Pertti Jalava
Pertti Jalava

Biografie

Pertti Jalava (b. 1960 in Turku, Finland) has composed numerous works for various chamber ensembles and orchestra, among them six symphonies, several orchestral concertos (Two Pianos, Double Bass, Viola, Flute, Flute and Piano, Flute and Percussion). He has also written a considerable volume of music for big band and his jazz ensemble, in which he played drums and keyboards.

Jalava has won a number of prizes in Finnish and international composition competitions with works for orchestra, string orchestra, wind orchestra, chamber ensemble, jazz ensemble, big band and choir.
Most recently, 15th November 2019 he was awarded the Kotka City Prize in IV International Uuno Klami Composition Competition for his Concerto for Viola and Orchestra.

Works by Jalava have been performed in Finland, Belgium, Netherlands, Poland, Italy, Sweden, Hungary, Serbia and USA (New York, North-Carolina, Virginia, Texas and Washington).

Though stylistically he keeps his two main genres (jazz / chamber and orchestral music) separate, without engaging in crossover, he does allow influences to travel between the two and they have many features in common: the important role assigned to rhythm and melody, polyphony, picturesque narrative and richness of event.
His primary objectives are, Jalava says, emotional and narrative expression. Such aspirations leave no room for exclusions of any kind. In his music he uses strong contrasts, thereby achieving dramatic effects and aesthetic accents. Sometimes ugliness is needed to emphasise beauty: distorted harmonies, sharp timbres and aggressive rhythms. At other times these negative messages have to be offset by unashamed beauty in order to be experienced to the full.
Rhythm occupies a major role in Jalava’s music. It is often motor-like and frequently asymmetric. Yet a meditative quality, or a kind of floating, carefree mood is also characteristic of his music.

Despite drawing mainly on twelve-note techniques, most of Jalava’s classical works create a feeling of tonality. In his most recent compositions he often lets their nature determine the music or employs other methods of his own devising, assigning row technique only a secondary role. Nor does he belittle the role of humour, the very salt of life and music.

Jalava has studied composition – and music in general – almost entirely on his own. In 1993, having already created an extensive repertoire influenced by rock and classical music for his jazz ensembles, he studied theater composition with the American Craig Bohmler on a six-month course run by the Finnish Music Theater Association. As his final assignment he composed a chamber opera called Paradise.
Having completed this course, a turning point in his career, Jalava embarked on an intensive course of private study and attended the composition laboratories held by the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra and the University of Turku in 1994, 1996 and 1998.
Jalava has been a full-time composer since 2001.

Jalava has produced five albums of his music:
In The Wind 2007 which consists of four works for string orchestra and soloists (piano and flute)
Go to the Beach 2010 by Jalavas progressive jazz ensemble: Peppe Jalava Band
Into a Warm Night 2015, which has four chamber works by Jalava performed by Akademos Quartet, Lorien Trio and Kimmo Rahunen
A Guided Tour in the Kuiper Belt 2016 the second album by Peppe Jalava Band.
And I left the Door Open 2023, which has five chamber works by Jalava performed by Ensemble Transparent, Patrik Kleemola, Juha-Pekka Vikman and Mikko Multamäki.
Guitarist Patrik Kleemola, Sibis Big Band and Chorosynthesis Choir have also recorded his music.
Several concerts comprising over 40 works by Jalava have been recorded and broadcast by the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE).

Collectie

Alone in a Boat

Composer name

Pertti Jalava

for doublebass and audiotracks

Alone in a Boat

Composer name

Pertti Jalava

for cello and audiotracks

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Kuin huokaus

Composer name

Pertti Jalava

Fantasy for string orchestra no 1 (43221)

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Pinta – Surface

Composer name

Pertti Jalava

Fantasy for string orchestra no 2 (43221)

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Concerto for Piano, Flute and String Orc

Composer name

Pertti Jalava

Concerto for Piano, Flute and String Orchestra (min. 43221)

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Concerto for Viola and Orchestra

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Pertti Jalava

Viola and orchestra

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A Wolf Doesn’t Make Any Questions!

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Pertti Jalava

for big-band

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Pluto? – It´s Still Swinging There!

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Pertti Jalava

for big-band

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Crocodile Can-can

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Pertti Jalava

Joyful, circus like and humorous piece for big-band

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Maa kantaa - Ihminen kaivaa

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Pertti Jalava

A diptych for eight voice mixed choir, text in Finnish (translation available)

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Symphony no 3 “Forms of Opinion”

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Pertti Jalava

For full orchestra: 3333 / 4331 / timp, 2 perc / strings

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Six Miniatures for Guitar

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Pertti Jalava

Solo piece for guitar

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Kun heräsit astuin sisään ja jätin oven

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Pertti Jalava

A trio for flute, harp and viola in three movements

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The Eagle-Owl

Composer name

Pertti Jalava

A quintet for guitar and string quartet in four movements

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While You Were Sleeping, I Opened the...

Composer name

Pertti Jalava

a trio for flute, viola and harp in three movements

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Brief Conversations on Nocturnal Roofs

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Pertti Jalava

solo piece for guitar

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Verhot avoimessa ikkunassa

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Pertti Jalava

A duet for violin and guitar in three movements

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Joki kurkottaa läpi helteen

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Pertti Jalava

A trio for flute, guitar and viola

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Kolme muistikuvaa Unkarista

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Pertti Jalava

A duet for soprano saxophone and harp in three movements

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Kolme muistikuvaa Unkarista

Composer name

Pertti Jalava

Duetto huilulle ja harpulle

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