Vainio, Jennah

(*1972)

Jennah Vainio’s prize-winning music has been described as cinematic, powerful, stylistically versatile, emotional and driven. Born in Helsinki, Finland, Jennah’s first influences included music by artists as diverse as Elvis, Bobbie Gentry, Jean-Michel Jarre, J.S. Bach, Philip Glass and the neoclassical metal guitarists Yngwie Malmsteen and Jason Becker. Jennah’s most performed piece is the unique, world’s first Concerto for beatboxer and orchestra, which was performed in the USA by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Marin Alsop, with Shodekeh, a talented beatbox artist as soloist. The work draws influences from Oriental music, hip hop, dance, video games and the world of Manga and Anime. The Beatbox Concerto has been performed over 30 times, mainly in the USA. At the time, the New York Times noted the concerto in its article on new creative voices in its segment.

Most of Vainio’s pieces are written commissions including chamber, orchestral and vocal works. Orchestras and choirs that have performed her pieces include Hartford Symphony Orchestra (USA), Jakarta Symphony Orchestra (Indonesia), Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Norrköping Symphony Orchestra (Sweden), YL Male Voice Choir, Ensemble Fusions (Canada), UMO Jazz Orchestra and Tampere Filharmonia.

Other works published by Fennica Gehrman include Winterborn for chamber orchestra, Frozen Liquid for string orchestra, At Midnight for SSAA choir and Driven for guitar. Vainio’s work list also includes several chamber music works such as Diesel Rhythm Canticle for flute, clarinet and guitar, End Credits for string trio and Odin’s Beard for wind quintet. Vainio’s orchestral work Sylvia’s Lullaby was premiered in 2023 by the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. It was commissioned as part of the Helsinki Variations series, for which works were commissioned from 12 Finnish composers.

Jennah’s first love was the guitar, and it has stayed with her all these years. Besides classical music Jennah is known for her passion for metal and country music.

Jennah Vainio’s home page

Ablaze

(1998-99)

for chamber orchestra

1111-0110-02-pf-str(min.10111)

Duration: 10

Beatbox Concerto (Version for string orchestra)

Fujiko's Fairy Tale (2009-2010)

for beatboxer and string orchestra

str(min.43221)

Duration: 20

Beatbox Concerto (Version for symphony orchestra)

Fujiko's Fairy Tale (2009-10/2021-22)

for beatboxer and orchestra

2222-2200-11-str(min.86543) Percussion: Suspended cymbal, Tamtam, Crotales, Triangle, Wind chimes, Sleigh bells, Flexatone (also with bow)

Duration: 20

Beatbox Concerto (Version for wind band)

Fujiko's Fairy Tale (2009-10/rev. 2021-22)

3(III=picc).2.4(IV=cl.b).2-2.3.3.1.euph-1.2, beatbox solo

Duration: 20

Frozen Liquid

for string orchestra (2001)

str(min.43221)

Duration: 9

La mort d'Aphrodite

(2012)

for chamber ensemble

1121-1000-pf-str(11111) Clarinet 2 can also be played by Alto saxophone.

Duration: 9

Sylvia's Lullaby

Symphonic Poem - Helsinki Variations (2023)

for orchestra

3(III=picc).2.3(III=bcl).2-2.2.2(II=btrb).1-1.3-2hp-str Percussion: 1. Bass Drum, Small Peking Gong, Medium Gong, Crotales, Tubular Bells, Triangle 2. Large Ocean Drum, Bass Drum, Tamtam, Medium Gong, Sandpaper, Chain 3. Snare Drum, Large Ocean Drum, Tambourine, Suspended Cymbal, Triangle, Wind Chimes, Vibraslap

Duration: 16

Winterborn

for chamber ensemble

11(+ca)11-1000-str(11111)

Duration: 12

Les perles de Pluie – Song for Larissa (Pia Korteala, piano)
Beatbox Concerto ‘Fujiko’s Fairy Tale’ (Jakarta Symphony/Rebecca Tong, sol. Felix Zenger)
Sylvia’s Lullaby for symphony orchestra (Helsinki Philharmonic/Ruth Reinhardt)
For Such a Time as This (YL Male Voice Choir,/Pasi Hyökki)
Ablaze for chamber orchestra (Oulu Festivo/Ari Angervo)
Gung-Ho for two violins (Tatevik Ayazyan, Hanna Parviainen)

Vainio’s YouTube page