Vocal and chorus works
new work
(2021-2022)
(Work in progress)
Soprano, flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano
Duration: ca. 10'
Information on commissioner TBA. First performance: TBA, April 2022
into the deep peace
(2021)
Mixed choir a cappella (SSAATTBB)
Text: John Muir (selections from 'My First Summer in the Sierra', adapted by Markku Klami)
Duration: ca. 13'
Commissioned by Audite Chamber Choir with support from Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation
First performance: Audite Chamber Choir, cond. Jani Sivén, concert season 2022-2023
into the deep peace: Work commentary by the composer:
into the deep peace is based on selections of texts from John Muir's 1869 travel memoir My First Summer in the Sierra, published in 1911. into the deep peace was commissioned by Audite Chamber Choir for their 30th anniversary, and is dedicated to them and their conductor, Jani Sivén.
The commissioner's wish was that the music would focus on a nature-related theme. This was a pleasant starting point for me, as nature in particular has for long played an ever-increasing role as a source of ideas for me. Almost immediately I decided to set the music to texts inspired by the diverse nature of the State of California. It didn't take me long to think of writings by John Muir. While reading his travel memoir My First Summer in the Sierra, a series of fond memories of my honeymoon trip to California and Nevada in October 2018 came to my mind.
In the midst of ever-increasing rush and disruptions of the way of life in the Western culture, my wife and I managed to completely detach ourselves from the exhausting everyday life and enjoy each other's company in the vivid pulse of the big cities and intoxicating peace of the nature. The vastness and endlessness of the Pacific Ocean, the wilderness of the sun-burned deserts, the canyon scenery and the mountains of the Sierra Nevada impressed me forever.
My perhaps clichéd experience of feeling very small affected me strongly in the Giant forest of the Sequoia National Park, near to the southern end of Sierra Nevada mountain range in California. This rather small area of around 1880 acres is the home to five of the world's ten largest trees. The famous inhabitants of the forest, the Giant sequoias, are among the oldest surviving trees on earth. While wandering around the Giant forest and standing at the foot of these trees, which reach up to the heights of a 14-story building, time disappeared.
I felt as if these old giants were peacefully watching us in their sanctuary almost two kilometers above the sea level. The experience was tremendous, and absolutely sacred. These giants have survived many ordeals during their lives spanning over 3000 years, and they may well continue to live for another 1000 years, if we people allow them to do so.
into the deep peace is my humble tribute to the nature, its endless diversity and beauty – a terrestrial eternity, as John Muir so aptly writes in his travel memoir.
The title of the work is derived from a sentence in Muir's travel memoir, dated July 11, 1869: ”Sauntered up the meadow about sundown, out of sight of camp and sheep and all human mark, into the deep peace of the solemn old woods, everything glowing with Heaven’s unquenchable enthusiasm.”
Oi surkaa
(2010)
8-part vocal ensemble or choir a cappella (SSAATTBB)
Text: Poem by Risto Oikarinen
Duration: 3'30"
First performance: Vocal ensemble of Helsinki Chamber Choir, cond. Eric-Olof Söderström, Concert hall of Sibelius Academy, Helsinki, December 5, 2010
night signal
(2009)
male choir a cappella divided in four groups (TTBB TTBB TTBB TTBB)
Phonetic text (by the composer)
Duration: ca. 3'
Commissioned by the Polytech Choir
First performance: Polytech Choir, cond. Juha Kuivanen, The 5th International Leevi Madetoja Male Voice Choir Competition, Tapiola Church, Espoo, April 16, 2010
Premiere recording: "Kuunteletko sinä", The Polytech Choir, cond. Juha Kuivanen (2013). The album received the Vocal Album of the Year Award in 2014, given by the Society of Finnish Choir Conductors and Sulasol Society.
Listen to night signal on:
night signal: review of the album Kuunteletko sinä by the Polytech Choir
Klami has not included any text in his miniature night signal: the succinct, captivating work replaces lyrics with the vocal variations and the use of overtones.
– Lauri Kilpiö, Suomen Kuvalehti
night signal: levyarvostelu Polyteknikkojen kuoron levystä Kuunteletko sinä
Markku Klami taas ei miniatyyriinsä night signal ole ottanut tekstiä lainkaan: ytimekkäässä, kuulaan vangitsevassa teoksessa sanojen virkaa toimittavat vokaalien vaihtelut.
– Lauri Kilpiö, Suomen Kuvalehti
eikä merta enää ole
(2007)
boys' choir a cappella (SSAATTBB). May also be performed by a mixed choir
Text: Revelation 21: 1-4 (in Finnish)
Duration: 7'
Commissioned by Chorus Cathedralis Iuniorum for their 20th anniversary
First performance: Chorus Cathedralis Iuniorum, cond. Heikki Rainio, Turku Cathedral, Turku, September 15, 2007
First performance outside Finland: Dufay Ensemble, cond. Wolfgang Fulda, Würtzburg and Nürnberg, Germany, April 17 & 18, 2010
eikä merta enää ole: concert review in English
Markku Klami, whose career as a composer is well on its way, has himself sung in Chorus Cathedralis Iuniorum at a young age. eikä merta enää ole is a demanding work for young singers. The motifs of minor and major seconds that bubble over the pedal point at the beginning burst into a smoothly flowing harmonic texture that, despite its chromaticity, remains very airy and clear-sounding.
The bass and soprano voices are often situated quite far apart, which poses challenges in terms of intonation and balance. In spite of some uncertain moments, the choir survived the performance with honor. Klami's work is a great addition to the contemporary music repertoire for boys' choir.
– Timo Lehtovaara, concert review in Turun Sanomat, September 2007
eikä merta enää ole: konserttiarvostelu suomeksi
Säveltäjänä hyvässä nousussa oleva Markku Klami on nuorempana itsekin laulanut CCI:n riveissä. eikä merta enää ole on vaativa teos nuorille laulajille. Alun urkupisteen päällä kuplivat sekuntimotiivit puhkeavat vuolaasti virtailevaksi harmoniakudokseksi, joka kromaattisuudesta huolimatta säilyy hyvin ilmavana ja kuulaasti soivana.
Basso ja sopraano kulkevat usein melko kaukana toisistaan, mikä antaa haasteita virityksen ja balanssin suhteen. Joistain epävarmoista hetkistä huolimatta kuoro selviytyi teoksesta kunnialla. Klamin teos on oiva lisä aikamme musiikkia poikakuorojen ohjelmistoon.
– Timo Lehtovaara, konserttiarvostelu Turun Sanomissa, syyskuu 2007