October and November of new music
“October of New Music” is a Finnish festival of contemporary music taking place in Oulu in Northern Finland in late October (28.10.–2.11.). This year’s focus composer is Einojuhani Rautavaara, but the festival is also true to its special feature, showcasing composers from the North of Finland. This time, one of the concerts is dedicated to Oulu-based composers like Ilmari Mäenpää or Juha Pisto. Two works by Jouko Tötterström will also be premiered during the festival.
October and November are full of contemporary music also outside Oulu. The Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra will present two premieres: Kimmo Hakola’s new music to a silent film Tukkijoella (Finland, 1928) will be premiered on 11 October, and Sebastian Fagerlund’s Guitar Concerto Transit will have its first performance on 25 October. Atso Almila will have altogether three premieres: the Savonlinna Orchestra will play his String Quartet No. 2 on 16 October, Joensuu City Orchestra will premiere Messages on 7 November, and the Horn Concerto will played by Jyväskylä Symphony Orchestra on 4 December. Kai Nieminen’s Symphony La Selva will be premiered on 13 November by Jyväskylä Symphony Orchestra, and Arttu Takalo’s Marimba Concerto on 15 November by Seinäjoki City Orchestra.
The Helsinki based concert cycles of contemporary music are also in full speed. One of the premieres is Tomi Räisänen’s new work for horn and electronics, to be premiered by Tommi Hyytinen at a Klang concert on 4 November.
In addition, a new contemporary music festival RUSK will take place in Jakobstad, Finland on 21–24 November, including for example a new work for horn, violin, cello and piano by Sebastian Fagerlund on 23 November.