composer
Ville Raasakka is a composer based in Helsinki, Finland. He works with ecology and environmental sounds. His compositional practice ranges from orchestral and chamber music to electronics, installation and performance ...
related works
The Moss Slowly Growing : for flute and guitar / Ville Raasakka
Genre:
Chamber music
Subgenre:
Mixed ensemble (2-12 players)
Instruments:
fl gtr
hymns : for a free number of performers with music boxes / Dmitri Kourliandski
Genre:
Chamber music
Subgenre:
Mixed ensemble (2-12 players)
Instruments:
music box
When the Cock Crowed His Warning : for 2 recorders, violin, violoncello and piano / Chiel Meijering
Genre:
Chamber music
Subgenre:
Mixed ensemble (2-12 players)
Instruments:
2rec vla vc pf
Mozart’s Ghosts : for 5 instrumentalists / Luc Brewaeys
Genre:
Chamber music
Subgenre:
Mixed ensemble (2-12 players)
Instruments:
cl h vla vc cemb(pf)
composition
The Moss Slowly Growing : for flute and guitar / Ville Raasakka
Description:
One of biggest threats to the Finnish ecosystems is the loss of biodiversity. The loss of biodiversity is sometimes simply referred to as loss of nature. According to The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation, only 3% of forest areas are oldgrowth forests. Rest of the forests are mainly monoculture forests used for harvesting timber. Instead of forests, these areas should be called tree farms.
Dead and decaying wood is vital for a diverse forest, both for the species and the soil. Every fifth extinction event in Finland is caused by the reason that there are no more dead trees decaying on the forest floor, as all forests in a natural state should have in abundance.
In this composition for flute and guitar commissioned by Duo Hav I am concentrating on the delicate sounds of decaying wood, and the porous sound qualities of the flute and the guitar. I’m looking for a sound that is similar to the sensation of brushing the hand on a fallen, decaying tree. The moss slowly growing on its surface. The sounds and techniques used are developed in collaboration with Marianne Sihvonen and Alvi Joensen. The collaboration with Duo Hav has been exceptionally inspiring.
Ville Raasakka