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.
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
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.
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