Carl-Johan Häggman


Carl-Johan Häggman is a Finnish composer, musician and multi-artist. He has also been working as a journalist for example at YLE. He has often worked together with his artist wife, the choreographer and director Marja Merisalo in different productions.
Häggman is specialized in various ethnic percussion and film music compositions. After studying philosophy at Helsinki University he made music trips to Turkey, the Caribbean, South America and Greenland, which resulted in music studies and program series in the Finnish radio. Häggman has been collaborating with numerous dancers, actors and directors in many theaters and institutes in Finland as well as internationally.
His music has been heard in many theater plays as well as dance productions and films. One of the later works include music for two documentary films by film director Lasse Naukkarinen, one about the unique original Karelian village Paanajärvi and the other about the state of Kerala in South India. Häggman has also acted in Finnish TV and feature films as well as touring around Finland with theater plays for both adults and children. He has been working at the YLE making ethnomusical documentaries and other programs for the radio. He also plays in different world music, jazz and other orchestras as a musician. He has also taken part in many international projects, one of them being the TEV-theater that has toured all around the world..

Some film projects and music recordings

  • DVD: The Rasmus: Live 2012 / vol 2 2013
  • CD: SPC Steelband: Sensitive Saguaro 2011
  • Documentary film: South-Indian Thali Etelä-Intian Thali, director Lasse Naukkarinen 2007
  • Documentary film: Anni from Paanajärvi, Paanajärven Anni, director Lasse Naukkarinen 2006
  • CD: Don Johnson Big Band: Private Intentions 2006
  • Fiction movie: Pelicanman , director Liisa Helminen 2004
  • Fiction movie: Umur, director: Kai Lehtinen 2004
  • CD: Alhaji Dan with Nakhit Silmillah 2002
  • CD: Vem ska trösta Knyttet 1999
  • CD: Kuka lohduttaisi Nyytiä 2000
  • Fiction movie: Hermit Crab, Erakkorapu, director Kai Lehtinen 1999
  • CD: Porvookantaatti, City of Porvoo 650-years anniversary cantata, Finland 1996
  • C-cassette release only: Toni Edelmann: Lauluja Putikosta ja Punkaharjulta 1993
  • Fiction movie: Sateen Jälkeen, director Kiti Luostarinen 1992
  • Fiction movie: Kuulin äänen, director Kiti Luostarinen ja Toni Edelmann 1990
  • LP: Ahmatova, music from the TV-feature Kuulin äänen 1989