User stories of Erkki Kurenniemi’s electronic musical instruments, 1961–1978

Short abstract:

In this session I will review the key findings of my recently completed dissertation on the history of electronic music and electronic musical instrument design in Finland in the 1960s and 1970s. The subjects of the study are the unique electronic instruments designed by Erkki Kurenniemi (1941–2017), a Finnish pioneer of electronic music, and the works produced with these instruments. From a historical perspective, my study challenges and refines the previous descriptions of the situation of electronic music in Finland in the 1960s and 1970s. From the perspective of technology studies, the work shows how technological artifacts evolve in a complex interaction between the original designer, users, and the artifact itself, rather than as inventions by a lonely designer, in a laboratory isolated from the rest of the world. The research is based on historically significant cultural heritage sources, which consist of musical works (approx. 100 works), historical media and archival material, photographs, musical instruments and oral history.

Short bio:

Mikko Ojanen, PhD, studies music technology – especially the history of electroacoustic music in Finland in the 1960s and 1970s at the University of Helsinki. He works as a part-time lecturer at the university’s Electronic Music Studio and as an information specialist in the Helsinki University Library Data Support. Ojanen also performs frequently as a musician, sound technician and music producer in several electronic, experimental and popular music projects and groups.

The seminar will be given online via Zoom. Contact the organizer  to ask for the link.