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September premieres with Lauri Sallinen & Seinäjoki City Orchestra and Patrik Kleemola Sep 10, 2021 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. 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. Originally planned for January 2021, the premiere of Klami's Clair for clarinet and large ensemble was postponed to September due to the pandemic situation. Lauri Sallinen will perform the clarinet solo and lead the musicians of the Seinäjoki City Orchestra in the premiere on September 16, 2021 in Seinäjoki, Finland. Etudes for guitar, a project long in the making is finally getting its YouTube premiere, where Patrik Kleemola will release video recordings of each 10 etudes coupled with discussion videos with Markku Klami. In the discussion videos, Kleemola and Klami talk about the pedagogical and musical aspects of each etude. This makes it possible for the audience to get a glimpse of the collaboration between the musician and composer, something that usually is not very visible to a broader audience. The premiere series of Etudes will run on Kleemola's YouTube channel every Monday beginning on September 27 and closing on November 29, 2021. The videos continue to be accessible on Kleemola's YouTube channel after the premiere period. Journalist Kimmo Korhonen interviewed Klami about the two works in question and their premieres and about his thoughts on composing in general. The interview, in Finnish, was published on the September 2021 issue of Rondo Classic magazine, the biggest monthly magazine in Finland with a focus on classical and contemporary music scene. The interview is accessible here: https://rondolehti.fi/rondo-lehti/kantaesitys/klamin-uutuudet-klarinetille-ja-kitaralle/ < Back to News

Patrik Kleemola gives the YouTube premiere of Klami's Etudes for guitar Sep 24, 2021 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. 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. An introduction video to the Etudes project with Patrik Kleemola and Markku Klami, released on YouTube on September 20, 2021. Welcome to follow the YouTube premiere of Markku Klami’s Etudes for guitar on Mondays at 7pm (UTC+03), beginning on September 27 and continuing until November 29, 2021 on guitarist Patrik Kleemola’s YouTube channel . On Monday, September 20, 2021 Klami and Kleemola released an introduction video to the Etudes project. Each Monday from September 27 until November 29, 2021, a new video performance of the 10 etudes will be released on YouTube, coupled with a discussion video with Kleemola and Klami, where they talk about the pedagogical and musical aspect of the pieces. This also gives a glimpse into the cooperation between the musician and the composer – which may usually remain obscure to a wider audience. Patrik Kleemola performs Etudes series on his YouTube Channel Etudes for guitar continues Klami’s long collaboration with Kleemola. The initial idea for a set of new etudes for guitar came up in a conversation Klami had with Kleemola back in 2017. In addition to Kleemola’s career as a guitarist and Klami’s career as a composer of contemporary music, they both have a long working experience as educators. Kleemola gives tuition in guitar playing at the Turku Conservatory of Music and Turku Music Institute, and Klami gives tuition in composition and music theory at the Helsinki Conservatory of Music, the Espoo Music Institute and the East Helsinki Music Institute. Kleemola’s and Klami’s mutual point of view was that contemporary music doesn’t play a substantial part in the repertoire of students in music institutes. In fact, the vast and rich oeuvre of today’s composers is something that students only come across during their academic studies in music. As Kleemola and Klami see it, the situation is more or less the same around the world. Their wish was to address this issue and contribute to the availability of contemporary music in the repertoires of students, also younger students. Although Etudes is pedagogically designed to target different playing techniques—both traditional and unconventional—Klami’s aim was just as much to compose pieces that would be suitable for concert use by students and professional guitarists alike. The result is a collection of ten etudes covering a wealth of moods, styles and sonic possibilities of a solo guitar. The technical difficulty level increases gradually as one progress through the etudes. The first etudes are suitable for younger and more experienced students alike, whereas the last etudes are primarily targeted at professional guitarists and students pursuing their professional degree in music. Sheet music for Klami’s Etudes is available from Edition Wilhelm Hansen (part of Wise Music Classical). Patrik Kleemola’s website: www.patrikkleemola.com < Back to News

Mari Mäntylä's album Passing Shadows featuring Markku Klami's Fractured (Memoria II) nominated for Emma Classical Award 2026 Dec 18, 2025 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). Mari Mäntylä’s album Passing Shadows (Alba Records, 2025) has been nominated for the Emma Classical Award 2026, one of the most prestigious annual recognitions in Finnish music. The Emma Awards, presented by Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland, honour outstanding artistic achievements in recorded music and play a central role in celebrating and supporting Finland’s diverse and vibrant music culture. Passing Shadows features new music written especially for Mäntylä, highlighting her long-standing commitment to expanding the repertoire of the decacorde, the ten-string classical guitar that is her principal instrument. Among the works on the album is Fractured (Memoria II) by Markku Klami , composed for solo decacorde and commissioned by Mäntylä. Markku Klami: Fractured (Memoria II) , performed by Mari Mäntylä Mari Mäntylä: Passing Shadows (Alba Records, 2025) Mari Mäntylä is widely regarded as one of Finland’s leading guitarists. She has performed extensively as a soloist and chamber musician across Europe, Russia, the Middle East, and Asia, and has collaborated with numerous Finnish and international composers. Through premieres of new works—particularly for the decacorde—she has played a significant role in increasing the instrument’s visibility and artistic potential. Her repertoire spans music from different historical periods, often characterised by intimacy, subtlety, and a sense of timelessness, while also embracing stylistic versatility. In addition to contemporary classical music, Mäntylä has worked with folk musicians and performed as a guitarist with the ensemble Tirioni, specialising in Portuguese fado. Her long-running chamber collaborations include Duo Dryades with bandoneónist Kristina Kuusisto , whose recordings have received wide critical acclaim, including a previous Emma nomination. Mäntylä’s solo and chamber music recordings have consistently been praised by the press in Finland and internationally, and her work has been featured on radio and television in several countries. She is a lecturer in guitar and chamber music at the Kuhmo Music Institute and continues to be a central figure in the Finnish contemporary music scene. Read more Mari Mäntylä's website Emma Awards website < Back to News

Announcing 2022-2023 season highlights Aug 11, 2022 Markku Klami's vocal and instrumental music will be heard on several occasions during the 2022-2023 season. Markku Klami's vocal and instrumental music will be heard on several occasions during the 2022-2023 season. The season highlights include performances of Elegia (2022), set to the poems by Katja Klami , at Tampering Festival in Tampere on August 20, 2022 and Sibelius Music Festival in Loviisa on September 4, 2022. Soprano Tuiki Järvensivu will sing in both performances with Tampering Ensemble and TampereRaw Ensemble , respectively. Tampering Ensemble photographed by Cecilia Damström Elegia is centered around big, fundamental questions about life: the thoughts and feelings aroused by involuntary childlessness, the experiences and emotions engendered in the sole caregiver by the decline of a dear one ravaged by senile decay, and the inexorable advance of climate change and global conflicts. TampereRaw photographed by Jaakko Jaskari Elegia was commissioned by Tampere Biennale and received its first performance, given by Tuiki Järvensivu and TampereRaw, at Tampere Biennale in April 2022. The Finnish Broadcasting Company nominated Elegia to The International Rostrum of Composers in 2022, organized by The International Music Council . The commission of Elegia was supported by the Sibelius Fund. Patrik Kleemola photographed by Vesa Aaltonen Guitarist Patrik Kleemola will perform a selection of Etudes (2021), a work commissioned by and dedicated to him, at the Turku Guitar Festival on October 28, 2022 and WEW Contemporary Music Festival on November 22, 2022. During February and March 2023, Kleemola tours with the entire Etudes cycle in Finland and gives the German premieres of Etudes Nos. 6, 4, 9 and 10 at the forum of contemporary music festival in Oberstdorf, Germany. The concerts in Finland feature the entire Etudes cycle, with the concert world premiere at the opening concert of Sibelius Academy's International Guitar Pedagogy Conference at Organo hall of the Helsinki Music Centre on February 3, 2023. After the premiere, Kleemola performs the Etudes on Feb 8 at The Church of Holy Cross in Rauma, Feb 10 at the Pyynikki hall of the Tampere Conservatory of Music, Feb 17 at the Concert hall of the Helsinki Conservatory of Music, Feb 19 at the Korkalovaara Chappel in Rovaniemi and Feb 21 at the Kaamos Gallery of the Kuusamo House in Kuusamo. The 10-movement cycle of Etudes was published by Edition Wilhelm Hansen in 2021 and released on Kleemola’s YouTube channel over a period of 10 weeks from September to November 2021. The videos contain a performance of each Etude, accompanied by a conversation with Kleemola and Klami. The commission of Etudes was supported by The Arts Promotion Centre Finland and The Finnish Cultural Foundation. Audite Chamber Choir photographed by Aura Nukari Klami’s recent work for mixed choir, into the deep peace (2021), set to the texts by John Muir , will get its world premiere and five subsequent performances on Audite Chamber Choir’s 30th anniversary tour, conducted by Jani Sivén . The tour starts in Turku on November 12, 2022, followed by five more concerts in Tampere (February 10, 2023), Jyväskylä (February 11, 2023) and Helsinki (March 10 & 11 and April 6, 2023). The Finnish Broadcasting Company will record and air the concerts in Helsinki on March 10 and 11, 2023. The commission of into the deep peace was supported by The Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation. Audite Chamber Choir’s anniversary tour portrays six new choral works written for Audite by composers Alex Freeman , Anna Huuskonen , Markku Klami, Finn Shields , Jani Sivén and Matthew Whittall . Each work is inspired, in different ways, by nature and the human relationship with nature and its effects on nature. The concert tour, featuring light design by Ainu Palmu , takes the audience on a journey to the Sierra Mountains in California, to the depths of the oceans and reflects on human activity in relation to nature and our responsibility towards the earth, our surrounding environment and future generations. < Back to News

TampereRaw to premiere Markku Klami's Elegia at Tampere Biennale Festival Mar 29, 2022 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. 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. The texts sung in Elegia's three movements are poems written by Katja Klami . The subjects of the poems focus on human destinies, especially resignation and loss. The three poems, Minä kuvittelin sinulle elämän (I imagined life for you), Hiipuen (Fading) and Palava maa (Burning earth) , focus on unwanted infertility, the caregiver experiences of memory-impaired patients, and climate change and global conflicts. The titles of the poems are echoed in the titles of Elegia's three movements. The commissioner, Tampere Biennale Festival, proposed a wish that the texts in Elegia would focus on human destinies. During the composition work, Katja Klami's poems turned out to be not only timeless, but also very topical. Elegia was completed in late February 2022, just a day after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The short and captivating words of the last poem, Palava maa , reflect on the effects of human actions on the environment and nature as well as on other people. Teosto , the music copyright association in Finland, recently released a blog article by Markku Klami about the composition process of Elegia and how the poems by Katja Klami affected the process. Elegia is written for soprano, flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano and was commissioned by Tampere Biennale Festival. The commission was supported by the Sibelius Fund. < 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 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 30, 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 28, 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 21, 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 22, 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 5, 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 22, 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

World premiere of Karui at Uuden Musiikin Lokakuu Festival Sep 29, 2018 Markku Klami's Karui premiered at Uuden Musiikin Lokakuu Festival in Oulu Today, my first totally microtonal piece Karui (for quarter-tone clarinet and quarter tone accordion) will get its premiere at Uuden Musiikin Lokakuu Festival in Oulu, Finland. The premiere will be given by musicians of MikroEnsemble: Helmi Malmgren , quarter-tone clarinet and Veli Kujala , quarter-tone accordion. It’ll be a pleasure to also hear the other works in the concert of MikroEnsemble and spend some time with dear friends and colleagues. My warmest thanks to clarinetist Lauri Sallinen and accordionist/composer Veli Kujala for commissioning this piece and to Sibelius Fund for financial support toward this commission. < Back to News

Patrik Kleemola to premiere Markku Klami's Etudes for guitar Nov 3, 2020 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. Four etudes, titled ”2. Memoria (Remembrance)” , ”4. Agitato nervosamente” , ”5. Nocturno. Väre (Ripple)” and ” 6. Puro (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. Patrik Kleemola playing "Stream" from Etudes for guitar in a sound check for the premiere performance on November 11, 2020. Patrik Kleemola is one of the foremost Finnish classical guitarists. After winning the 2nd Guitaristival Takemitsu International Guitar Competition in Finland 2004 and gaining prizes in other competitions such as Gargnano's International Guitar Competition, his concert career has taken him to London, Buenos Aires, Rome, Dublin, Milan, Athens, Turin, Florence, Tallinn, Oberstdorf, Helsinki and other cities in South America and Europe. He has appeared as soloist on important music festivals such as Bergamo Festival Internazionale della Cultura (Italy), LACCS – concert series at London's Queen Elisabeth Hall, Turku Music Festival (Finland), Tallinn Guitar Festival (Estonia), Nuovi Spazi Musicali (Italy), Festival 5 Giornate (Italy), Limina Festival (Argentina), Feria del Libro (Uruguay), Lidköping Music Festival (Sweden) and Tampere Biennale Finland). Kleemola has performed guitar concertos by Rodrigo, Ponce, Takemitsu, Giuliani, Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Vivaldi and Maggio with Orquesta Sinfonica de la Juventud Venezuelana El Sistema, Orchestra I Pomeriggi Musicali, San Remo Symphony Orchestra, Turku Philharmonic Orchestra and Lecce Symphony Orchestra. Kleemola plays regularly chamber music with various international ensembles and soloists. Kleemola's wide repertoire includes music from the early Italian 16th century to the newest contemporary compositions written for him. Kleemola's intense collaboration with composers has led to over 50 premieres of contemporary works for guitar including concertos, chamber music and solo works. Composers like Ada Gentile, Mikko Heiniö, Markku Klami, Juha T. Koskinen, Paola Livorsi, Marcela Pavia, Harri Suilamo and Harri Vuori have composed and dedicated their works to him. Kleemola has released two CDs by Pilfink records: Perchitarrasola (2012) and Through Green Glass (2015). The CDs consist of music written for Kleemola by Finnish and Italian composers. Other CD recordings include Kleemola's arrangement of Franz Schubert's Die schöne Müllerin for guitar and tenor. Kleemola's ever growing content on his personal Youtube channel is gaining a lot of following, and soon it will pass the landmark of a million views. In addition to his performing career, Kleemola is Lecturer in Guitar at Turku Conservatory & Music Institute. Kleemola gives regularly masterclasses during concert tours and recently he has given those in London, Buenos Aires, Milan and elsewhere in Italy, Estonia and Finland. Kleemola was the artistic director of the Brinkhall Summer Concerts during 2009-2011 in Turku, Finland. Kleemola is the founder and artistic director of Turku Guitar Festival. Markku Klami: Etudes for guitar: 4. Agitato nervosamente (excerpt) Klami’s Etudes is a collection of solo guitar pieces, each concentrating on a specific guitar playing technique. While targeted for younger and advanced young players, these etudes are intended and suitable for concert use by professional guitarists alike. Patrik Kleemola performs Etudes cycle on his YouTube channel In his Etudes , Klami makes use of some extended playing techniques, including playing the strings by hitting them with the left hand – and, at times, even both hands, techniques resulting in microtones, like plucking the strings on both sides of the hand on the fretboard, and partially muting the strings in various ways. These extended playing techniques are intended to provide also younger players with glimpses of the intriguing world of contemporary music. Markku Klami: Etudes for guitar: 5. Nocturno. Väre (Ripple) (excerpt) The idea to write new, contemporary music pieces that would not be technically too demanding for young and advanced younger players, while maintaining a high aesthetic value of a contemporary concert music was proposed to Klami by Kleemola. A close cooperation between Klami and Kleemola and study on the technical and aesthetic aspects of each etude has been taking place since late 2019. Klami has composed Etudes with the support by Arts Promition Centre Finland and the Finnish Cultural Foundation . Markku Klami: Etudes for guitar: 6. Puro (Stream) (excerpt) The Etudes are written for Patrik Kleemola. He will premiere the collection in whole in 2021. Stay tuned for more information about this project, which will be fully released in 2021, including a video release of each etude on Kleemola’s YouTube channel . Sheet music for Etudes is available via Edition Wilhelm Hansen (Wise Music Classical) < Back to News

FMQ publishes Markku Klami's column on the significance of arts and culture for humanity Mar 30, 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

Markku Klami’s FUME selected to the finals in Kaleidoscope’s 2020 Call for Scores in Los Angeles Mar 8, 2021 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. 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. Klami wrote FUME for clarinetist Lauri Sallinen , who gave the premiere performance with Avanti! Chamber Orchestra conducted by Jani Telaranta at Ung Nordisk Musik Festival in Helsinki in 2010. Kaleidoscope’s annual call for scores has become one of their major programs, and most of the new music they have performed and most of the composers they have commissioned have been a part of this program. The primary goals of their call for scores are to build relationships with composers, to get to know new music that they would love to perform, and to amplify awareness of new music so more musicians and organizations will consider programming more new music. This is the second time Klami reaches the finals in Kaleidoscope's annual Call for Scores. Last year, his clarinet sextet Clair sketches was selected to the final round. More information on FUME can be found at my Orchestra music page. And if you like, be sure to listen to the first performance of the piece on SoundCloud . The performance was given by Lauri Sallinen, clarinet and Avanti! Chamber Orchestra conducted by Jani Telaranta at Ung Nordisk Music Festival in Helsinki. FUME was selected to the Jury's list of recommended works in the 2nd International Uuno Klami Composition Competition . < Back to News

Audite tours with Markku Klami’s into the deep peace Feb 5, 2023 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. 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 . Commissioned by and dedicated to Audite and their conductor Jani Sivén , into the deep peace received its world premiere on Audite’s Voices of Earth tour on November 12, 2022 in Turku. The following performances will be given on February 10, 2023 in Tampere, February 11 in Jyväskylä, March 10 & 11 and April 6, 2023 in Helsinki. The concert in Helsinki on March 10, 2023 will be recorded and broadcasted by the Finnish Broadcasting Company. Klami’s work deals with trees and forests and the eternal landscapes they create. The text of the work is adapted by the composer from John Muir's travel memoir My First Summer in the Sierra, published in 1911. The text describes the Sierra mountain range in California, where the ancient temples of giant trees exude a peace and timelessness that is hard to find in our fast-paced everyday life and our modern society. Klami's work is a tribute to the deafening beauty and greatness of nature, next to which man is quite small, even insignificant and unnecessary. The work indirectly takes a stand on the effects of human activity on the nature of our earth - not by declaring, however, but by reminding of the beauty and importance of nature to people. The independent compositions of the Voices of Earth concert form a narrative entity that comments on the consequences of the climate crisis, the importance of biodiversity and man's changing relationship with nature. Conversational and current topics are included both in the melodies and in the texts selected for the works. The well-respected composers in the field of choral music and behind the works heard in Voices of Earth concert are Alex Freeman, Anna Huuskonen, Markku Klami, Finn Shields and Matthew Whittall. They also sing in the ranks of Audite chamber choir and thus know the instrument inside-out. In addition, the concert will feature a commissioned work composed by Jani Sivén , who conducts the choir. Visual and light design in the concert is by light artist and designer Ainu Palmu . Maria Ohisalo , Finland’s Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, acts as the patron of Audite's jubilee year. The anniversary year has been supported by Jenny and Antti Wihuri Fund, the Uusimaa regional fund of the Finnish Cultural Foundation and the Finnish Cultural Foundation. Tickets to the Voices of Earth tour are available via Lippu.fi See also Audite chamber choir Alex Freeman Anna Huuskonen Finn Shields Jani Sivén Matthew Whittall Maria Ohisalo < Back to News

Göreme Echoes released on Spotify and other streaming platforms Dec 18, 2018 Markku Klami's Göreme Echoes released on streaming platforms Göreme Echoes released on Spotify and other streaming platforms While the majority of my music is written for acoustic ensembles since I like to work with musicians and singers, I have a long history in the field of electronic music as well. During my teenage years I spent a lot of time experimenting with synthesizers and different computer softwares and I remember being very enthusiastic and drawn into the field of electronic soundscapes. During my academic studies in music composition my concentration was solely on writing for acoustic instruments and human voice, although I did a couple of electronic soundtracks to the short movies of one fellow student at the time. It was not until 2009 when I first combined the acoustic instruments with electronics. That year I wrote aura , a 7-minute piece for alto flute and live electronics for flutist Hanna Kinnunen and Göreme , a 17-minute piece for guitar and fixed soundtrack for guitarist Patrik Kleemola . Looking back, I think it was around that time that I felt mature enough to bring together the acoustic and electronic soundscapes – the craft of writing for acoustic instruments that I had been polishing for years during my studies, mixed with the intuitive approach to music making I had during my teenage years experimenting with electronic gear. Combining acoustic and electronic sounds has been a growing point of interest for me ever since. In 2015 I completed aava , another 16-minute piece for guitar and live & fixed electronics commissioned by and written to guitarist Timo Korhonen . At the moment I have a couple of works on my sketch table that combine the acoustic and electronic sounds. In 2010, I was asked to do an installation piece for the publication event of a project I was involved in. The result was an electronic soundscape titled Göreme Echoes . It is a mixture of some new materials combined with reworking of materials for Göreme for guitar and fixed soundtrack. Like with Göreme , during the composition process of Göreme Echoes I was strongly affected of the landscapes and history of Göreme region in Cappadocia, Turkey. Over the course of several thousand years, the vast underground buildings in Göreme have served as an asylum for people of many cultural backgrounds escaping from turmoil. This leads me to think of the concept of truth in a cultural context. Every culture, society and individual have their own truths, and in this respect it could be argued that every culture, society and individual own their own truths. The collisions between these truths keep serving as a springboard to quarrels, political turmoils, oppressions and even wars. Keeping this in mind, my aim was to create soundscapes representing the ever ongoing process between harmony and chaos, fueled by the truths in our global society. < Back to News