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{{Short description|Biography of composer Olli Koskelin}}
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Olli Koskelin
Olli Koskelin (born 16 April 1955) is a Finnish composer renowned for his diverse and nuanced
contributions to contemporary classical music. His works encompass a variety of styles, including
neo-impressionism, post-expressionism, and spectral music. Koskelin is recognized for his
innovative use of harmonic colour and texture, which allows him to create music that resonates
with both emotional depth and intellectual rigour.
He began practising clarinet at the age of nine and pursued his musical education at the Helsinki
Conservatory, where he studied clarinet, piano, music theory, analysis, and history. His early
experiences with music shaped his interest in composition and set the foundation for his future
career as a composer. Koskelin has studied literature at the University of Helsinki. He also studied
musicology under the supervision of composers Erkki Salmenhaara, Mikko Heiniö and professor
Ilkka Oramo.
Koskelin studied composing under prominent figures in Finnish music such as Jukka Tiensuu,
Eero Hämeenniemi, and French composer Tristan Murail. His education laid the foundation for a
significant body of work that includes notable pieces like Courbures (1989), a neo-impressionist
piano work, and the Piano Concerto (1994). His orchestral piece ...like a planet silently
breathing... (1993) leans towards early expressionism and showcases rich late romantic textures.
Throughout his long career as a composer, Koskelin has produced a significant oeuvre that
includes orchestral works, chamber music, vocal compositions, and dance scores. A hallmark of
his career is his collaboration with some of Finland's leading musicians, including clarinetist Kari
Kriikku, guitarist Otto Tolonen, Timo Korhonen, cellist Timo-Veikko Valve, and flutist Mikael
Helasvuo. These partnerships have brought his works to life on prominent stages and recordings,
further enhancing his reputation in contemporary music circles.
US clarinetist virtuoso Gleb Kansevich has commissioned and performed Koskelin's works in
several concerts. He is an especially important collaborator musician to Koskelin. His
interpretations of the Exalté and Animal II pieces can be heard on the Presentness Album.
Koskelin’s First Symphony in Eleven Movements premiered in February 2025 at the Helsinki Music
Center, performed by the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra under conductor Nathanaël Iselin.
This performance marked a significant milestone in his career, establishing him as one of Finland's
most prominent composers.
Koskelin's professional journey has been marked by significant contributions to both composition
and music education. Since 1987, he has taught at the Dance Department of the Theatre
Academy in Helsinki. In 1989, he became a senior lecturer at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki.
Two years later, he took on a similar role at the Department of Musicology at the University of
Helsinki. By 1992, Koskelin focused primarily on his career as a composer while also teaching at
various institutions.
Koskelin's impact extends beyond composition; he has played a vital role in music education as a
lecturer at several prestigious institutions.
Central to Koskelin's pedagogy is an emphasis on understanding how compositional work is
constructed—not just within music but also across disciplines such as dramaturgy, cinema, text
and dance choreography. His interdisciplinary approach has influenced many students and
contributed significantly to the educational landscape of Finnish music.
Koskelin's compositions exhibit a strong inner cohesion despite significant stylistic differences
among individual works. His early pieces often reflect post-serial harmonies and modernist
techniques while later works reveal influences from neo-impressionism and spectral music. He
frequently employs the overtone series reminiscent of French spectral composers while avoiding
dramatic climaxes in favour of cohesive and meditative atmospheres.
His musical style has evolved over time; for instance, works like Courbures (1989) showcase a
neo-impressionist approach while Exalté (1985/1991) With its virtuoso figuration and steadily
mounting intensity, Exalté is technically one of the most demanding works in clarinet literature.
The orchestral piece ...like a planet silently breathing... (1993) exemplifies rich textures leaning
towards early expressionism.
These three dimensions continued to maintain a presence in Koskelin's output. He often uses the
overtone series like the French spectral composers and avoids dramatic culmination. Soft
harmonics, tranquil arching melodies, a leisurely rhythmical pulse and a coherence of mood are in
evidence in his later works as in Uurre (1997) for chamber ensemble, Miniatures (1997) for string
quartet and Circles within for 19 solo strings.
In a special league of their own are the dance works by Koskelin – an example
is Coldstar (1992), lasting over an hour in performance, the material of which is derived from ...
like a planet silently breathing.
One of the most delicate of Koskelin’s vocal works is Breaking the Silence (1991) for soprano and
five instruments, the clear, bright soundscape of which was inspired by eight haiku by Matsuo
Basho tied together in a close-knit, subtly meditative entity.
Japanese haiku poetry also inspired Koskelin at a purely instrumental level in Seven Haiku for flute
and guitar and 7 Haiku, unspoken for flute, cello and piano, (2023).
In his works of the third millennium (e.g. Tintinnio for solo flute, 2003, and String Quartet No.1,
2004 and Cello Concerto 2013) Koskelin has continued his search for delicate timbres, but he also
displays features harking back to the expressionism of his early career.
In recognition of his significant contributions to Finnish music, Koskelin was awarded the Finnish
state's additional artist pension in 2016. His work has been celebrated through various
performances and recordings that highlight his influence on contemporary classical music.
Selected Works
Koskelin's extensive body of work includes:
Orchestral Works:
- For the time being for orchestra (1992)
- ...like a planet silently breathing... (1993)
- First Symphony in Eleven Movements (2025)
Concertos:
- Piano Concerto (1994)
- Clarinet Concerto ( 1997)
- Flute Concerto ( 2003)
- Cello Concerto (2013)
Chamber music:
- Music for String Quartet (1981)
- Uurre (1997) for chamber ensemble
- Circles Within (1999) for 19 solo strings
- String Quartet 1 (2004)
- Seven Haiku (2019) for flute and guitar
- 7 Haiku, unspoken (2023) for flute, cello and piano
- Sweet Dreams II Fl, Cl, Pno and string Quartet (2025)
Vocal Works:
- Lacrimosa for male choir (1990)
- ...with flowers for mixed choir (1986)
- Breaking the Silence for soprano and five instruments (1991)
- Sha Na I for 12 solo voices or mixed choir
Solo pieces:
- Exalté pour Clarinette (1985)
- Courbures (1989)
- X’three for Cello (2003)
- X’ five for Cello (2006)
- X’seven for Cello (2010)
- Animal II for Bass Clarinet (2019/20)
- then when A-go for Guitar (2022)
- Discussions with... I for Piano(2022)
- Discussions with... II for Piano (2023)
Dance Compositions:
- Coldstar (1992)
- Guardian of the night (2001)
- Green armchair (2002)
Discography
Selected recordings
2024
A notable release is the album titled Presentness, featuring solo works including Then When A-go
(2022) for guitar and Animal II (2019/2020) for bass clarinet.
2007
PianoHorizons, Tuomas Mali, piano. Courbures :: Olli Koskelin and others
JaseCD 0045 1999
2004
Vuodet, Polytech Choir Cond. Tapani länsiö
Lacrimosa, Olli Koskelin and others
PKCD18 (CD)
1999
-Matkalla/male voice voyage, Polytech Choir, cond. Tapani Länsiö
Lacrimosa, Olli Koskelin
and others
PKCD16 1996
1996
John Storgårds, cond. Ilmailulaitos CD1
Kari Kriikku, clarinet, Avanti! Chambre Orchestra
Clarinet Concerto, Olli Koskelin and others
1995
Avanti! orchestra,
Leif Segerstam
.... like a planet silently breathing, Olli Koskelin
and others
ODE 866-2
1989
Tutte le corde
Tutte le corde :: Olli Koskelin
and others
Korhonen (guit)
OOE 730-2.Timo Korhonen, guitar
1989
The Virtuoso Clarinet
Kari Kriikku & Avanti!
Exalté :: Olli Koskelin
and others
1576-53366-2
'Bibliography
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
J. Kaipainen: ‘Olli Koskelin at the Helsinki Summer’, Finnish Music Quarterly, (1988), no.3, p.57
only
K. Korhonen: Olli Koskelin (Helsinki, 1995) [pubn of the Finnish Music Information Centre
OsmoTapio Räihälä
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FIMIC ARTICLE
Olli Koskelin in Profile
by Kimmo Korhonen :: 1995