(Radio interview not available yet)

Abridged version:

Synesthesia presents music in colours.

HELSINKI Composer Ilmari Mäenpää has in his Pro Gradu-study (2001) elaborated on synesthesia, combinations of sensory perception. Mäenpää has emphasized on these phenomena in line with cognitional sciences.

Länsi-Savo. 7.4.2002

(finnish)

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World premiere of "Vihreä virta" (the Green Stream), summer 2003.

MÄNTYHARJU Art center Salmela is strongly growing into a multicultural center, not only with pictorial art, but also musically. The musical opening was provided by Ilmari Mäenpää (31), who at the present time is putting the finishing touches on his song cycle based on the poetry of the author Helvi Hämäläinen, entitled Vihreä virta (The Green stream). This cycle is composed to 10 most essential poems by Helvi Hämäläinen. In fact this song cycle is commissioned by Art center Salmela to be included in their program in the year 2003. The premiere is to be held in June 2003 performed by tenor Tuomas Katajala, who is accompanied by Ilmari Räikkönen on piano.

Pitäjänuutiset. April 8, 2002

(finnish)

Abridged version:

Poetry transforms into music at Salmela.

MÄNTYHARJU In addition to the brush strokes one normally hears at Art center Salmela, now also music is being heard since composer Ilmari Mäenpää has joined the artists who occupy the place during winter. He is composing a song cycle based on the poetry by Helvi Hämäläinen, which was commissioned by the Art center itself for its premiere to take place at Salmela. Mäenpää found the poems while he was studying. "I had to put the book away for awhile, so that I could concentrate on studying. Some of the poems virtually jumped at me from the book in form of music. Composing is such an effort, and one can't do that properly if there's no time to concentrate on it fully", he contemplates.
Helsingin Sanomat (Jan. 15, 2002)

Helsingin Sanomat. Jan 15, 2002

(finnish)

Abridged version:

Salmela, summer and art.

HELSINKI A painter, a drawing artist and a composer live together in Art center Salmela. For the public this place is held open only during summertime, but for several years a room for art studio has been granted to young artists during the winter time. The house must be kept warm, see. Ilmari Mäenpää is composing a song cycle based on the poetry of Helvi Hämäläinen at Salmela. Simultaneously he is working on a internet-based publication, which elaborates on instrumentation and orchestration. Some famous composers are involved in this project, including Kaija Saariaho.

Sanomalehti Kaleva. Dec. 9, 2001

Abridged version:

Composer/musician knowhow to the internet.

OULU Finnish composers, arrangers and music students haven't had a decent source for information on orchestration and instrumentation - until now. Especially when talking about information concerning contemporary music and its specific playing techniques, this has been hard to find. In the years to come, there's help on the way, since a publication in Finnish is to be opened on the internet for everyone to access freely. The idea for this publication was initiated by composer and M.A. Ilmari Mäenpää, born in Oulu, to bring more information about instrumentation and orchestration. The technical side of things will be taken care of by Lasse Nissilä, who is soon-to-be-graduated from University of Oulu as music educator.

University (yliopisto), July 1999

(finnish)

Abridged version:

New music at university.

HELSINKI The students of music science have started composing. Last autumn, teacher of musical sciences, Harri Vuori, started a composing class, which will bring musical fruit for every music-lover to hear in the concert to be held next April, the 20th, to be exact. This is a rare occasion, since officially no music has been taught at university for aeons. The teacher himself considered it justified, that the students get some credits for their efforts. One of the students attending these lessons is Ilmari Mäenpää, who is this year's Pro Musica-scholarship recipient. The scholarship is given annually for composing duties.