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Jouko Linjama
 Jouko
Linjama studied church music and composition at the Sibelius Academy
with professors Aare Merikanto and Joonas Kokkonen. At the same time
he studied musicology and literature at Helsinki University. Linjama
continued his composition studies with professors Bernd Alois Zimmerman
and Gottfried Michael Koenig in the Hochschule für Musik in Cologne
in 1962-64. In the Autumn of 1963 Linjama took part in the composition
seminar Kölner Kurse für Neue Musik with Karlheinz Stockhausen.
In Cologne Linjama drifted apart from the serial technique of the
day. He discovered the similarities between Webern and the polyphony
of the Renaissance. Afterwards Linjama developed his own canon technique
in which the movement of chords could serve as a theme in place of
melody. Multi-dimensional triads are not bound to the tonality determined
by the tonic. Instead they create rapidly filling twelve-tone fields.
The starting point to his melodies is often the B-A-C-H motif and
they expand to webs of thirds and ninths. In the overall form Linjama
is not interested in thematic or symphonic development but in contrasts
and small variations. Linjama worked during his studies as an organist
at the Catholic church in Helsinki. During that time he discovered
the mystical world of Gregorian chant, as opposed to the rhythmical
and formal monotony of the Protestant chorale. Linjama uses Gregorian
melodies in many of his works, such as the choir mass Missa de Angelelis
and the organ mass Missa cum jubilo or the organ works Partitasonata
Veni Creator Spiritus and the Liturgical stained-glass. Linjama has
composed over twenty organ pieces. He has also written chamber music
such as Triptychon for two organs, Shadows for organ duet, Concerto
for organ, marimba/vibraphone and two wind quartets, I mosaici di
Roma (Concerto for French horn and organ) and Duo for piano and organ.
Linjama believes that oratorios for choir, soloists and orchestra
(organ) are his home ground. The expansion of this area is the chamber
opera Suomalainen Tapiiri, which was commissioned by Finnish National
Opera. Linjama has also written songs and choral music and two string
quartets. Many compositions have been written for competitions. Furthermore,
Linjama has received a prize from the Finnish church for his work
in church music.
Three
liturgical stained-glass paintings Op.95 (1993)
was performed during the 2006 AFNOM festival in London.
Contact information
Jouko Linjama
Email: jouko.linjama@pp.inet.fi
www.fimic.fi/linjamajouko
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