Paavo Heininen
Illustration — Heininen in 1982 Paavo Johannes Heininen (13 January 1938 – 18 January 2022) was a Finnish composer and pianist.
Paavo Heininen

Kuvasiskot · https: index=0 size=original format=tif Image record page in Finna: museovirasto.FD84F80C4E13C15573103FA1407933D6 · CC BY 4.0
- Full name
- Paavo Johannes Heininen.
- Born
- 1938. · Helsinki.
- Died
- 2022. · Järvenpää.
- Nationality
- Finland.
- Occupation
- composer, university teacher, pianist, pedagogue and composition teacher.
- Fields
- music.
- Education
- University of Helsinki, Sibelius Academy and Juilliard School.
- Teachers
- Aarre Merikanto, Joonas Kokkonen, Einojuhani Rautavaara and Einar Englund.
- Honours
- Pro Finlandia Medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland and Knight First Class of the Order of the White Rose of Finland.
- Languages
- Finnish.
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Illustration — Heininen in 1982 Paavo Johannes Heininen (13 January 1938 – 18 January 2022) was a Finnish composer and pianist.
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museum · 09f41e75-99ff-4a7e-b041-73f62466600c · wikidata · Q774336 · wikipedia · Paavo Heininen
In this article
Biography
Biography
Paavo Heininen studied at University of Helsinki, Sibelius Academy and Juilliard School. Training under Aarre Merikanto, Joonas Kokkonen and Einojuhani Rautavaara is recorded. Kaija Saariaho, Harri Vuori and Seppo Pohjola are recorded as having studied under Paavo Heininen. The recorded working language is Finnish. The field of work recorded is music. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are opera, contemporary classical, classical and electronic. Places of work recorded in the authority are Helsinki. Employment is recorded with Sibelius Academy. Positions recorded include professor. Distinctions recorded are Pro Finlandia Medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland and Knight First Class of the Order of the White Rose of Finland.
He was born in Helsinki, where he studied at the Sibelius Academy and was taught composition by Aarre Merikanto, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Einar Englund, and Joonas Kokkonen. He continued his studies in Cologne with Bernd Alois Zimmermann; at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City with Vincent Persichetti and Eduard Steuermann; and privately in Poland with Witold Lutosławski. He also studied musicology at the University of Helsinki. Heininen was one of the most important Finnish modernist composers. His works can be roughly divided into two periods: dodecaphonic (c. 1957–1975) and serialist (from 1976 onwards). Due to the hostile reactions to his early works, particularly the First Symphony, his works up to the 1980s can be roughly divided in two groups: more personal and complex pieces and more approachable, audience-friendly pieces such as the Second Symphony, "Petite symphonie joyeuse". As professor of composition at the Sibelius Academy, Heininen has been highly influential in educating the next generation of Finnish composers and his pupils have included Magnus Lindberg, Kaija Saariaho, Jukka Tiensuu, Jouni Kaipainen and Veli-Matti Puumala. In addition to composing original works, Heininen has reconstructed several pieces that his composition teacher Aarre Merikanto mutilated or destroyed, including the latter's Symphonic Study (1928) and String Sextet (1932) and written the violin concerto Tuuminki (A Notion) as a "re-imagining" of Merikanto's completely destroyed third violin concerto. Alongside composition, Heininen has been active as a pianist, premiering and recording several of his own works. He is also known as an essayist and has written a large number of composer portraits. Heininen died on 18 January 2022 in Järvenpää, at the age of 84.
Symphonies
Symphonies
• Symphony no. 1 op. 3 (1958/60) • Symphony no. 2 Petite symphonie joyeuse op. 9 (1962) • Symphony no. 3 op. 20 (1969/77) • Symphony no. 4 op. 27 (1971) • Symphony no. 5 op. 80 (2001–02) • Symphony no. 6 op. 132 (2015) • Symphony no. 7 op. 144 (2020) • Symphony no. 8 op. 145 (2021)
Concertos
Concertos
• Piano concerto no. 1 op. 13 (1964) • Piano concerto no. 2 op. 15 (1966) • Deux chansons for cello and orchestra (or piano) op. 31 (1976) • Piano concerto no. 3 op. 46 (1981) • Saxophone concerto op. 50 (1983) • Cello concerto op. 53 (1985) • Tuuminki (A Notion) ("...of what might have been Aarre Merikanto's 3rd Violin Concerto") (1993) • Violin concerto op. 75 (1999) • Piano concerto no. 4 op. 81 (2001/05) • Flute concerto Autrefois (2008/10) • Organ concerto Aiolos op. 131 (2012)
Other orchestral works
Other orchestral works
• Tripartita op. 5 (1959) • Concerto for string orchestra op. 6 (1959/63) • Soggetto op. 10 (1963) • Adagio op. 12 (1963/66) • Arioso for strings op. 16 (1967) • Dia op. 36 (1979) • Tritopos op. 38 (1977) • Attitude op. 44 (1980) •...tyttöjen kävely ruusulehdossa... for strings op. 47 (1982) • Dicta kamariyhtyeelle (chamber ensemble) op. 49 (1983) • KauToKei for strings op. 52 (1985) • The Well-balanced Dancer op. 66a–k (1994–2000)
Operas
Operas
• Silkkirumpu (The Damask Drum) op. 45 libretto by the composer and Eeva-Liisa Manner (Finnish) and Andrew Bentley (English) • Veitsi (The Knife) op. 55, libretto by the composer and Veijo Meri (1989)
Chamber music
Chamber music
• String quartet no. 1 Kwartet smyczkowy op. 32c (1974) • String quartet no. 2 Anadyr.mpl op. 64 (1992/94) • String quartet no. 3 Austin Flint's String Quartet op. 101 (2006) • Quintet for flute, saxophone, piano, vibraphone and percussion op. 7 (1961) • Musique d'été for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, cembalo, vibraphone and percussion op. 11 (1963/67) • Sonata for violin and piano op. 25 (1970) • Jeu I flute and piano op. 42 (1980) • Jeu II for violin and piano op. 43 (1980) • Short I for clarinet and cello (or solo clarinet) op. 58 (1990) • Utazawa no e (Short II) for flute and guitar op. 61 (1991) • Anadyr.img for saxophone quartet op. 63 (1993) • String quintet op. 78 (2000) • Täällä for piano and flute op. 86 (2003) • Quincunx for piano and flute op. 88 (2002–03) • Piano trio op. 91 (2002/03) • Viherre for flute, clarinet, cello and accordion op. 96 (2005) • Sonata for oboe and piano op. 106 (2008–09) • Sonata for saxophone and piano op. 108 (2008) • Sonaatti for two pianos op. 109 (2008–10) • Sonata for clarinet and piano op. 111 (2008/10) • Sykerre for wind quintet op. 113 (2010) • Vaskikaari for brass quintet op. 115 (2010) • Boston Sonatas op. 134 (2014)
Piano
Piano
• Toccata op. 1 (1956) • Sonatina 1957 op. 2 (1957) • Libretto della primavera op. 28 (1971) • Poesia squillante ed incandescente op. 32a (1974) • Préludes-Études-Poèmes op. 32b (1974) • Poésies-périphrases op. 32d (1975) • Cinq moments de jour op. 51 (1984) • Lamentation and Praise op. 68 (1995) • Mazurki op. 79 (2001)
Organ
Organ
• Oculus aquilae op. 18 (1968) • Touché op. 57 (1989) • KotiKouluKirkko I–II op. 83 (2001–02)
Other
Other
• Discantus I for alto flute op. 14 (1965) • Discantus II for clarinet op. 21 (1969) • Discantus III for saxophone op. 33 (1976) • Cantilena II for cello op. 26 (1970) • Cantilena III for violin op. 34 (1976) • Touching for guitar op. 40 (1978) • Beateth for percussion op. 48 (1982)
Vocal
Vocal
• Cantico delle creature for baritone and orchestra or piano or organ op. 17 (1968) • The Autumns for mixed choir op. 22 (1970) • Schatten der Erde for mezzo-soprano and piano op. 30 (1973) • Reality for solo soprano and ten instruments op. 41 (1978) • Four Lullabies for male choir op. 56a (1986) • Poetiikka for male choir op. 56b (1986–90) • Tarinankulmia for mixed choir op. 67 (1994) • Hyräilyjä for voice and piano op. 69 (1998) • Suomalainen laulukirja (Finnish Songbook) for four voices and piano op. 82 (2006) • Eläinten Te Deum (Animal Te Deum) for soloists, choir and orchestra
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
2022
Paavo Heininen died at Järvenpää.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Helsinki.
Birth place
Järvenpää.
Death place
Recognition and collections
Where the work is held
Recognition and collections
Paavo Heininen received Pro Finlandia Medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland and Knight First Class of the Order of the White Rose of Finland.
Documents and archives
Primary material
Documents and archives
scholarly publication
- <i>Love,s Philosophy</i> op. 19 (1968-73) Paavo Heininen (born 1938), New Vocal Repertory, 1994
Scholarly · Crossref registry · 1994
- Heininen, Paavo (opera), Oxford Music Online, 2002
Scholarly · Crossref registry · 2002
- Heininen, Paavo, Oxford Music Online, 2001
Scholarly · Crossref registry · 2001
- Paavo Heininen (b.1938) Challenging Tradition, After Sibelius: Studies in Finnish Music, 2017
Scholarly · Crossref registry · 2017
- Paavo Heininen, The Musical Times, 1978
Scholarly · Crossref registry · 1978
reference work
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q774336: Paavo Heininen
Reputable secondary · Wikidata
- “Paavo Heininen”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Institutional database
- MusicBrainz artist record for Paavo Heininen
Scholarly · MetaBrainz Foundation
Literature
Literature
Literature
Heininen, Paavo, Oxford Music Online, 2001
Heininen, Paavo (opera), Oxford Music Online, 2002
Paavo Heininen, The Musical Times, 1978
19 (1968-73) Paavo Heininen (born 1938), New Vocal Repertory, 1994
Vocal characterisation of the dramatis personae in Paavo Heininen’s Silkkirumpu op
Scholarly footprint
Literature
Scholarly footprint
A count of publications is evidence of attention, not of standing, and is given here only as a measure.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
scholarly publication
<i>Love,s Philosophy</i> op. 19 (1968-73) Paavo Heininen (born 1938), New Vocal Repertory, 1994Crossref registry
Institutional witnessscholarly publication
Heininen, Paavo (opera), Oxford Music Online, 2002Crossref registry
Institutional witnessscholarly publication
Heininen, Paavo, Oxford Music Online, 2001Crossref registry
Institutional witnessInstitutional database
MusicBrainz artist record for Paavo HeininenMetaBrainz Foundation
Institutional witnessscholarly publication
Paavo Heininen (b.1938) Challenging Tradition, After Sibelius: Studies in Finnish Music, 2017Crossref registry
Institutional witnessscholarly publication
Paavo Heininen, The Musical Times, 1978Crossref registry
Institutional witnessreference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
Paavo Heininen studied at University of Helsinki, Sibelius Academy and Juilliard School. He trained under Aarre Merikanto, Joonas Kokkonen, Einojuhani Rautavaara and Einar Englund. Each of those relationships is stated by the authority record rather than inferred from style.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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