Kari Rydman, professor h.c., has written orchestra and chamber music, a large number of choral compositions and arrangements, song cycles, and as a singer he has recorded his own songs between the genres Lied and chanson. In addition to being a composer, he has taught, written books and press columns and made a wide range of radio programmes on the history of culture. Since 1977 he lives in Sääksmäki (Valkeakoski).