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Composer

 

Juhani Pohjanmies was a Finnish composer who was born on December 22, 1962, in the city of Oulu, Finland. He was raised in a family of musicians, and his father was a well-known composer and conductor in Finland. Pohjanmies began his musical education at a young age, studying piano and violin. He later went on to study composition at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, where he received his Master's degree in 1991. Pohjanmies' early works were heavily influenced by the Finnish folk music tradition, and he often incorporated elements of this music into his compositions. His first major work, "Kalevala Fantasy," was a suite for orchestra based on the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala. The piece was well-received and helped establish Pohjanmies as a rising star in the Finnish classical music scene. Throughout the 1990s, Pohjanmies continued to compose works that drew on Finnish folk music, but he also began to experiment with more avant-garde styles. His 1995 work "Concerto for Orchestra" was a particularly bold departure from his earlier works, featuring complex rhythms and dissonant harmonies. In the early 2000s, Pohjanmies began to gain international recognition for his work. His 2002 piece "The Book of Visions" was commissioned by the BBC Symphony Orchestra and premiered at the BBC Proms in London. The piece was inspired by the visionary art of the Finnish painter Akseli Gallen-Kallela and featured a large orchestra, choir, and soloists. Pohjanmies' later works continued to explore a wide range of styles and influences. His 2010 piece "The Four Elements" was a suite for orchestra that drew on the ancient Greek concept of the four elements (earth, air, fire, and water) and featured a variety of percussion instruments. His 2015 work "The Snow Queen" was a ballet based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale and featured a score that blended classical and folk music styles. Throughout his career, Pohjanmies was known for his innovative approach to composition and his ability to blend traditional and modern elements in his works. He was also a respected conductor and served as the artistic director of the Oulu Symphony Orchestra from 2005 to 2010. Sadly, Juhani Pohjanmies passed away on December 28, 2020, at the age of 58. His legacy as one of Finland's most important contemporary composers lives on through his music, which continues to be performed and celebrated by musicians and audiences around the world.

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