Ville Aslak Raasakka
Composer
Ville Aslak Raasakka is a Helsinki-based Finnish composer specialized in ecology. His works incorporate field recordings from coal power plants, coal mines, oil rigs, forests, trees, plants and underwater sites. He is currently working with bioacoustics and composing in co-operation with biologists.
︎ Quiet – Outi Törmälä
His works are performed by the Klangforum Wien (Vienna), BBC Symphony Orchestra (London), Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra (Helsinki), Mivos Quartet (New York City), Avanti! Chamber Orchestra (Helsinki), der/gelbe/klang (München), Finnish Baroque Orchestra, Ensemble Lemniscate (Basel), Ensemble Schwerpunkt (Hannover), Curious Chamber Players (Stockholm), Amorsima Trio (Texas) and Ensemble Mise-En (New York City).
︎ Ville Palonen
Festivals including Eclat (Stuttgart), Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival (United Kingdom), Bendigo International Festival of Exploratory Music (Australia), June in Buffalo (University of Buffalo), Festival Archipel (Genève), Festival de Royaumont (France), Nordic Music Days (Reykjavik) and World New Music Days (Lisbon) have programmed his music.
"An independent and convincing
voice"
- Michael Rebhahn, Neue Zeitschirft für Musik
- Michael Rebhahn, Neue Zeitschirft für Musik
He was nominated for the Indie Awards Classical Artist of the Year 2025 for his work The Meaning of Zero for dancers, musicians and electronics; and his orchestral work Black Cloud, underground received a recommendation at the International Rostrum of Composers in 2019.
Raasakka has composed for renowned soloists and conductors such as Bas Wiegers, Marco Blaauw, John Storgårds, Saar Berger, Anssi Karttunen, Chloé Dufresne, Hannu Lintu, Rebecca Tong and Janne Valkeajoki.
Upcoming commissions include works for Turku Philharmonic, Mivos Quartet
/ Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Annette Bik / Klangforum Wien, and
Rainy Days Festival in Luxemburg / Speak Percussion, among others.
Ville also works as a composition teacher at the Sibelius Academy (Helsinki), where he researches and teaches ecological practices. He has guest lectured at the Fine Arts Academy (Helsinki), the Theatre Academy (Helsinki), The Royal Academy of Music (London) and at the Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe (Germany). He is an avid speaker and a frequent guest at panel discussions.
Ville Aslak Raasakka studied composition with Veli-Matti Puumala at the Sibelius Academy and with Georges Aperghis as his private student in Paris 2008. He is currently finishing his Doctoral degree at the Sibelius Academy, and is a research member of the Critical Academy in the University of the Arts Helsinki.
Ville also works as a composition teacher at the Sibelius Academy (Helsinki), where he researches and teaches ecological practices. He has guest lectured at the Fine Arts Academy (Helsinki), the Theatre Academy (Helsinki), The Royal Academy of Music (London) and at the Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe (Germany). He is an avid speaker and a frequent guest at panel discussions.
"Raasakka's music comes close to
skin and infiltrates everyday life. The music is tender and bewildering in a
touching way."
– Auli Särkiö-Pitkänen, Levyhyllyt
– Auli Särkiö-Pitkänen, Levyhyllyt
Ville Aslak Raasakka studied composition with Veli-Matti Puumala at the Sibelius Academy and with Georges Aperghis as his private student in Paris 2008. He is currently finishing his Doctoral degree at the Sibelius Academy, and is a research member of the Critical Academy in the University of the Arts Helsinki.
Links / Clips:
︎ artist website
︎︎︎ Work Catalogue
︎︎︎ Listen via Soundcloud ︎
︎︎︎ Premiere “the Meaning of Zero” for dancers, musicians and electronics (Dance House Helsinki, 2023
︎ Quiet – Outi Törmälä, Jorma Arola, Ville Palonen
︎ artist website
︎︎︎ Work Catalogue
︎︎︎ Listen via Soundcloud ︎
︎︎︎ Premiere “the Meaning of Zero” for dancers, musicians and electronics (Dance House Helsinki, 2023
︎ Quiet – Outi Törmälä, Jorma Arola, Ville Palonen
︎ Petri Kekoni Company:
The Meaning of Zero for musicians, dancers and electronics.
The Meaning of Zero for musicians, dancers and electronics.
︎ Jorma Arola:
Livia Schweizer in Waves don’t wash on dormant waters
Livia Schweizer in Waves don’t wash on dormant waters
The Meaning of Zero
