Harri Viitanen in memoriam

Harri Viitanen died on 19. May at the age of 70. For many years organist of Helsinki Cathedral, he was also an active composer and taught at the Sibelius Academy. His music, rich in ideas, was inspired in particular by astronomy and birds, and over the years, he composed a wide range of music primarily for the organ but also for ensembles. Among his best-known works are the Organ Concerto Firmamentum, and Images d’oiseau for organ based on the analysis of birdcalls. Viitanen’s warm, bright nature will long be remembered. His music lives on: Sound of the Senate Square can be heard every day at 17:49 at the Helsinki Senate Square. A lifelike audio work, it combines the frequencies of the church bells, the sound of a grand piano and organ, and the tinkling of a glass bird.