Years, compositions

Premiere of the Suomenlinna Overture at a concert by the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Tor Mann in Stockholm on March 21.

Following the outbreak of war, leaves his summer home at Lyökki in the Uusikaupunki archipelago. Fights in the Continuation War of 1941–1942.

Stage and costume designer Regina Backberg starts writing a libretto and sketching the stage designs for a ballet.

Regina Backberg sends Klami (who is at Lyökki) the first draft of a libretto for a ballet that later forms the basis for the music of Whirls, which he never completed.

The Finnish Cultural Foundation awards him a grant of 150,000 marks.

Premiere of the Sérénades espagnoles at a concert given by the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Martti Similä on December 1.

Fourth concert of his works in the Conservatory (nowadays the Sibelius Academy) Hall on December 15, 1946. Toivo Haapanen conducts the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. Programme: Cheremissian Fantasy, and premiere of Symphony No. 2 and the King Lear overture. “Klami’s lush, extravagant orchestral vision sometimes makes it difficult for the listener to follow the ‘plot’, writes Väinö Pesola of the symphony. People are astonished at the reference in the symphony to the march tune ‘Kauan on kärsitty vilua ja nälkää’ (Long have we suffered from cold and hunger).

Summer cottage on the Virolahti island of Kujaholm is completed.

Grant of 50,000 marks from the Sibelius Fund.

Founding member of the Finnish Contemporary Music Society

Premiere of A Karelian Market Place overture at a concert by the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by János Ferencsik on February 18. Works by Erik Bergman and Nils-Eric Ringbom also on the programme.

Six-month stay in Paris in the autumn. Sends Helsingin Sanomat letters about musical life in the city addressing such things as composing a ballet, and commenting on the music of Messiaen and Jolivet.

Grant of 100,000 marks from the Sibelius Fund.

The programme for his 50th birthday concert on September 29 consists of the Suomenlinna overture, the premiere of the 2nd Piano Concerto, and the Kalevala Suite. The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra is conducted by Jussi Jalas and the soloist is Timo Mikkilä. Joonas Kokkonen writes in Kauppalehti: “He has not marked time, has not been content with the ground once covered and instead has aspired towards ever new results, while still remaining fundamentally true to himself.”

Fazer publishes the score of the Kalevala Suite.

A concert on June 20 by the Radio Orchestra in Sibelius Week includes the movements The Sprout of Spring, Terheniemi and The Forging of the Sampo from the Kalevala Suite, with Nils-Eric Fougstedt conducting.

Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra audience votes Klami the second most popular of all composers, and of Finnish composers second only to Sibelius.

The concert during Sibelius Week on June 11 by the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Tauno Hannikainen includes The Visit to Vipunen.

Second prize in the competition for a concerto composition held by the Finnish Cultural Foundation for Tema con 7 variazioni e Coda per violoncello ed orchestra.

Premiere of the 2nd version of the Violin Concerto at a concert by the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra on April 9. Conductor Heinrich Hollreiser and soloist Anja Ignatius.

The Kalevala Suite is performed at a concert during Sibelius Week by the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra on June 11. Conductor Tauno Hannikainen.

Premiere of Tema con 7 variazioni e Coda per violoncello ed orchestra at a concert by the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra on October 7. Conductor Tauno Hannikainen and soloist Esko Valsta.

King Lear overture at a concert during Sibelius Week by the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra on June 14, Conductor Tauno Hannikainen.

Premiere of The Song of Lake Kuujärvi at the annual gala of the Finnish Cultural Foundation on February 27 and its first concert performance by the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra on March 8. Conductor Tauno Hannikainen and soloist Matti Lehtinen.

A member of the Finnish delegation at the 2nd assembly of the Composers’ Union of the USSR. Writes a report in Helsingin Sanomat on April 13 that causes quite a stir. Says of the speech made by the Union’s Secretary Tikhon Khrennikov, “It was one of the most exhaustive and longwinded reviews one is generally obliged to listen to. Khrennikov’s speech lasted over three hours and in this respect alone demonstrated exceptional powers as a speaker. The words flowed like the water in a river. When it was over, Mr Khrennikov looked slightly pale, but otherwise in very good shape. – To the ‘social realist’ regime, the speaker was nothing but positive and it gave its unconditional approval of music that represents this trend.”

The Song of Lake Kuujärvi at a concert on June 14 by the Radio Symphony Orchestra during Sibelius Week. Conductor Jussi Jalas, soloist Kim Borg.

Member of the Board of the Society of Finnish Composers 1958–1961.

First prize for a ballet in the Wihuri opera and ballet competition for the piano score of Act 1 of Whirls.

Appointed a member of the Academy of Finland on May 8.

Helsingin Sanomat’s silver Freedom of Speech medal.

Premiere of Scenes from the ballet Whirls at a concert by the Radio Symphony Orchestra on April 5. Conductor Jussi Jalas.

All’Ouvertura, Violin Concerto (2nd version) and the Kalevala Suite at his 60th birthday concert by the Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Tauno Hannikainen. Soloist Ion Voicu.

“Discovery” of Psalmus at a concert by the Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Radio Choir and the Eteläsuomalainen Osakunta singers on December 13. Conductor Ulf Söderblom, soloists Marja Eskola and Matti Lehtinen.

First Vice-Chairman of the Kalevala Society 1961.

Klami’s last completed work, the cantata The Bearer of the Golden Staff for the degree ceremony of the Helsinki School of Economics and Business Administration, to words by P. Mustapää. Premiere at the ceremony on May 19. Tauno Hannikainen conducts the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra and the Academic Choral Society with Marja Eskola and Kari Nurmela as the soloists.

Arrives in Virolahti for the summer and dies there on May 29.