Jukka Tiensuu

Biography

Jukka Santeri Tiensuu (born 30 August 1948) is a Finnish contemporary classical composer, harpsichordist, pianist and conductor.

Career

Tiensuu was born in Helsinki. After extensive musical studies (piano, harpsichord, conducting, composing, historically informed performance, electroacoustic and computer music a.o.t.) at the Sibelius Academy, Helsinki (1967–1972), the Juilliard School, New York (1972–1973), Hochschule für Musik Freiburg (1974–1976), IRCAM, Paris (1978–1982) and other institutes Jukka Tiensuu toured three continents giving numerous concerts with a wide repertoire ranging from the Renaissance to the latest avant-garde and performing both classical and free improvisations. He has received numerous prizes for his compositional work as well as for his recordings and performances. In 2020, he won the Wihuri Sibelius Prize. According to the jury report his "compositions emanate a deep spirituality, and his unwavering adherence to artistic goals is impressive".
Along with over a hundred works in the traditional instrumental, vocal and orchestral fields – in various styles, often microtonal and with electronic or computer music parts – Tiensuu's compositional output also includes many curiosities such as works for Chinese orchestra, accordion ensemble, clarinet choir, instrumental theatre, Baroque orchestra, jazz orchestra, kantele, sheng and works for any ensemble. Most of his works have remained in the repertoire and are available on disc.
His compositions have been premiered by major orchestras and ensembles in three continents by conductors such as Susanna Mälkki, Ernest Bour, Sakari Oramo, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Lorraine Vaillancourt, Diego Masson, Ilan Volkov, Leif Segerstam, Jacek Kaspszyk, John Storgårds, Hannu Lintu, Dima Slobodeniuk, Yan Huichang, Juha Kangas, Jacques Mercier, Stefan Asbury, among others.
In the late 70's, as the president of the ISCM Finnish Section, Tiensuu started the first ever regular contemporary music concert series in Helsinki. He then became a founder and the first artistic director of Helsinki Biennale (now Musica nova Helsinki) as well as the founder and a long-time artistic director of Time of Music contemporary music festival and summer academy in Viitasaari. His other activities include teaching, writing for books and magazines and making evocative radio programs on both baroque music and on music of our time. According to Finnish Music Quarterly (3/2007) Jukka Tiensuu's influence on the contemporary Finnish music scene is virtually beyond compare.

Awards (selection)

1973 Koussevitzky Award
1978 Léonie Sonning Talent Prize
1979 Gaudeamus International Interpreters Award, 2nd prize (as pianist)
1987 Record of the Year "The Fantastic Harpsichord" (Finlandia FACD 357)
1988 International Rostrum of Composers Winner/Selected work (Tokko)
1996 Erik Bergman Prize
1999 Janne Award (Best solo album) for "The Frivolous Harpsichord×The Frivolous Harpsichord1999 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks1Four Fancies: 4. Danza ostinata3:512Shasta: 1. Rondo3:493The Breakers Pund: 2b Rag3:164Raga6:025Blue Rondo a la Turk3:146Etude4:557Les Fastes de la grande et anciénne Mxnxstrxndxsx: 1. Les notables et jurés - Mxnxstrxndxurs1:208Les Fastes de la grande et anciénne Mxnxstrxndxsx: 2. Les Viéleux et les Gueux2:169Les Fastes de la grande et anciénne Mxnxstrxndxsx: 3. Les Jongleurs, Sauteurs et Saltinbanques, avec les Ours et les Singes0:4710Les Fastes de la grande et anciénne Mxnxstrxndxsx: 4. Les Invalides, ou gens Estropiés de la grande - Mxnxstrxndxse4:3011Les Fastes de la grande et anciénne Mxnxstrxndxsx: 5. Desordre et déroute de toute la troupe, causés par les Yvrognes, les Singes et les Ours1:5712Cluster's Last Stand2:5713Metamorfooseja1:3214HPSCHD: Solo VII4:3815Acht Orgelstücke: 4. Ragtime-Waltz3:2216Con Salsa3:0617Bird-Boogie3:0218Italian Rock3:0719Fandango6:5920Veto5:12"
2003 First prize for oddjob (given by the audience) at Hultgren Solo Cello Works Biennial
2004 First prize for Lots in the Aliénor Awards composition competition
2004 Teosto Prize for the most original and innovative work in 2004 (Umori)
2006 Emma Award (Best Classical Album) for "Minds and Moods" (Alba Records ABCD 224)
2008 Emma Award (Best Classical Album) for "Gamba nova" (Musica ambigua on Alba Records ABCD 259)
2008 Record of the year for "nemo, Puro, Spiriti" (Alba Records ABCD 258)
2008 Pizzicato magazine "Supersonic Award" and Süddeutsche Zeitung "Best Record" (Erz on Hänssler Classic)
2010 Emma Award (Best Classical Album) "Tiensuu Plus" (Alba Records ABCD 287)
2012 Finnish State Prize
2015 Record of the year (Rack on Alba Records ABCD 383)
2015 Pro Musica award
2019 Coup de cœur des Jeunes Mélomanes (Fondation Prince Pierre de Monaco) for Teoton
2020 Wihuri Sibelius Prize

Works (selection)

Tiensuu's works are available from his home page www.tiensuu.fi (downloadable) and Musicfinland.fi (printed sheet music)