My music has a metaphorical relationship with the world – it emerges from the phenomena of the world around it, giving rise to its own secret universe.
Artist Statement
Kettunen’s music is best described as a fluctuation between contrasting elements: often between melodic and noise-based material, sharp differences in character, as well as extremes of loudness and delicacy.
With his music, Kettunen seeks to create magical, quirky, and abstract sonic universes that build bridges between the world of music and the world around it. In his works, a central focus has been the exploration of repetition—whether through a rhythmic or melodic pattern, a harmonic sequence, or a larger structural element. He often uses extra-musical material, such as a video clip, a sound, or a natural phenomenon as a spark in the creative process. The titles of his works often carry a metaphorical resonance, opening additional layers of interpretation.
Some works also explore the possibilities of incorporating extra-musical material or performative elements into a musical composition. In his music, the harmonic language expands beyond the 12-tone equal temperament to include just intonation and quarter tones, aiming for maximum resonance while remaining intuitive for the performer.
Biography
Tuomas Kettunen (b. 1992) is a Finnish composer of contemporary classical music. He holds a Master of Music in music composition from the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki where he has studied composition with Tapio Tuomela. Kettunen has also studied composition in Los Angeles, California, at USC Thornton School of Musici. He has has also attended many international masterclasses in composition taught by many notable composers of our time.
His works include pieces for full orchestra, chamber ensembles, voice, and solo instruments. In addition to concert music, he has worked with a number of directors and dramaturges and his works include music for film, theatre and radio, most recently he completed a 45 minute radio essay “Meissä on viha (2022)” commissioned by the National Broadcasting Company of Finland and documentary films “Liminaali & communitas (2018)” and”Goodbye Words (2022)” directed by Laura Rantanen.
His music has been performed by many notable musicians and ensembles, including ensemble recherche (GER), Helsinki Chamber Choir (FIN), Norrland’s Operan Symphony Orchestra (SWE), Avanti! Chamber orchestra (FIN), Ensemble Divertimento (IT), latenz ensemble (SUI), defunensemble (FIN), Ensemble POING (NOR) & Saxtronauts (FIN). Tuomas has written multiple songs for texts by Finnish poets and his piece Muukalainen (Stranger) to the text by Mika Waltari was featured at the final of the national Lied-composing competition.
”Saatiin todistaa jotain ennenkuulumatonta ja ennennäkemätöntä.”
– Petteri Värtö (Etelä-Saimaa, 22.11.2019)
”Bäst lyckades Tuomas Kettunen (Ankomst till Hades), där ett fyndigt nyttjande av gongar i kombination med en nästintill pointillistisk pianosats resulterade i en smått magiskt vibrerande klangvärld.”
”Best succeeded Tuomas Kettunen (Arrival to Hades) where an insidious use of gongs in combination with pointillistic piano texture resulted in a magical and vibrating soundscape.”
– Mats Liljeroos (HBL, 17.06.2016)