Paavo Heininen
Encyclopedia
Paavo Heininen is a Finnish composer
and pianist
. He studied at the Sibelius Academy
in Helsinki
, where he was taught composition by Aarre Merikanto
, Einojuhani Rautavaara
, Einar Englund, and Joonas Kokkonen
. He continued his studies in Cologne
and at the Juilliard School of Music in New York
.
Heininen is one of the most important Finnish modernist
composers. His works can be roughly divided into two periods: dodecaphonic (c. 1957–1975) and postserialist
(from 1976 onwards).
Heininen has taught composition at the Sibelius Academy. His pupils include Magnus Lindberg
and Kaija Saariaho
.
Heininen's main works include five symphonies, four piano concertos, a concerto for alto saxophone and orchestra, a violin concerto, a cello concerto, Adagio ("a concerto for an orchestra in the form of variations"), Poesia squillante ed incandescente, a string quintet, ...tyttöjen kävely ruusulehdossa... for string orchestra, and the opera
s The Knife (1985–1988) and The Damask Drum (1981–1983).
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
. He studied at the Sibelius Academy
Sibelius Academy
The Sibelius Academy is a university-level music school which operates in Helsinki and Kuopio, Finland. It also has an adult education centre in Järvenpää and a training centre in Seinäjoki. The Academy is the only music university in Finland. It is among the biggest European music universities...
in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, where he was taught composition by Aarre Merikanto
Aarre Merikanto
Aarre Merikanto was a Finnish composer.He was the son of Liisa Häyrynen and the famous romantic composer, professor Oskar Merikanto. His childhood he spent in Vilppula, Finland. From year 1919, he was married to Meri Grönmark...
, Einojuhani Rautavaara
Einojuhani Rautavaara
Einojuhani Rautavaara is a Finnish composer of contemporary classical music, and is one of the most notable Finnish composers after Jean Sibelius.-Life:...
, Einar Englund, and Joonas Kokkonen
Joonas Kokkonen
Joonas Kokkonen was a Finnish composer. He was one of the most internationally famous Finnish composers of the 20th century after Sibelius; his opera The Last Temptations has received over 500 performances worldwide, and is considered by many to be Finland's most distinguished national opera.-...
. He continued his studies in Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
and at the Juilliard School of Music in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Heininen is one of the most important Finnish modernist
Modernism (music)
Modernism in music is characterized by a desire for or belief in progress and science, surrealism, anti-romanticism, political advocacy, general intellectualism, and/or a breaking with the past or common practice.- Defining musical modernism :...
composers. His works can be roughly divided into two periods: dodecaphonic (c. 1957–1975) and postserialist
Serialism
In music, serialism is a method or technique of composition that uses a series of values to manipulate different musical elements. Serialism began primarily with Arnold Schoenberg's twelve-tone technique, though his contemporaries were also working to establish serialism as one example of...
(from 1976 onwards).
Heininen has taught composition at the Sibelius Academy. His pupils include Magnus Lindberg
Magnus Lindberg
Magnus Lindberg is a Finnish composer and pianist. He is currently the composer-in-residence at the New York Philharmonic.-Education:...
and Kaija Saariaho
Kaija Saariaho
Kaija Saariaho is a Finnish composer.Kaija Saariaho studied composition in Helsinki, Freiburg and Paris, where she has lived since 1982. Her studies and research at IRCAM have had a major influence on her music and her characteristically luxuriant and mysterious textures are often created by...
.
Heininen's main works include five symphonies, four piano concertos, a concerto for alto saxophone and orchestra, a violin concerto, a cello concerto, Adagio ("a concerto for an orchestra in the form of variations"), Poesia squillante ed incandescente, a string quintet, ...tyttöjen kävely ruusulehdossa... for string orchestra, and the opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
s The Knife (1985–1988) and The Damask Drum (1981–1983).