Uljas Voitto Pulkis
Born in Helsinki in 1975, this young composer has a background in mathematics as well as musicology. He studied composition privately with Tapani Länsi, from 1994 to 1997, and orchestration with Harri Vuori at Helsinki University. In 1997 he entered the Sibelius Academy in the composition class, while also following the master-classes of M. Lindberg, J. Kaipainen and Esa-Pekka Salonen. He has participed in several Finnish festivals and has been recompensed with an "honourable mention" in the Kuopio Competition for Composers under the age of 30 (1997), with his work "4 sänger i dikter av Gösta Agren" for baritone and orchestra. His work "Octet" for chamber ensemble has also won a competition prize from "Uussävel" (the society of Finnish composers). Since 1997 he has benefited from a grant bestowed by the Foundation "Pro Music".
Tears of
Ludovico
For the memory of Victoria
"Thomas Ludovico de Victoria is a Spanish composer who lived
from 1548 to 1611. He only wrote around sixty works, but was
held in great esteem and his compositions were very popular.
The most well-known of his works are Officum Hebdomadae Sanctae
(Tenebrae 1585) and Officum defunctorum (Requiem,
1605, last work). These two compositions are sombre, empassioned
and full of anxiety, like most of his late works. Victoria lived
in an easy and superficial way, but consecrated his tears to
masses and motets, which have retained moving quality up to the
present day. When I heard Victoria's music at the first time,
I was deeply moved. It was the most beautiful music I had ever
heard, and still is. For that I would like to honour the memory
of this great composer. The name Tears of Ludovico refers
to the late works of Victoria, with which my composition shares
the main musical characteristics": darkness, passion and
anguish."
Note from the Composer