Symphony Orchestra, cond. David Searle, Helsinki University Hall, Helsinki, Finland, April 19, 2007 Reflections Concert review, published on Turun Sanomat by Atte Tenkanen April 23, 2007 There is a sense of ethos in composer Markku Klami’s approach — a promising sign worth holding onto, even along the sometimes rugged path of a composer’s journey. His orchestral work sight – energy – vague – ocean (2005) is marked by broad, richly textured soundscapes that invite the listener to linger within them. What the piece lacks in kinetic motion, it compensates for in atmosphere. Stylistically, I found the composition somewhat dichotomous: its restrained melodicism and lush harmonies seemed carved from different wood. Nonetheless, the performance was delivered with intensity and left an encouraging impression. Composer's Notes sight – energy – vague – ocean is one of my works that was composed within a short period of time. When I began composing the work, I barely had nothing else than just few thoughts and sketches for the overall form of the work. This is why the work was in a state of constant change as the writing process progressed. However, the state of constant change and renewal is familiar to me as a composing environment anyway, as I am not drawn at all to the extremely rigorous and analytical way of working, no matter how much time I have at hand. As far as the overall form is concerned, I strive to follow the convoluted guideline of the images and visions brought into my mind by the title of the work. The title of the work was already ready when I started composing, which is quite unusual for my own works. Despite the ready title and the imagery it evokes, the work is by no means programmatic in the traditional sense, and thus does not tell any particular story. Nonetheless, narrative character is very important to me in the music and I hope that my music will ultimately tell more of itself through music than my attempt to describe it in words. During the rapid composition process, I allowed the work to grow organically, sprawl freely, taking it to where the work itself naturally seemed to go. Therefore, the end result is a variety of musical moments that change (grow) freely from one situation to another. One will hear static and extremely quiet sound surfaces as well as roaring bursts of energetic masses – and pretty much anything in between. < Back to Music

Clair Clarinet, bandoneón and string quartet Composed: 2017 Watch / listen A snippet from the general rehearsal of Clair at Kaivos Festivaali 2017 Score / parts Music Finland Instrumentation and duration Clarinet, bandoneón and string quarter (with optional dancers) Duration: 17 minutes Commission / dedications Commissioned by Kaivos Festival with funding from Madetoja Foundation. Dedicated to Lauri Sallinen First performance Lauri Sallinen, clarinet and movement, Henrik Sandås, bandoneón, Nordlyd String Quartet (Aliisa Neige Barrière, violin, Alexandra Peral, violin, Ester Forsberg, viola, Andreas Øhrn, cello), Kaivos Festival, Kiisuteatteri, Outokumpu, Finland, September 9, 2017 Reflections Concert review, published on Turun Sanomat by Kalle Karjalainen November 21, 2024 Markku Klami’s Clair opened the concert with an extended sonic field, where the clarinet’s long, sustained tones created a lingering and mysterious atmosphere. At times reminiscent of Chico Hamilton’s jazz soundtracks, the piece commanded stillness and presence—inviting the listener inward amid the passing traffic and storm outside. Composer's Notes Clair is part of a series of works built on shared musical material. The first piece in the series, Clair sketches (2012), was written for Lauri Sallinen’s debut recital at the Sibelius Academy. Later, Lauri and the Kaivos Festival commissioned a new work for the same ensemble—clarinet, bandoneón, and string quartet—which I composed using leftover material from the original piece. The next installment in the series is Clair II , composed between 2020 and 2021. It was commissioned by the Seinäjoki City Orchestra and premiered in September 2021 with Lauri Sallinen as soloist. Although these pieces form a connected series, they clearly stand apart from one another as individual works. The musical relationships between them are often loose and subtle, revealing shared roots only in fleeting gestures or textures rather than in any overt thematic continuity. < Back to Music

Explore press quotes on composer Markku Klami's works, and press resources. Press Media Kit Press "The listener may or may not keep in mind the theme of involuntary childlessness that underlies the work, but as pure music Markku Klami's Violin Concerto: A Requiem made a deep impression. It does not strive for outward display; instead, it speaks powerfully through its inner voices. In this concerto, Klami has created an exceptionally refined sound world, in which the rich orchestral writing and the solo violin communicate with sensitivity and natural ease. Stylistically, the musical language even approaches neo-Romanticism or neo-Classicism, yet feels fresh and avoids cliché. The interplay of light and shadow resonated movingly and beautifully, both in the orchestra and in the nuanced performance of violinist Maria Puusaari." Harri Hautala, Aamulehti "Klami’s expressive and at times breathtakingly beautiful musical language left a thoroughly personal impression." Mats Liljeroos, Hufvudstadsbladet "The character of Klami's song cycle Elegia is balanced and bears a close relationship between the poems and music. At the end of the second song, the soprano solo takes on a depth of sacred music." Harri Hautala, Aamulehti "Klami writes rather delicate music that makes me think of Japan." Timo Korhonen, guitarist " Ambience I: Burning weaves its mesmerizing clarinet material together with ambient soundtrack of pre-recorded tapestries, coming up with an instantly appealing synthesis of texture and color. Accessible in the best sense of the word, the score is far from mere sonic backdrop, thanks to its nuanced construction and intriguing harmonic layout. One looks forward to Klami’s next installments in the series with eager joy." Jari Kallio, Adventures in Music "The scarce gestures in Klami's aava created imaginative electric soundscapes." Jukka Isopuro, Helsingin Sanomat " into the deep peace took off as if from thin, quivering air and the landscape was calmly built both horizontally and vertically – I saw both mountains and the horizon and mighty trees in front of me. The upper notes conjured up the night sky and the beautiful, stable fifths created the impression of peace." Tove Djupsjöbacka, Kuoromusiikin Kausikonsertit "Klami does not use any text in his night signal . The succinct, clear and captivating miniature replaces words with vocal variations and changing overtones." Lauri Kilpiö, Suomen Kuvalehti "Markku Klami's Elegia to the poems by Katja Klami is a beautiful union of music and lyrics. Klami doesn't use very modernist techniques, which gives the text a lot of room. The textures are harmonious and full-bodied. Katja Klami's strong, expressive poems are timeless and topical, even heartbreaking." Kikka Holmberg, Kulttuuritoimitus Media Kit Photos Photograph by Laura Karlin Photograph by Laura Karlin Photograph by Laura Karlin Photograph by Laura Karlin Photograph by Laura Karlin Photograph by Laura Karlin Photograph by Laura Karlin Photograph by Laura Karlin Full biography Biography in English Biografia suomeksi

Dive into the world of composer Markku Klami with an in-depth biography, musical insights, and career highlights. Biography Artistic focus Timeline Biography Markku Klami is a Finnish composer whose music has been described as delicate, elegant, fragile, and powerful—evoking strong emotional responses. Klami draws inspiration for his compositions from nature and urban environments alike, aiming to offer listeners a moment of peace amid an increasingly fast-paced world. Through his works, Klami seeks to highlight the mysteries of human existence—its questions, fates, and fragile journeys—while giving voice to the profound presence of nature. His music pays tribute to the majesty of the natural world, a force before which humanity appears small and fleeting. Klami's music has been performed across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa at festivals such as ISCM World New Music Days, International Rostrum of Composers, MISE-EN MUSIC, Nordic Music Days, Musica nova Helsinki, Turku Music Festival, Tampere Biennale, Atlantic Music Festival, Zagreb Music Biennale, and Taiwan International Guitar Festival. Born in Turku in 1979, Klami’s musical path began in childhood through piano and violin studies and a decade-long membership in Chorus Cathedralis Iuniorum, the boys’ choir of Turku Cathedral. These formative years, along with early explorations in electronic music, laid the groundwork for a diverse output that includes solo, chamber, and orchestral works—often blending acoustic instruments with electronics—as well as vocal music and two operas. A classically trained composer, Klami studied at the Turku Music Academy and the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki with Tuomo Teirilä and Tapio Tuomela, respectively. In recent years, he has also returned to his roots in electronic music through ambient releases alongside his concert music. Since 2021, a selection of Klami’s works have been published by Edition Wilhelm Hansen (Wise Music Classical Group). His work has been supported by the the Finnish Arts and Culture Agency, the Finnish Cultural Foundation, the Arts Promotion Centre Finland, the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation, the Sibelius Fund, the Madetoja Foundation, the Teosto Cultural Foundation, and the Teosto Commission Fund. Klami lives and thinks of music in Helsinki, drawing creative energy from both urban environments and the nature—particularly the seashores, forests, and open landscapes that offer him a vital balance in today’s fast-paced world. Artistic focus See the Timeline for more Suomeksi Markku Klamin musiikkia on luonnehdittu herkäksi, elegantiksi, intensiiviseksi ja vahvoja tunne-elämyksiä herättäväksi. Klami ammentaa inspiraatiota teoksiinsa usein luonnosta ja toisaalta myös urbaaneista ympäristöistä, pyrkien tarjoamaan kuulijalle hetken hengähdystauon alati ylikierroksilla käyvästä maailmastamme. Teostensa kautta Klami pyrkii myös nostamaan esiin ihmiselämän suuria kysymyksiä sekä antamaan äänen luonnon ikuiselle läsnäololle. Hän kunnioittaa luonnon suuruutta, jonka rinnalla ihmiselämä näyttäytyy pienenä ja katoavaisena. Klamin musiikkia on esitetty eri puolilla Eurooppaa, Pohjois- ja Etelä-Amerikkaa, Aasiaa ja Afrikkaa festivaaleilla kuten ISCM World New Music Days, International Rostrum of Composers, MISE-EN MUSIC, Nordic Music Days, Musica nova Helsinki, Turun Musiikkijuhlat, Tampere Biennale, Atlantic Music Festival, Zagreb Music Biennale ja Taiwan International Guitar Festival. Turussa vuonna 1979 syntyneen Klamin musiikillinen polku alkoi jo varhain pianon- ja viulunsoiton opinnoilla sekä kymmenvuotisella taipaleella Turun tuomiokirkon poikakuorossa Chorus Cathedralis Iuniorumissa. Näiden vuosien aikana syntynyt kiinnostus sekä akustiseen että elektroniseen musiikkiin on sittemmin johtanut monipuoliseen tuotantoon, johon kuuluu soolo-, kamari- ja orkesteriteoksia, usein akustisia soittimia ja elektroniikkaa yhdisteleviä sävellyksiä, vokaalimusiikkia sekä kaksi oopperaa. Klami opiskeli sävellystä Turun ammattikorkeakoulun Musiikkiakatemiassa Tuomo Teirilän ja Sibelius-Akatemiassa Tapio Tuomelan johdolla. Viime vuosina hän on palannut konserttimusiikin säveltämisen ohella myös juurilleen elektronisen musiikin pariin. Klamin teoksia on vuodesta 2021 alkaen julkaissut Edition Wilhelm Hansen (Wise Music Classical Group). Hänen työtään säveltäjänä ovat tukeneet muun muassa Taide- ja kulttuurivirasto, Suomen Kulttuurirahasto, Taiteen Edistämiskeskus, Jenny ja Antti Wihurin rahasto, Sibelius-rahasto, Madetoja-säätiö, Teoston kulttuurisäätiö sekä Teoston sävellystilaustoimikunta. Nykyisin Helsingissä asuva Klami inspiroituu sekä urbaaneista ympäristöistä että luonnosta – erityisesti merenrannoista, metsistä ja avarista maisemista, jotka tarjoavat hänelle tärkeän vastapainon nykypäivän keskeytyksiä ja häiriöitä täynnä olevassa arkielämässämme. Artistic focus Concert music Markku Klami’s concert works span a wide range of forces—from intimate solo pieces and chamber music to orchestral works, concertos, vocal music, and even opera. While each composition is shaped by its unique context, Klami’s artistic voice is unified by a search for calm, timelessness, and sensitivity of sound. His music often dwells in delicate textures and quiet spaces, inviting the listener into a world that is both reflective and emotionally resonant. At times, he expands his sonic palette through the use of electronics, subtly blending acoustic and electronic elements into cohesive soundscapes. Discover Klami's concert music Electronic music In his electronic music, Markku Klami explores the ambient genre through immersive, slowly evolving soundscapes. These works offer a space for stillness and contemplation—sonic environments that unfold gradually, inviting the listener to settle into their depths. Whether experienced on their own or in dialogue with acoustic instruments, Klami’s electronic pieces reflect his ongoing interest in nuance, atmosphere, and the quiet power of sound. They are not so much narratives as they are places—audio landscapes in which time seems to stretch, soften, and dissolve. Timeline Highlights 1970s February 21, 1979. Born in Turku, Finland. 1980s Markku Klami’s interest in music sparked at an early age during the 1980s, a decade that marked the very beginning of his artistic path. In the mid and late 1980s, Klami began taking private piano lessons, followed by violin studies. These early instrumental lessons provided him with his first experiences in musicianship and laid the foundation for his later explorations in composition. A major milestone came in August 1988, when he joined Chorus Cathedralis Iuniorum , the boys’ choir of Turku Cathedral. He would sing with the choir for a full decade, until 1998. These years in the choir would prove to be formative, not only musically but personally, as they exposed him to a wide repertoire, performance discipline, and the communal aspect of music-making—elements that would later shape his identity as a composer. Show more 1990s Klami’s musical journey began in early childhood and deepened significantly throughout the 1990s, a formative decade that laid the groundwork for his later work as a composer. In the early 1990s, Klami continued his violin studies under Kai Vilevaara , developing a strong classical foundation. He also gained early performance experience as a member of Chorus Cathedralis Iuniorum, with international tours to Sweden (1990) and England (1992). By the mid-1990s, Klami’s musical interests began to expand. He started experimenting with music-making on computers and, in 1995, took up guitar studies with Pasi Nieminen —an instrument that soon became his primary focus. That same year, he wrote his first publicly performed compositions and toured in Germany with Chorus Cathedralis Iuniorum. Show more 2000s During the 2000s, Klami transitioned from electronic music performance to a focused pursuit of his own compositional voice. He began his academic journey with studies in musicology at the University of Turku and later deepened his musical expertise at the Turku University of Applied Sciences, where he majored in music theory and composition with Tuomo Teirilä , and studied classical guitar with Timo Korhonen and Ismo Eskelinen . He also began teaching music theory at the Turku Conservatory of Music in 2001, marking the beginning of a long-standing parallel career in music education. Klami’s compositional career gained momentum with the 2002 premiere of Colours in Blue by guitarist Patrik Kleemola , sparking a long and fruitful collaboration with Kleemola that resulted in multiple guitar works performed internationally, both by Kleemola and other guitarists. His orchestral debut Flow won the Finnish Polytechnic Orchestra's national composition competition in 2004, leading to several performances with the orchestra and conductor Atso Almila on their concert tour in Finland and Slovakia. Throughout the decade, Klami developed a strong presence in Finnish contemporary music festivals. His works were featured at Musica nova Helsinki, Avanti! Summer Sounds, Time of Music Festival, and Turku Music Festival. His music began to draw international attention, with performances in Iceland, Italy, Estonia, Sweden, Poland, and Slovakia. Klami's first work for symphony orchestra, sight – energy – vague – ocean , won the Helsinki University Orchestra's national composition competition in 2006 and was premiered by the orchestra and their conductor David Searle in Helsinki and Turku in April 2007. Show more 2010s The 2010s marked a period of broad international recognition and artistic diversification for Klami. His music was performed across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, while his creative range expanded to include vocal works, electroacoustic pieces, and opera. Klami began the decade with a series of high-profile premieres, including night signal for male choir, commissioned by the Polytech Choir, and FUME , a clarinet concerto premiered by Lauri Sallinen and Avanti! at the Ung Nordisk Music Festival. He completed his Master of Music in Composition at the Sibelius Academy in 2010, and shortly thereafter, his children’s opera Tulevaisuuden retki was premiered at the Turku Music Festival as part of the official European Capital of Culture 2011 program—one of several commissions tied to this significant cultural year. Throughout the decade, Klami’s music featured prominently at international festivals such as Musica nova Helsinki, Nordic Music Days in Copenhagen, Zagreb Music Biennale, Taiwan International Guitar Festival, Atlantic Music Festival (USA), and Uuden Musiikin Lokakuu in Oulu. Notable premieres included red moon (Uusinta Ensemble, Suså Festival 2011), REPEAT (European Capital of Culture 2011, Nordic Music Days 2015), karu ( Timo Korhonen , Shin-ichi Fukuda , and Thomas Müller-Pering , Taiwan International Guitar Festival 2014), and aava (Timo Korhonen, Musica nova Helsinki 2015). Show more 2020s Klami’s work in the 2020s has been marked by growing international recognition, high-profile festival appearances, and a steady stream of commissions and premieres. His music has reached new audiences across Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia, while continuing to engage Finnish listeners through performances, recordings, and broadcast media. In July 2020, Göreme Echoes was featured on Yle Radio 1’s (Finnish Broadcasting Company) Finnish Music of Our Times series, followed in August by Klami’s New York debut at the MISE-EN_MUSIC FESTIVAL with aura , performed by Kelley Barnett and the mise-en ensemble. The following month, he premiered the sound installation verweilen in Tübingen, Germany, which was released digitally in December. November 2020 saw the premiere of the first four movements of Etudes , performed by Patrik Kleemola at the Sibelius Museum in Turku. Klami’s FUME was a finalist in the Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra’s 2021 international call for scores in Los Angeles—selected from over 8000 submissions from 86 countries. That September, two significant premieres followed: Clair II , performed by Lauri Sallinen and the Seinäjoki City Orchestra, and the completed Etudes , released through a 10-week event on Patrik Kleemola’s highly acclaimed YouTube channel. In September, Etudes was published by Edition Wilhelm Hansen (Wise Music Classical Group), marking the beginning of an ongoing collaboration. Show more

Markku Klami wins the Finnish MPA Award Sep 10, 2026 Klami wins Classical Composer of the Year 2026 Award for his Violin Concerto: A Requiem Markku Klami wins the Finnish Music Publishers Association Classical Composer of the Year Award for his Violin Concerto: A Requiem in the large-scale works category. Violin Concerto: A Requiem was commissioned by violinist Maria Puusaari . Part of the Tampere Biennale Festival, the work was premiered by Puusaari on 17 April 2026 at Tampere Hall, Finland with Ruut Kiiski conducting the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra. The jury describes Klami's Violin Concerto as follows: "The winning work in 2026 Classical Music Composer of the Year in the large-scale works category is a moving and universally human narrative rooted in a deeply personal experience. A carefully considered dramaturgy and emotional arc carry the expression from beginning to end. This is music made of sorrow – and how painfully beautiful it is: the longing in the solo violin can be heard so clearly. The work is a significant addition to the body of new Finnish violin concertos." “The power of the concerto, drawing on experiences of involuntary childlessness, and the contemplative nature of the work come together in a whole that grows beyond its personal point of departure into a broader narrative of loss, hope, and humanity,” the jury states. Read more Markku Klami wins the Finnish MPA Award (Wise Music Classical) Violin Concerto: A Requiem (Edition WIlhelm Hansen / Wise Music Classical) Winners of the Finnish MPA 2026 Awards (in Finnish) (Finnish Music Publishers Association) < Back to News

Stay up to date with news about Markku Klami’s music—premieres, recordings, collaborations, awards, and other highlights from his career. News Sep 10, 2026 Markku Klami wins the Finnish MPA Award Klami wins Classical Composer of the Year 2026 Award for his Violin Concerto: A Requiem Read more Jun 15, 2026 Markku Klami nominated for Finnish Music Publishers Composer of the Year award Klami's Violin Concerto: A Requiem is nominated in Composer of the Year category for large-scale works Read more May 20, 2026 Markku Klami's into the deep peace released on Audite chamber choir's album Voices of Earth Audite Chamber Choir’s new album Voices of Earth features six environmentally themed works, all commissioned for the choir’s 30th anniversary season. Read more Dec 18, 2025 Mari Mäntylä's album Passing Shadows featuring Markku Klami's Fractured (Memoria II) nominated for Emma Classical Award 2026 Mari Mäntylä’s album Passing Shadows (Alba Records, 2025) has been nominated for the Emma Classical Award 2026—part of the Emma Awards, Finland’s most prestigious annual honours celebrating artistic achievement in recorded music. The album features newly commissioned works, including Markku Klami’s Fractured (Memoria II). Read more Nov 14, 2025 Maria Puusaari and Tampere Philharmonic to premiere Markku Klami's Violin Concerto Markku Klami’s Violin Concerto: A Requiem receives its world premiere at the Tampere Biennale, performed by Maria Puusaari and the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra under Ruut Kiiski’s baton Read more Jun 10, 2025 Markku Klami's Fractured (Memoria II) released on Mari Mäntylä’s album Passing Shadows Featuring contemporary works for decacorde, the album is out now on Alba Records and includes new music by Tõnu Kõrvits, Markku Klami, René Eespere, Charlotte Bray, Juan Antonio Muro, Mari Sainio, Pekka Jalkanen — and Mari Mäntylä herself. Read more Mar 31, 2025 FMQ publishes Markku Klami's column on the significance of arts and culture for humanity In this deeply personal column, Markku Klami reflects on how music became his survival strategy, why composing remains his greatest calling, and how culture can give us a reason to live. Read more Jan 29, 2025 World premiere of Markku Klami's Fractured (Memoria II) given by decacordist Mari Mäntylä Mari Mäntylä, the leading Finnish decacordist, will give the world premiere performance of Markku Klami's recent work, Fractured (Memoria II), at Kuhmo Arts Centre's Lentua hall in Kuhmo on January 30, 2025. Read more Jul 22, 2024 Lauri Sallinen premieres Markku Klami's Ambience I: Burning at Meidän Festivaali Lauri Sallinen, one of the most in demand Finnish clarinetists, will give the world premiere performance of Markku Klami's recent work, Ambience I: Burning, at Meidän Festivaali in Järvenpää on July 29, 2024. Read more Nov 23, 2023 Markku Klami's Elegia featured at ISCM World New Music Days in South Africa Markku Klami's song cycle Elegia, to the poems by Katja Klami, will be featured at the International Society for Contemporary Music World New Music Days Festival in South Africa Read more Feb 6, 2023 Audite tours with Markku Klami’s into the deep peace In the spring of 2023, Audite chamber choir tours with their 30th anniversary tour Voices of Earth, featuring Markku Klami’s into the deep peace (2021), set to the texts by John Muir. Read more Jan 23, 2023 Patrik Kleemola tours with Markku Klami's Etudes in Finland and Germany Patrik Kleemola gives the concert world premiere of Markku Klami's entire Etudes cycle at the opening concert of Sibelius Academy's International Guitar Pedagogy Conference on February 3, 2023 at the Organo hall of the Helsinki Music Centre. Read more Aug 11, 2022 Announcing 2022-2023 season highlights Markku Klami's vocal and instrumental music will be heard on several occasions during the 2022-2023 season. Read more Jun 4, 2022 Markku Klami's Elegia nominated to the 68th International Rostrum of Composers The Finnish Broadcasting Company (Yle) recently nominated Markku Klami's Elegia to the poems by Katja Klami to this year’s International Rostrum of Composers, organized by the International Music Council. Read more Mar 29, 2022 TampereRaw to premiere Markku Klami's Elegia at Tampere Biennale Festival A new work for soprano and Pierrot ensemble, titled Elegia (Elegy) by Markku Klami will be premiered by soprano Tuiki Järvensivu and TampereRaw, a Tampere-based ensemble of contemporary music, at Tampere Biennale Festival on April 7, 2022. Read more Nov 26, 2021 Edition Wilhelm Hansen publishes Markku Klami's Etudes for guitar The biggest music publisher in Scandinavia, Edition Wilhelm Hansen, has published Markku Klami's Etudes for guitar. Read more Sep 24, 2021 Patrik Kleemola gives the YouTube premiere of Klami's Etudes for guitar A 10-week release event of Markku Klami's Etudes for guitar (2021) begins on Monday, September 27, 2021 and will run until Monday, November 29, 2021 on Patrik Kleemola's YouTube channel. Read more Sep 10, 2021 September premieres with Lauri Sallinen & Seinäjoki City Orchestra and Patrik Kleemola Lauri Sallinen premieres Markku Klami's Clair for clarinet and large ensemble with the Seinäjoki City Orchestra on September 16, 2021. Patrik Kleemola releases weekly premieres of Klami's Etudes for guitar on his YouTube channel on Mondays from September 27 until November 29, 2021. Rondo Classic interviewed Klami for their September 2021 issue of the magazine. Read more Mar 8, 2021 Markku Klami’s FUME selected to the finals in Kaleidoscope’s 2020 Call for Scores in Los Angeles Los Angeles based orchestra Kaleidoscope received almost 8000 applications from composers in 86 countries in their 2020 Call for Scores. 189 works by 172 composers were selected to the final round, including Markku Klami’s clarinet concerto FUME. Read more Dec 18, 2020 verweilen released on streaming platforms verweilen, an ambient soundscape inspired by the coronavirus pandemic has just been released on various streaming platforms. Read more Nov 3, 2020 Patrik Kleemola to premiere Markku Klami's Etudes for guitar Four etudes, titled ”Memoria”, ”Agitato nervosamente”, ”Nocturno” and ”Stream” from Markku Klami’s upcoming Etudes for guitar collection will get their world premiere by Finnish guitarist Patrik Kleemola in his recital on November 11, 2020 at the Sibelius museum in Turku, Finland. Read more Aug 18, 2020 Markku Klami makes his New York debut with ensemble mise-en The New York-based ensemble mise-en will arrange their annual MISE-EN MUSIC FESTIVAL in Brooklyn, New York on August 17-20, 2020. The festival program features Markku Klami's "aura" for alto flute and electronics. Read more Jul 14, 2020 Thoughts on truth – Göreme Echoes featured at FBC's The Finnish Music of Our Time series Markku Klami's Göreme Echoes featured in Aikamme suomalaista musiikkia (The Finnish Music of Our Time) on Finnish Broadcasting Company Read more Oct 23, 2019 Clair sketches selected as a finalist in Kaleidoscope's 2019 Call for Scores in Los Angeles Markku Klami's Clair sketches for clarinet, bandoneón and string quartet has been selected as one of the finalists in Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra's 2019 Call for Scores. Kaleidoscope received over 2200 entries from composers from 90 countries around the world in their recent Call for scores for their upcoming 6th concert season in 2019-2020. Read more Feb 25, 2019 Victory over violence – Why I became a composer and the story behind composing Göreme Markku Klami's Göreme released on streaming platforms Read more Dec 18, 2018 Göreme Echoes released on Spotify and other streaming platforms Markku Klami's Göreme Echoes released on streaming platforms Read more Oct 12, 2018 Cooperation with clarinetist Lucy Abrams Lucy Abrams performs Markku Klami's TWIRL in Lithuania and Finland Read more Sep 29, 2018 World premiere of Karui at Uuden Musiikin Lokakuu Festival Markku Klami's Karui premiered at Uuden Musiikin Lokakuu Festival in Oulu Read more Mar 6, 2018 The first ever large-scale puppet opera in the Nordic countries premieres on March 9, 2018 The puppet opera "Croak – Or The Unexpected Joys And Perils of Singing" will premiere at Pori Opera on March 9, 2018 Read more

FMQ publishes Markku Klami's column on the significance of arts and culture for humanity Mar 31, 2025 In this deeply personal column, Markku Klami reflects on how music became his survival strategy, why composing remains his greatest calling, and how culture can give us a reason to live. On my music and beyond: Composing as a means of survival In this deeply personal column, Markku Klami reflects on how music became his survival strategy, why composing remains his greatest calling, and how culture can give us a reason to live. “Art fosters hope, opens up new perspectives and brings us together”, writes Klami. Read the whole column on Finnish Music Quarterly's (FMQ) website. FMQ started as a printed magazine (the Finnish Music Quarterly) in 1985, addressing all aspects of the Finnish music scene. Since 2005, it has also been serving its readers online. Today, FMQ publishes new items – articles, columns and reviews – on its website on a regular basis. A special issue addressing a specific topic through several articles is released four times a year. The articles in FMQ are written by experts on music both Finnish and foreign. In the course of its history, FMQ has also produced special issues in German, French, Swedish and Japanese. Since 2023, FMQ has appeared exclusively in a digital format. From 2017 to 2022, a printed edition featuring a compendium of the year's online articles was released annually in December. FMQ is published by Music Finland . Its partners are the Sibelius Academy , the Society of Finnish Composers and the Finnish Musicians’ Union . The publication is also supported by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture, as well as by Kopiosto copying remunerations (from the share of the Society of Finnish Composers). Additionally, publication in 2025 is supported by the Alfred Kordelin Foundation. < Back to News