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@Ilona - you might find this interesting! 😊
"The Sustaining Scandinavian Folk Arts in the Upper Midwest project at the University of Wisconsin–Madison", along with "The Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study" and "The Center for the Study of Upper Midwestern Cultures", hosted an online conference in 2021 (USA).
...the series featured a live concert and presentation by Sara Pajunen. An amazing musician, composer, visual artist, Pajunen performed a variety of Nordic and Nordic American fiddle tunes, especially Finnish tunes. She spoke of her background, the importance of place to her music, and discussed her own experiences with Finnish American folk music.
Songs performed by Sara Pajunen include (some are VERY old folk tunes):
Vanha häämarssi (old Wedding march) & a Finnish march at 4:45
Tallarin polska at 12:50
Lilla Kulturbidragsvalsen/Aamuyön valssi/Vidar’s vals at 21:50
Finnforest polskas at 34:35
Kruunu-Marjaanan polska/I denna ljuva at 39:10
Metsäkukkia at 47:30
Otto Andersson polska/Björkö polska at 57:40
From Minnesota, Sara plays a Hardanger d’amore & uses a Baroque style/type bow. She says: that in Norwegian competitions, people are given 15 minutes before EACH piece - just to tune the Hardanger fiddle! 😳
...💖 LOVE "Lilla Kulturbidragsvalsen/Aamuyön valssi/Vidar’s vals" and "Metsäkukkia"!
- Emily
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2021 FinnFest USA Music Series!
In 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, FinnFest went virtual. The year-long event included a lecture series featuring discussions about Finnish language, history, folklore, and culture; and a music series featuring discussions with musicians and scholars, as well as live performances.
Songs of the Finnish Migration with Laulu Aika!
The discussion and performance was based on Simo Westerholm's groundbreaking collection "Reisaavaisen laulu Amerikkaan: Siirtolaislauluja," published in Finnish in 1983. Thomas A. Dubois and Marcus Cederström, along with Hilary-Joy Virtanen, translated, edited, and wrote singable translations to Westerholm's collection, which can be found in "Songs of the Finnish Migration: A Bilingual Anthology."
Songs performed by Laulu Aika include:
Amerikan leski beginning at 15:09
Lumber-Jäkki at 26:52
Kauhea tapaturma kaivannossa at 43:22
D-mollisottiisi at 49:57
Löylyä lissää at 52:25
Ruiskukkia at 58:29
I REALLY LOVE SOME OF THESE TUNES!
More from FinnFest USA 2021: Finnish-American Dance Music Through the Ages.
Presented by Folklorist & Fiddler, Carl Rahkonen:
Whenever Finnish immigrants got together to have a good time, they almost always had dance music as part of the celebration. They held dances year-round not only during American and international holidays, but also Finnish ones, such as Vappu (May Day) and Juhannus (St. Johns or Midsummer). In some Finnish communities, dances happened every week. This presentation will tell how Finnish American dance music was created and evolved, the connections with dance music in Finland, and also how it was preserved. It is the story of several generations of musicians who defined Finnish American identity with their music.
Great Finnish Culture in our Upper Midwest!
- Emily
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"Lännen Lokari" (The Western Logger), Hiski Salomaa added his lyrics to this traditional tune after he migrated to the US. Lyrics in the video description.
LOVE this tune, played by the Laulu Aika ensemble in Minnisota!
vs. Hiskin Pimpulat's version, in Finland!
Totally different take on it by Mika Sundqvist. (thinking Spaghetti Western) 😏
Lännen lokari - Mika Sundqvist
Mika worked on music for Finnish Film, too.
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@Ilona -
What do you know of the Kalevala Holiday and the poetry singing battles... any Fiddle accompaniment, or always Kantele?
Is it a big Holiday?
Found this quick little video (there are more in depth ones on YouTube) :
Väinämöinen from Kalevala for viola and piano (Viola Friends 1B Viola Book).
Anyone a big J.R.R. Tolkien Fan?
I didn't connect until now, that he was heavily influenced by the Kalevala!
An epic poem consisting of thousands of verses, Scott Sandwich does a hilarious deconstructed "Kalevala" in 8 minutes & 45 seconds.
The Kalevala (According to Scott Sandwich)
...I'm not finnished. (lol)
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Mind-bending rhythm!
More Finnskogspols sheet music can be found here: Finnskogspols - Blue Rose Scandinavian Folk Music
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" ..its a cool rhythm but its not what we want" lol.. @elcbk Finnskogspols does seem like it would be a beast to get correct. Her channel is a jewel. so much detail, history , and tips about this style.
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@ABitRusty -
I can't talk about it... my brain is still misfiring from trying to follow - it's as bad as charanga rhythms, to me! 😳
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ELCBK said
@ELCBK , I didn’t have time to watch all these videos right now, but wanted to say this one is a real gem!! I love it! I have never heard the three first of these pieces, but I think they are real American-Finnish songs, so of course I haven’t heard them. But the others are very familiar, ”Löylyä lissää” is my favourite, so fun when you go faster and faster. 🤣
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@Ilona -
I LOVE these tunes - except the Finnskogspols rhythm is driving me crazy!
When will things settle down for you?
Love having you visit here!!!
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Have my eye on a new (to me) Finnish trio!
You can read about "I Fäälan" in the CD booklet, shared HERE to read (also in English)! I had a hard time picking which tunes to share from this album - I like them all! I Fäälan THRE - 21 video playlist
I was really surprised to find more than one 'minuet'!
*edit - moved Polskas to Nordic Polskor Thread
"Kung Karls Marsch" - another great tune!
I was really surprised by the WHOLE album - very 'fresh/clean' sound! 🤗
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Back in January I posted these 2 beautiful waltzes in my blog (Emily's Journey Down The E/V Road!). They may only be considered 'American/Finnish', but thought other folks interested in Nordic music may fall in love with them like I have!
[I had] Watched a WONDERFUL documentary on Amazon Prime this evening - "Yooper Creoles: Finnish Music in Michigan's Copper Country". Cost me a $3 & was only an hour long, but BEATUIFUL photography & some music, by different musicians/ethnicities I haven't heard before! 🤗 Cool that "everybody played everybody's music"! Heard a really nice bluesy version of "Emma's Waltz"!
One fiddler shown was Helmer Töyräs - playing his "Helmer's Waltz"!
Also from the documentary, this really lovely waltz - "Rantakoivun Alla" (Under The Shore Birch)!
I had played thru "Rantakoivun Alla" at that time, but realized there was much I could explore... even if only moving parts to lower octaves & other positions.
...I got side-tracked. 🥴
Since I always make sure I have a couple waltzes to work on for something very relaxing, I did play thru it again tonight & tried a few things - will make this one a priority.
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