# Veli-Matti Puumala (1965-)

> Veli-Matti Puumala, composer – 3 recordings on Ondine. ‘Uncompromising' is the word that might best describe the work of composer Veli-Matti Puumala (b.…

Source: https://ondine.eyelabel.com/composers/puumala-veli-matti

- **Role:** Composer
- **Dates:** 1965-

## Biography

‘Uncompromising' is the word that might best describe the work of composer Veli-Matti Puumala (b.

1965). His solutions do not bow to either tradition or experimentation; he explores the potential of music

from fresh and innovative perspectives. His music is characterised by a clash of intense and energetic

textures with quiet landscapes with a quite different timescale.

Puumala first made a name for himself with his String Quartet (1994). Since then, his output has included

the Chains tetralogy for orchestra, written in the 1990s (Chant Chains, Chains of Camenae, Soira,

Chainsprings), the piano concerto Seeds of Time that won the distinguished national Teosto Prize in

2005, and Mure (2008) for Susanna Mälkki and the Ensemble Intercontemporain. He also created a

radiophonic work named Rajamailla that won the Prix Italia in 2001.

Veli-Matti Puumala studied composition with Paavo Heininen at the Sibelius Academy and continued his

studies with Franco Donatoni in Siena. Though he is an avowed modernist, his musical idiom has come

to embrace modal elements too. His birthplace, Kaustinen, is home to a major annual folk music festival,

and echoes of this may occasionally be heard in his music.

Puumala was a late starter in writing vocal music. His first vocal work, Korkeat illat for soprano and piano,

was written in 2000. At the time, he was already working on the opera Anna Liisa, which is the source of

the folk music allusions in the Korkeat illat.

Veli-Matti Puumala's recent works include Rope (2012) for the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra,

Rime (2013) for the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra and Tear (2013) commissioned by the Tapiola

Sinfonietta. He has been Professor of Composition at the Sibelius Academy since 2005.

## Works

- String Quartet (1994)
- Anna Liisa

## Discography on Ondine (3)

- [Veli-Matti Puumala: Anna Liisa, opera in three acts](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1254-2d.md): Helena Juntunen, soprano · Jorma Hynninen, baritone · Tanja Kauppinen, soprano · Ville Rusanen, baritone · Sanna Kurki-Suonio, ethno mazzo-soprano · Juha Hostikka, baritone · Anu Hostikka, soprano · Jouni Kokora, bass · Tapiola Sinfonietta · Helsinki Chamber Choir · Jan Söderblom, conductor (ODE 1254-2D, 2015)
- [A Century of Finnish Chamber Music: Live from the Kuhmo Festival](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-984-2s.md): Various Artists (ODE 984-2S, 2002)
- [Society of Finnish Composer's 50th Anniversary, Vol. 2 · Veli-Matti Puumala · Olli Kortekangas · Jukka Koskinen · Tapio Tuomela · Hannu Pohjannoro · Olli Koskelin · Magnus Lindberg: Tutta via · Konzertstück · Ululation · L'echelle de l'evasion · Eilisen linnut (The Birds of Yesterday) · … Kuin planeetta hiljaa hengittava (… Like a Planet Silently Breathing) · Away](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-866-2.md): Avanti! Chamber Orchestra · Leif Segerstam (ODE 866-2, 1995)