Ville Aslak
Raasakka
Ville Aslak Raasakka is a Finnish composer specialized in ecology. His works are based on bioacoustic recordings, environmental research and data from macroalgae, coal mines, soil insects, oil rigs, tree roots, power plants and marine microbes. Raasakka studied with Veli-Matti Puumala at the Sibelius Academy (Helsinki) and privately with Georges Aperghis (Paris).
In 2025-2026 Raasakka works on commissions for the Mivos Quartet (NYC) + Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival (UK), Lorelei Dowling (Klangforum Wien), Design Museum London (UK), Avanti! (FI) + Sirja Nironen (FI) + Tampere Biennale (FI), Helsinki Design Week (FI), and the Rainy days Festival (Philharmonie Luxembourg) + Yarn/Wire (NYC) + Speak Percussion (Melbourne) + Riot Ensemble (UK).
"The world premiere by Ville Raasakka picks up to denounce the lack of forest protection in Finland. 'The Harvest' lets a chainsaw massacre roar."
– Christoph Irrgeher, Wiener Zeitung
"An independent and convincing voice"
– Michael Rebhahn, Neue Zeitschirft für Musik
Engagements in 2024-2026
BBC Symphony Orchestra // London, United Kingdom
Rainy days Festival // Philharmonie Luxembourg
Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival // United Kingdom
ISCM World New Music Days // Lisbon, Portugal
Mivos Quartet // New York City, United States
Lorelei Dowling, bassoon, Klangforum Wien // Vienna, Austria
Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity // Banff, Canada
Yarn/Wire // New York City, United States
London Design Museum // London, United Kingdom
Kaisa Kortelainen, flute // Helsinki, Finland
Annette Bik, violin, Klangforum Wien // Vienna, Austria
Riot Ensemble // United Kingdom
Turku Philharmonic Orchestra // Turku, Finland
Speak Percussion // Melbourne, Australia
Chamber Orchestra Avanti! // Helsinki, Finland
Upcoming Works
The Trees are Talking (2025) 25'
for String Quartet and Electronics
Commissioned by the Mivos Quartet (NYC) and the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival (UK)
The Kelp Council (2025)
Seaweed Sculptures with Underwater Sound Design
Co-composed with designer Julia Lohmann
Commissioned for the ’More Than Human’ exhibition, Design Museum London (UK)
A Black Carbon Haze (2025) 10'
for Contraforte, Viola and Tenor Saxophone
Commissioned by Lorelei Dowling (Klangforum Wien), Vienna, Austria
New Work (2026) 20'
for 13 Percussionists
Commissioned by The Rainy days Festival (Philharmonie Luxembourg), for the Yarn/Wire (NYC), the Speak Percussion (Melbourne), and the Riot Ensemble (UK)
Sound Woven on a Spider's Web (2026-27) 30'
Series of Etudes for Violin
Commissioned by Annette Bik (Klangforum Wien), Vienna, Austria
Ballast (2026) 15'
Concerto for Cello, Electronics and Chamber Orchestra
Commissioned by Sirja Nironen, Tampere Biennale and the Avanti! Chamber Orchestra (FI)
Complete Works for Flute (2026)
Album of All Chamber Works for Flute
Kaisa Kortelainen (FI), flute, Tuija Hakkila (FI), piano and Petri Kumela (FI), guitar
