Ville Ojanen - Artist Page
Ville Ojanen
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Biography:
 
Ville Ojanen is a crossover violinist/composer from Finland who battles with the folk tradition to create new sounds and ideas. Ojanen is a musician who could be characterized as a chameleon in the field of Finnish folk music. During last twenty years he has led his music into several new directions.

Ojanen plays his fiddle like a Finn but creates his music out of various styles of world music and shapes it into a personal music of his own.

In this musical soundscape traditional acoustic instruments are in interaction with modern technology of our time. Together they create a contrasting tension which very well characterizes the nature of Villes? music.

In one moment the colors of Ojanen?s fiddle and viola are arctic and archaic but in the next they turn beautiful like the frosty night of March in the wintertime of Finland. When this noble sound of string instruments is supported by male voice from Finnish forests the answer is Ville Ojanen.

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Chronography:
1972
I was born in Kaustinen

1979
I start to play violin with Juha Kangas as my first teacher. Besides classical music I study folk music right from the beginning.

1981
I continue violin studies with Mauno J?rvel? as my teacher.

1985
Several bands: Troka, Folkkarit, Ottoset.

1993
Troka wins first award in competition for Finnish folk bands.

In the same year Trokas? debut album rises to seventh place in European folk music chart.

1995
Folkkarit is nominated as the band of the year in the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival.

1997
I compose the first Finnish ?folk musical? Henrik which is also filmed to Finnish television in Kaustinen Folk Music Festival.

1998
Troka conquests the USA! Magnificent reception in ?Prairie Home Companion? radio show in Minneapolis. Troka performs also at the world famous Knitting Factory in New York.

1999
9 pohjoista tarinaa (9 northern tales,) composed for ethno-progressive-ensemble and chamber orchestra, is born. In October first public performance for Syr?nmaa in Finlandia, which is performed by JPP, Tallari and Ottoset. Work is directed by Vesa-Tapio Valo.

2001
Troka gives the first public performance for my work Polarisaatio (Polarisation) in Helsinki. The tremendous visual look of the piece is created by Samuli Woolston.

2002
With Samuli Nordberg we make the order- piece Maalta (from the countryside) for Kaustinen Folk music Festival.

2003
I receive a grant for composing material for my first solo album.

2004
The whole year I?m composing and arranging material for my solo album.

2005
My debut solo album Rautavaara is released. And I receive a states? 1-year grant for artists. Teosto-award nominee for a creative composed art.

2006
Concerts in Finland like Kaustinen, Haapavesi and Taiga in Helsinki. Promotional tour in Womex, Seville.

Official Web Site: www.seitamusic.com/villeojanen

Discography:
 

Troka: Troka (OMCD 54 1993)

Folkkarit: Hannunmaalta koilliseen (SEITACD 001 1997)

Troka: Smash (KICD 631999)

Ville Ojanen: Rautavaara (SEITACD 0092005)

Troka: Raharinki (TROKACD 001 2006)
Booking:
 

Mr. Sami Jylh?
E-mail: sami@seitamusic.com
Tel. +358 50 352 6792
Skype: sami-jylha
www.seitamusic.com/villeojanen
Similar Music:
 
Fiddle, Viola, Vocals, Saxophone