Jaakko Mäntyjärvi

Jaakko Mäntyjärvi (born 1963) is a Finnish composer of classical music, and a professional translator.

Jaakko Mäntyjärvi in 2016

Early life

Mäntyjärvi was born in Turku. He studied musicology, English language and literature and linguistics at the University of Helsinki, graduating with the equivalent of an MA degree in 1991. In 1987, he was accredited as an Authorized Translator from Finnish to English and English to Finnish. He also studied theory of music and choir conducting at the Sibelius Academy.

Professional life

Mäntyjärvi is a professional freelance translator and composer, and also an amateur and semi-professional choral singer and conductor. He is one of Finland’s internationally best known composers of choral music, with a catalog of some 150 works published to date. He has given talks on his works at various choral events in Europe, the USA and Australia, and has occasionally given a course on the history of choral music at the Sibelius Academy.

Compositions

As a composer, Jaakko Mäntyjärvi describes himself as an eclectic traditionalist: adopting influences from a number of styles and periods, and basing his musical idiom largely on traditionally oriented materials. Because he is himself active in making music, his music is very practically oriented; most of his works are for choir.

His major choral works include Four Shakespeare Songs (1984), Dagen svalnar... (Day is cooling; 1991/93), Pseudo-Yoik (1994), El Hambo (1997), the 40-part motet Tentatio (2006), Stuttgarter Psalmen (2009) and the Trinity Service (2019). His work Canticum Calamitatis Maritimae received third prize in the European composition competition for cathedral choirs in 1997. His major commissions include works for the Cork International Choral Festival (1999), the 700th anniversary of the consecration of Turku Cathedral (2000), Chanticleer (2001, 2016), the King’s Singers (2002) and the World Symposium on Choral Music (2008, 2017). He was composer-in-residence of the Tapiola Chamber Choir from 2000 to 2005.

Works

Mixed choir - secular
  • Kolme romanttista laulelmaa (Three romantic partsongs) (SATB), 1982
    • 1. Häätanhu (Wedding dance); 2. Tikanpolkka (Woodpecker polka); 3. Nocturno
  • Come live with me (Modern Madrigal no. 1) (SSATB), 1982/1997
  • Four Shakespeare Songs (SSAATTBB), 1984
    • 1. Come Away, Death; 2. Lullaby; 3. Double, Double Toil and Trouble; 4. Full Fathom Five
  • The Silver Swan (Modern Madrigal no. 2) (SSATB) 1985/1997
  • Dagen svalnar... (Day is cooling) (SSAATTBB+A solo) 1991/1993
  • Pseudo-Yoik (SSSAATTTBBB), 1994
  • Polska ja fuuga f-molli (Polska and fugue in F minor) (SATB), 1996
  • Runo alotteleikse (The poem beginneth) (SATB), 1996
  • El Hambo (SSAATTBB), 1997
  • More Shakespeare Songs (SSAATTBB), 1997
    • 1. Fear No More; 2. Over Hill, Over Dale; 3. Time; 4. Who Is Silvia?; 5. A Scurvy Tune
  • Die Stimme des Kindes (SSAATTBB), 1998
  • Tvenne ballader (Two ballads) (SSAATBB), 1999
    • 1. Konungen och trollkvinnan; 2. Herr Olof
  • Tórramat do nóebaengil / Evening hymn (SSATBB), 2000
  • No more Shakespeare songs? (SSATBB), 2000
  • Oi vauva, minulla on ne siniset (O infant, I am in possession of the ultramarines) (SSAATTBB), 2000
  • Kosijat (The suitors) (SSSSAAAATTTTBBBB), 2001
    • 0. Intro; 1. Aurinko (The Sun); 2. Kuu (The Moon); 3. Pohjantähti (The North Star)
  • Deux ballades de François Villon (SSATBB), 2001
    • 1. Ballade des dames de temps jadis; 2. Jeu; 3. Ballade des pendus
  • Announcement I (SSATBB), 2001
  • Ballad of the Oysterman (SSAATTBB), 2002)
  • Announcement II (SATB), 2002
  • Zwei deutsche Volkslieder (SSATBB), 2002
    • 1. Ach bittrer Winter; 2. Heissa Kathreinerle
  • Den hulkende sømand / Den suckande sjömannen / Itkevä merimies (The sobbing sailor) (SATB+SATB), 2003
  • Where corals lie (SSAATTBB), 2003
  • Villancicos (SSATBB), 2005
    • 1. Si n'os uviera mirado; 2. En la fuente del rosel; 3. Soledad tengo de tí; 4. De los alamos
  • Käärmeen synty (The origin of the snake) (SSATBB + perc), 2005
  • Announcement III (SATB), 2006
  • Remember me (SSATBB), 2006
  • Fiorentini del SOL (SSATBB), 2006
    • 1. Introduzione; 2. Dialogo I; 3. Dialogo II
  • Announcement IV (SATB), 2007
  • Face the music (SATB+SATB), 2007
  • Profane and profaner (SSATBB), 2008
    • 1. Blow, northerne wynd; 2. The lusty smith
  • The tide rises, the tide falls (SSAATTBB), 2009
  • Herbsttag (SSAATTBB), 2009
  • Smoking can kill (Modern Madrigal no. 3) (SSATBB), 2009
  • To be sung under the water (SSAATTBB), 2009
  • To a locomotive in winter (SSAATTBB), 2010
  • nine dawn watercolours / nine sunset watercolours (36 singers), 2010
  • Akari (Light) (SATB), 2011
  • Alarum bells (3S 2A 2T 3B), 2012
  • When I heard the learned astronomer (SSATBB + S solo), 2014
  • Canon indeed (SSATBB), 2015
  • Vlk a krtek (The wolf and the mole) (SSATBB), 2015
  • Jätti kantelon jälille (He left the kantele to us) (SSATBB), 2015
  • Prologue from Romeo and Juliet (SSATBB), 2015
  • Seven Last Words from the Century Dictionary (SSATBB), 2015
    • 1. Zymotic; 2. Zymotically; 3. Zymurgy; 4. Zyrichthys; 5. Zythepsary; 6. Zythum; 7. Zyxomma
  • Der Lattenzaun (SSATBB), 2015/2021
  • Väinämöinen uneksii lentävästä veneestään (Väinämöinen dreams of his flying boat) (SSATBB), 2016
  • Antigonish (The little man who wasn't there) (SSATBB), 2016
  • Hommage à Edith (SSATBB/SATTBB), 2016
  • First Ten Waka (SSATBB + perc), 2016
  • Silence (SATB), 2017
  • The stolen child (SSATBB), 2017
  • The seafarer (SSATBB), 2019
  • Juliet November Tango remix (SSATBB), 2019
  • Lähtö Suomesta (Departure from Finland) (SSATBB), 2019
  • Tag im Winter (SSAATTBB), 2019/2022
  • Strand, träd, vind (Shore, tree, wind) (SSATBB), 2022

Mixed choir - sacred
  • Ave Maria (SATBB), 1991
  • Psalmi 103 (SSATBB), 1991
  • Benedic anima mea Domino (SSATBB), 1994
  • Maan päällä kuljen, etsin (On earth I wander, seeking) (SSAATTBB), 1995
    • 1. Maan pällä valot syttyvät (On earth the lights kindle); 2. Kulkijan joululaulu (Wanderer's Christmas song); 3. Etsijän joululaulu (Seeker's Christmas song)
  • Canticum calamitatis maritimae (SSAATTBB + SBr soli), 1997
  • Psalm 150 in Kent Treble Bob Minor (SSATBB + 7 soli), 1998
  • Omnes gentes plaudite manibus (3S 3A 3T 3B), 1999
  • Psalm 150 in Grandsire Triples (SATBB + 3 soli), 1999
  • Ecce magnus presbiter (SSAATTBB + TTBB), 1999
  • CCCX (from SALVAT 1701) (SSAATTBB), 2000
  • Liber primus motectorum (SAB/SATB), 2000
    • 1. Ave verum corpus; 2. Aufer immensam; 3. Iustorum animae; 4. Tantum ergo; 5. Kyrie (SATB)
  • The Lord's Prayer (SSATBB), 2002
  • Oi Herra, armos meille suo / O Lord, have mercy on my soul (SSATB), 2002
  • Death may dissolve (SSAATTBB), 2002
  • O Fader wår barmhertig och god (Our Father, merciful and good) (3S 3A 3T 3B), 2002
  • Armahda meidän päällem' / Förbarma digh öfwer oss (SSATBB + TBr soli), 2003
  • Kirjoittaa on minull' miel' / Om eländet wärldsens wijd / Scribere proposui (from SALVAT 1701) (SSAATTBB), 2000/2003
  • I was glad (SSATBB + T solo), 2003
  • Ave Maria d'Aosta (SSAATTBB), 2004
  • Introitus et Kyrie Missae Sancti Henrici (SSATBB), 2005
  • Dormi, dormi (SSATBB), 2006
  • Tentatio (4 x SSAATTBB + 8 Br = 40), 2006
  • Agnus Dei in combinationibus (3S 4A TBB + S solo), 2006
  • Alleluia delle pietre dure (SSATBB), 2006
  • O magnum mysterium(SSAATTBB), 2007
  • Stuttgarter Psalmen (SSAATTBB), 2009
    • 1. Warum toben die Heiden?; 2. Mein Gott, warum hast du mich verlassen?; 3. Richte mich, Gott
  • Old Christmas return'd (SATB), 2009
  • Iste mundus (SSAATTBB), 2012
  • spiro (SSAATTBB), 2013
  • Ring the joyous Christmas bells (SATB), 2015
  • Kertokaa tästä riemuiten (Give tidings with rejoicing) (SAB + SSATBB / SATB), 2015
  • Ehtoollismotetti virrestä 262 (Communion motet on hymn 262) (SSATBB), 2016
  • Staffan var en stalledräng / Stephen was a stable-boy (SSATBB), 2016
  • Alleluia Sancti Henrici (SSATBB), 2017
  • Noel. Christmas Eve 1913 (SSATBB), 2017
  • Jouluilta (Christmas night) (SSATBB), 2017
  • Das Abendmahl (3S 3A 3T 3B), 2018
  • Pulchra es (SATB), 2018
  • Trinity Service (SSATBB), 2019
    • Trinity Ave Maria; Preces; Responses; Psalm; Magnificat; Nunc dimittis; Lord's Prayer; Collects; Anthem (O lux beata Trinitas); Final responses

Treble choir
  • Pseudo-Yoik Lite (SSSSAAAA), 1994/97
  • Maan päällä kuljen, etsin (On earth I wander, seeking) (SSAA), 1995
  • Ankeriaan päiväuni (Eel reverie) (SSA + cl), 1998
  • Runo alotteleikse (The poem beginneth) (SSAA), 1996/1999
  • Kriivari ja neito (The scrivener and the maiden) (SSAA), 1999
  • Tvenne ballader (Two ballads) (SSAA), 1999
    • 1. Konungen och trollkvinnan; 2. Herr Olof
  • El Hambo DD (= "de doñas"), 1997/2002
  • Lament of the reed (SSSAAA + S solo), 2002
  • Piae Cantiones in Nativitate (SSAA), 2003
    • Angelus emittitur / Engeli lähetetän; Congaudeat turba fidelium / Jumalisten joukko; Ad cantus laetitiae / Ajaap' lapsii laulamaan; Gaudete / Iloitkaa; Personent hodie / Lapsoset laulakaatt'
  • Balestard (SSA), 2003
  • Piae Cantiones de Fragilitate & Miseris Humanae Conditionis (SSAA), 2006
    • Vanitatum vanitas / Turha on mailman meno; Invalit malitia / Mailman lopul; Honestatis decus iam mutatur / Kunnjalisuden hyvys jo käätään; O mentes perfidas / O sydämeit viekkait; Jucundare jugiter / Ain' iloitkaam'
  • Ave Maria del fiore (SSAA), 2006
  • Akari (Light) (SSA), 2011
  • Juliet November Tango (SSSAAA), 2017
  • Ramund (SSAA), 2019

Male choir
  • Hauen laulu (Song of the pike) (TTBB); 1991
  • Hodie Christus natus est (TTBB), 1991
  • Pseudo-Yoik NT (TTTTBBBB), 1994/97 (NT tarkoittaa No Trebles)
  • Hiru gaukantu euskaldun eta tabernako abesti bat (Three Basque serenades and a drinking song) (TTBB), 1999)
    • 1. Ilargia, iturria (Moon, fountain); 2. Emakume bat ikusi dut (I saw a woman); 3. Zure begiak maite ditut (I love your eyes); 4. Ardotxo txuria (Red wine)
  • Turistitango (Tourist tango) (TTBB), 2001
  • Julkisuustango (Publicity tango) (TTBrBrBB), 2001
  • Hitaat ja karseat hautajaisvalssit (Grim and glacial funeral waltzes) (4T 4B), 2002
  • Two by four Shakespeare songs (TTBB), 1984/2004
    • 1. Come away, death; 2. Lullaby
  • Herr Mårten (TTBrBrBB), 2007
  • Cornish Lullaby (TTBB), 2011
  • Akari (Light) (TBB), 2011
  • Hiljaisten miesten laakso (Valley of silent men) (TTBB), 2011/2022

Choir and instruments
  • Kouta (SSATBB+SABr soli, 6vl, 6vla, 6vc, 3cb, timp, pft), 1996
  • Stabat Mater (SSATBB, 2vl, 2vla, 2vc, cb), 1998
  • Iubilemus Deo salutari nostro (SSATBB, 2tr 2trb / org), 2000
  • Korkea ja ylhäinen (The high and lofty one) (S(S)ATB, fl, 2 fl.d, org), 2001
  • Kyrie in memoriam (SA[T]B+org), 2001
  • Vain sana (A word only) (SSATBB + T solo, 2fl, 2ob, 2ob.dac, fg, str), 2004
  • Kiittäkää Jumalaa (Thank God) (SSA, org), 2004
  • Varjele, Jumala, soasta (Spare us from war, O God) (TTTBBB, 2121 200 01 str), 2009
  • The Famous Tay Whale (SATB+SATB, pno 4h), 2013
  • Valo vaeltaa (The light wanders) (SSATBB, org), 2017

Works for the stage
  • SALVAT 1701, choral drama 70 min (SSAATTBB + SATB soli + 3 speaking roles), 2000

Orchestra
  • CCCX/O, 2002
  • Ah! mik’ ompi elom’ tääll’, 2002

Chamber music
  • Miniatures for Four (ob, cl, 2fg), 1984
  • Fac me vere tecum flere (A solo + vc), 2000

Jaakko Mäntyjärvi's website

Music Finland page on Jaakko Mäntyjärvi

Tove Djupsjöbacka: Jaakko Mäntyjärvi is a composer thoroughly familiar with his instrument - the choir (FMQ 2019)

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