Maria Puusaari: contemporary chamber Music can be led in many innovative ways
Puusaari’s doctoral research explores innovative leading techniques in contemporary music and enhancing performance practices.
Throughout her career, violinist, researcher Maria Puusaari has led numerous contemporary music works and ensembles. She found leading in contemporary music more challenging than in classical chamber music.
“I wanted to investigate the factors affecting leading and improve my own skills. I wanted to explore the versatile challenges of contemporary violin repertoire and develop its performance-practice. My goal was to remove the imaginary boundaries of “new music” closer to today”.
New approaches to leading through practise
The doctoral study provides a practice-based approach to leading, identifying factors such as notational, instrument-specific, sensorimotor, socio-cultural, temporal, and acoustical elements. Her research categorizes different leading types and conceptualizes varied techniques and ensemble roles.
Puusaari’s degree included five artistic components – concerts. They featured solo violin works and chamber music from the post-World War II era to the present day.
In the concerts and her study Puusaari approached leading in three different contexts: leading in a chamber ensemble context, leading in a solo performance, and leading a solo violin performance in a multimedia context, the latter including electronics, live-electronics, video, and other types of media.
“I performed several chamber music works that required constant leading and provided an excellent platform to reflect on varied leading practices. Through solo violin works I explored the ways in which a leader’s attitude and temporal and expressive ensemble leading techniques and practices could be applied in a solo performance to emphasize temporal structures, phrasing, dynamics, articulation and overall interpretation.”, she explains.
New repertoire to the stage
Puusaari commissioned new works by composers Jukka Koskinen, Jouni Hirvelä, Maija Hynninen, Jarkko Hartikainen ja Veli Kujala, expanding the violin repertoire with electronics, video, lights, and performative elements. Puusaari explored leading as a mode of interaction and communication in contemporary music performance-practice on the violin.
“I found that leading is an essential musical and bodily skill, involving directing, conducting, cueing, and synchronizing ensemble performances. Improved leading practices enhance physical performance skills, interaction, and communication between performers and audiences”, Puusaari explains.
Maria Puusaari’s doctoral degree “Leading” as a mode of interaction and communication in contemporary music performance-practice on the violin” will be examined at the Sibelius Academy, Uniarts Helsinki on 24 March 2025.
More information
Maria Puusaari
maria.puusaari@uniarts.fi