Aikamme kirkkomusiikkia – Festival of contemporary church music

The yearly festival of contemporary church music, titled in Finnish "Aikamme kirkkomusiikkia", takes place this year from 3 to 11 October 2009 in Tapiola Church, Espoo. The festival introduces religious works by more than ten contemporary composers, focusing on new liturgical music.

Several premieres will be on the programme: Matthew Whittall's liturgical choral work Mikaelsdagens psalm, and Paavo Heininen's Virsimessu (Hymn Mass) . In addition, the festival features Jyrki Linjama's Completorium and Einojuhani Rautavaara's Lapsimessu, as well as a concert with works by Pehr Henrik Nordgren, Joonas Kokkonen and Peteris Vasks. The festival includes also a course and a seminar on composing church music.

The festival is arranged by Association of Church Music Composers, chamber orchestra Soli Deo Gloria, and Tapiola parish.

Merja Hottinen / Fimic
25 September, 2009