Famous Finnish Composers

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 1 
Jean Sibelius
(Finnish Composer Known for His 'Seven Symphonies' and His Tone Poem 'Tapiola')
Jean Sibelius
4
Birthdate: December 8, 1865
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Hämeenlinna, Finland
Died: September 20, 1957

Jean Sibelius was a Finnish violinist and composer. Widely regarded as Finland's greatest composer, Sibelius' music is credited with having kindled nationalism in Finland during the country's struggle for independence from Russia. His work has inspired other important composers like Douglas Lilburn. The International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition, which is held every five years, is named after him.

 2 
Tarja Turunen
(Finnish Heavy Metal Singer-Songwriter & Co-Founder of the Symphonic Metal Band 'Nightwish')
Tarja Turunen
5
Birthdate: August 17, 1977
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Kitee, Finland

Tarja Turunen is a Finnish singer-songwriter and an exponent of heavy metal. She is credited with co-founding the popular symphonic metal band Nightwish, where she peformed as the lead vocalist. The band's symphonic metal style, which was referred to as opera metal, inspired several other bands and performers.

 3 
Alexi Laiho
(Lead Guitarist and Lead Vocalist of the Melodic Death Metal Band 'Children of Bodom')
Alexi Laiho
3
Birthdate: April 8, 1979
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Espoo, Finland
Died: December 29, 2020

Alexi Laiho was a Finnish guitarist, vocalist, and composer. He was the founding member of the melodic death metal band Children of Bodom where he performed as the lead vocalist and lead guitarist. He also played the guitar for other popular bands like Sinergy, Kylähullut, and The Local Band. A celebrated guitarist, Laiho is credited with reintroducing flamboyance and melody to metal music.

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 4 
Kaija Saariaho
(One of the Most Prominent Finnish Composers)
Kaija Saariaho
2
Birthdate: October 14, 1952
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland

Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho, based in Paris, France, had a profound shift in her artistic-direction from strict serialism towards spectralism after hearing spectral-music and conducting research at IRCAM. She has received several commissions from IRCAM including for the BBC; and also from Lincoln Center. She was named the greatest living composer in a 2019 composers' poll by BBC Music Magazine.

 5 
Esa-Pekka Salonen
(Finnish Composer and Principal Conductor of London's 'Philharmonia Orchestra')
Esa-Pekka Salonen
2
Birthdate: June 30, 1958
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland

Esa-Pekka Salonen is a Finnish composer and conductor. He is best known for his service as the artistic advisor and principal conductor of London's Philharmonia Orchestra. He is also associated with the San Francisco Symphony, where he serves as the music director. Esa-Pekka Salonen is one of the most renowned conductors and composers of his genaration.

 6 
Einojuhani Rautavaara
(Legendary Finnish Composer)
Einojuhani Rautavaara
2
Birthdate: October 9, 1928
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
Died: July 27, 2016

One of the most prominent composers from Finland, Einojuhani Rautavaara was the son of an opera singer and thus no stranger to music as a child. In his career of over 7 decades, he created numerous masterpieces, including the operas Aleksis Kivi and Vincent. His works include choral, chamber, and electronic music, too.

 7 
Olivia Merilahti
(Finnish-French Singer and Founder of the Indie Rock Band 'The Dø')
Olivia Merilahti
2
Birthdate: February 25, 1982
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Paris, France

Finnish-French singer-composer Olivia Merilahti, a student of classical music gradually shifted her artistic direction towards rock music and then jazz and electronic music. She formed the Finnish-French indie pop band The Dø with multi-instrumentalist Dan Levy. First studio album of the band titled A Mouthful topped the French charts becoming the first English-sung pop French record to achieve such feat.   

 8 
Osmo Vänskä
(Clarinetist, Composer, and Conductor)
Osmo Vänskä
1
Birthdate: February 28, 1953
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Sääminki, Finland

Osmo Vänskä is a Finnish clarinetist, composer, and conductor. He has worked for the Minnesota Orchestra and Iceland Symphony Orchestra, serving as the music director and chief conductor respectively. Osmo Vänskä was also associated with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, where he was the chief conductor.

 9 
Jonne Valtonen
(Finnish Orchestrator, Arranger, and Composer)
Jonne Valtonen
1
Birthdate: March 23, 1976
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Turku, Finland
Jonne Valtonen is a Finnish orchestrator, arranger, and composer. He is best known for his contributions in the field of tracker music and demoscene. Over the course of his career, Jonne Valtonen has also won several prestigious awards such as the IFCT Award.
 10 
Aino Sibelius
(Wife of Finnish Composer 'Jean Sibelius')
Aino Sibelius
1
Birthdate: August 10, 1871
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
Died: June 8, 1969

The daughter of Finnish general Alexander Järnefelt, Aino Sibelius was also the wife of composer Jean Sibelius. She was quite fond of gardening and home-schooled her children. Married to her husband for 65 years, she lived mostly at Ainola, or “Aino’s Place,” their home near Lake Tuusula.

 11 
Eino Kettunen
(Finnish Composer and Lyricist Best Known for His Popular Song ‘Ievan Polkka’)
Eino Kettunen
1
Birthdate: May 13, 1894
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Juuka, Finland
Died: August 15, 1964

Finnish composer-lyricist Eino Kettunen is best-remembered for the song Ievan Polkka that he wrote to a traditional Finnish polka-tune. Counted among the most-famous Finnish songs, Ievan Polkka resurfaced following a cappella-performance by Loituma. The song’s Loituma version gained immense-popularity when leekspin.com posted an endless flash animation-loop showing Orihime Inoue, from anime series Bleach, spinning a leek while singing the song.

 12 
Bernhard Crusell
(Swedish-Finnish Clarinetist and Composer)
Bernhard Crusell
1
Birthdate: October 15, 1775
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Uusikaupunki, Finland
Died: July 28, 1838

Once the principal clarinettist at Stockholm’s Royal Court Orchestra, Bernhard Crusell was part of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. He had been both a soloist and a chamber musician. He was also well-versed in several languages and translated Italian, German, and French operas into Swedish.

 13 
Fredrik Pacius
(Known as the 'Father of Finnish Music' and Composer of De facto National Anthem of Finland)
Fredrik Pacius
1
Birthdate: March 19, 1809
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Hamburg, Germany
Died: January 8, 1891

German-Finnish composer- conductor Fredrik Pacius, reputed as "Father of Finnish music" is best-known for composing music of Maamme, the de facto national anthem of Finland, with lyrics written by Johan Ludvig Runeberg, Melody of the piece was used for national anthem of Estonia, Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm; as also for the Livonian ethnic anthem Min izāmō, min sindimō.

 14 
Robert Kajanus
(Finnish Conductor, Composer, and Founder of 'Helsinki Orchestral Society')
Robert Kajanus
1
Birthdate: December 2, 1856
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
Died: July 6, 1933

Finnish conductor-composer-teacher Robert Kajanus, recipient of French Légion d'honneur, founded Finland’s first permanent orchestra the Helsinki Orchestral Society (now Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra) and brought it to a high performance standard serving as its chief-conductor for around five-decades. He composed popular pieces like Aino, served as director of music at University of Helsinki, and became first president of Finnish Musicians' Union.

 15 
Selim Palmgren
(Legendary Finnish Composer and Pianist)
Selim Palmgren
0
Birthdate: February 16, 1878
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Pori, Finland
Died: December 13, 1951

Best known for his folk song-inspired piano pieces, Finnish pianist Selim Palmgren spearheaded the nationalist movement in Finland. He had also been a music critic and a music teacher, and participated in concert tours not just in Finland but across Scandinavia. He also produced the opera Daniel Hjort.

 16 
Armas Järnefelt
(Finnish Conductor and Composer Known for His Work 'Berceuse and Praeludium')
Armas Järnefelt
0
Birthdate: August 14, 1869
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Vyborg, Grand Duchy of Finland
Died: June 23, 1958

Finnish composer Armas Järnefelt is remembered for his small orchestra works. He also introduced Finland to Richard Wagner’s works. He was associated with the Helsinki Opera, the Finnish National Opera, and Stockholm’s Royal Opera, and is primarily known for his masterpieces such as Berceuse and Praeludium.

 17 
Joonas Kokkonen
(One of the Most Internationally Famous Finnish Composers of the 20th Century)
Joonas Kokkonen
0
Birthdate: November 13, 1921
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Iisalmi, Finland
Died: October 2, 1996

Joonas Kokkonen is counted among the most internationally renowned Finnish composers of 20th-century. His rich oeuvre includes the famous opera The Last Temptations, which received more-than 500 performances worldwide and is regarded as one of the most-important Finnish operas. Kokkonen held significant positions including at Finnish Academy and endeavoured in improving music education and status of classical and Finnish music.  

 18 
Jouni Kaipainen
(Former Composer)
Jouni Kaipainen
0
Birthdate: November 24, 1956
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
Died: November 23, 2015
 19 
George de Godzinsky
(Conductor, Composer)
George de Godzinsky
0
Birthdate: July 5, 1914
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Saint Petersburg, Russia
Died: May 23, 1994