ABSTRACT
Kaija Saariaho's formative experiences are the result of a collision of influences, rather than occurring at successive stages of development. Nevertheless, being the first woman composer from Finland to attain eminence is of interest to any cultural perspective, and deliberations about defining a national voice gain a new dimension from her French connection. As a pupil of Paavo Heininen in Helsinki in the late 1970s, Saariaho was part of a generation of composers, like Magnus Lindberg, who formed the vanguard of musical modernism. Visual and literary images are compellingly combined and they remain a consistent feature in Saariaho's music. A combination of spiritual, human and technical elements typify many of Saariaho's constant preoccupations; moreover, the flute is something of a symbol – almost an icon – of French musical culture. Saariaho displays with consummate skill a sufficient degree of cross-referencing to give shape and coherence, without ever compromising the freedom and flight that defines the atmosphere of the piece.
