Mostly finnish music

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: Lena
Date: 15 Jan 01 - 10:17 PM

Andy,Andy,you there?!Cause,given that this thread is back on the forum,I might tell you a fresh new story.Just in case you ever miss Oz or your friends from Katyusha. So.Last saturday Nigel(McLaughsomething I can't spell)came over to visit from Canberra.I wanted him to check out the session they have on sat nights in Newtown,so i brought him over and there we started talking to a musician sitting next to us.As Nigel was going on about finnish music,the musician asked him to play some of it(ehm...what about that story of the five-per-cent?!)on the whistle.The conversation went on and the musician finally asked Nigel:so,are you Finnish?!(red hair and freckles,definitely a finnish look).And Nigle,out of the blue,firmly answered:yes!.
Ok,I thought,he's probably having fun making up stories,but then the conversation switched to australian music and the supposed-finnish claimed solid roots in bush music,sort of:"Oh,yes,I had to grow up with it,my first band was called the possums something"(can't remember.)
We went home and I told him plainly:look,next time you tell stories,at least stick to them!Isn't it a little bit broadminded of a finnish guy to be interested in bush music?!And what about your accent?!And where do you come from?!
As a matter of fact,Nigel had no recollection of being asked if he was Finnish.Indeed,he thought he was answering 'yes' to a completely different question.So great,now what were we supposed to do with that fellow who still believed him to be finnish?!We started a story. The story is,that these two finnish parents died on a plane crash (heading to Australia)and Nigel survived(great,Nigel.How comes you survived?!)and after that was brought up from an aussie-aussie family,fed with bush music and irish reels,and because of the trauma he forgot the language.And of course playing finnish stuff with Katyusha is part of his terapy to recover his finnish heritage.
Andy,have you got some suggestions for a better story?!I would have poster this as a private message but you keep on guesting!!!Hope it made you laugh,especially if you can think about the character involved.All the best,anyway.Lena

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 15 Jan 01 - 04:17 PM

Nope, Deckman. But we sort of moved the thread over to Scandinavian Music. This one was too long. So, like, everyone post THERE. ;)

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: Deckman
Date: 15 Jan 01 - 04:13 PM

Does anyone out there know the song "Joukse Sina Humma"?

It's a song from my youth. I only remember the first verse and chorus. I'd love to get the rest of the verses Kittos. Bob Nelson, Everettessa, Wa. USA

cho: Hummani Hei, Hummani Hei, Hupututu, Hummani Hei.

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 15 Jan 01 - 03:24 PM

Hmm, might be a good thing to direct you here, where Peg started a continuation of this thread. And then no-one will check this thread for another month, I suppose. ;)

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 15 Jan 01 - 11:05 AM

Well, I went to the Frifot show on Friday, and they were great, of course. Good seats and all that, too. While there, I bought a ticket to next month's Gjallarhorn show. I hear (on this thread and elsewhere) that they're also good. Anyone else heard them?

And Jed, that does sound like a great show. :)

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: JedMarum
Date: 20 Dec 00 - 08:20 AM

Lepus Rex - I missed your question re: Risto Jarvenpaa. Risto did a children show. He played Finnish folk music. The kids really responded - sining and dancing along with him. The piper played penny whistle and Uilleann Pipes. It was a great show.

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: Margaret V
Date: 20 Dec 00 - 07:55 AM

That IS a bummer. Maybe I'll have to go visit my friends in Philadelphia that weekend.... thanks for the heads-up, Lepus. Margaret

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 20 Dec 00 - 06:57 AM

Just though I'd mention that Frifot will be touring the US in January, starting in Philadelphia on the 6th. More info at NorthSide. Ah, but if Margaret reads this, just noticed this bummer: the NY show isn't open to the public. Bah.

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 12 Nov 00 - 05:18 AM

Eww, Swedish music with palm trees? They should have done a church, like they did up here. I hope they come back soon... Ah, and glad you made it back ok, Margaret. :)

By the way, Frifot is touring in the USA next spring...

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: Margaret V
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 11:34 PM

Well, I dragged my jet-lagged self down to NYC to hear Garmarna on Wednesday night. I'd have to say I'd rather have seen them at the Decorah Elks. They were good, but the venue (the Winter Garden, basically at the foot of the World Trade Center) wasn't at all good for them. It's a cavernous atrium complete with palm trees, and there are shops and restaurants along the sides, so people are coming and going constantly and there's a lot of background noise to contend with, as well as the echo... they seemed to be struggling at times to hear one another. It was better when they were doing the noisy, way-cool stuff and rocking out than when they were trying to play the more sparse stuff. Emma Hardelin certainly sang beautifully; the weird acoustics meant that the upper range of her voice came through better than the lower. So, it was fun to see them in action and the material was beautiful, but I hope I have another chance to see them. Also, they only played for an hour; considering my journey was two hours in each direction, that seemed a bit scant, but hey, it was free.... Margaret

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 06 Nov 00 - 05:17 PM

No, I seriously meant that they were lucky. I wish I could have went... :)

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: GUEST,Margaret V in |Dublin
Date: 06 Nov 00 - 12:09 PM

Hey, Lepus, I had to give a lecture at the Norwegian American museum in Decorah once, and I LIKED the town. Still, the Elks Club, I see what you're getting at... Margaret

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 05 Nov 00 - 01:13 PM

Jed, what's Risto Jarvenpaa (Järvenpää?) like? And what kind of piper's he got???

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 05 Nov 00 - 01:08 PM

Cool, Margaret. Hope you can make it to that concert. And they'll probably play some regular Garmarna stuff for an encore, if you all clap and stomp loud enough. They came back out for us and announced that they had just played all their H von B material and had nothing left, so they played 'Vittrad,' which was great. :)

The guys I was sitting next to were also going down the the Decorah show, lucky bastards... At the Elk's Lodge, heh.

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: JedMarum
Date: 04 Nov 00 - 04:39 PM

We just did a show today with Risto Jarvenpaa. Eammon (himself) played bodrhan and I ran sound. Risto had his piper Marcus with him, and the three of them did a great show at little church hall for about 150 people. I didn't understand much, but the music was great! Risto did mainly a kids show and had excellent enhthusiasm and participation.

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Nov 00 - 02:56 PM

Hey, Lepus, I read it, even when I'm in Dublin, which I am (what a loser, you're thinking; she's in DUBLIN, what the hell is she doing in an internet cafe?! Well, you know, it's that funny two hours between dinner and when the music starts...) I'm still hoping I'll have the energy to see Garmarna in New York, even though it's the day after I get back from here. Thanks for the review, a good nudge to get me down to the city on the 8th. Bye! Margaret

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 04 Nov 00 - 12:20 AM

Just got back from my second Garmarna concert in two days. Both great shows, too. Last night's was at the Cedar Cultural Centre in Mpls. Tonight's was at St.Clement's Church in StPaul, and they did their Hildegard von Bingen stuff. Emma Härdelin sang beautifully, as always. Rickard Westman wasn't on this tour, and they had an English guy who's name I've already forgotten standing in for him. They're going to Chicago next, and then to Decorah, Seattle, NY, and Delaware. So if you're near any of those places, trust me and buy a ticket. Oh, who even reads this old thread besides the people who've always read it? Go to my last message and click on NorthSide, and check it out if you have no idea who Garmarna is or why I love them. :)

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 06:41 PM

Peg, I checked NorthSide and it looks like this tours over, unfortunately. Maybe email someone at NorthSide and see if they know when they'll be back---They're very helpful there.

Hmmm... Godforsaken Minnesota? Maybe that's why these heathens keep coming back? ;)

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: Peg
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 04:24 PM

so do you know if Hedningarna is on tour? any idea if they are playing anywhere in the Northeast?(as opposed to godforsaken Minnesota?) :) teasing, I am jealous you get so much great Scandinavian music there...

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 30 Sep 00 - 08:36 AM

Wimme was excellent, too. Had great seats again (two hours early again). The show seemed kind of short, though. Wimme's joiking was beautiful, and he told some interesting and funny stories about his family and childhood between songs. The music was great, too. The guy sitting next to me came all the way from Utah for the Wimme and Hedningarna shows, which was pretty damned cool. Again, pawn your kids! :)

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 29 Sep 00 - 05:03 PM

I'm getting ready to see Wimme Saari tonight. Saw Hedningarna last night, and they kicked ass. First time I've seen them with Magnus Stinnerbom (from Harv) and Liisa Matveinen in the band, and they were great. Anyone who hasn't seen Hedningarna live, make a pilgrimage to their next concert. Pawn your organs. Sell your children into indentured servitude. Rob a bank. Or maybe not. But it's a great show:)

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: The Half Fiddler
Date: 29 Sep 00 - 08:19 AM

I like Finnish music. I has been in Kaustinen last year, to play for the festival and my finnish friend show me many finnish band, but I don't remember the names. I have a particular interessa about north europe especially scandinavia. I have seen some islandic and scandinavian mudcatter. Do you like write some folk groups of your country ?

Ciao Vincenzo

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: CarolC
Date: 28 Sep 00 - 01:23 PM

Thanks Andy. The world of Finnish music is a beautiful one indeed!

Thanks again, jets.

Best Wishes,

Carol

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: jets
Date: 28 Sep 00 - 09:33 AM

Another recording of Finnish music that I would recomend is ," Saturday Night Sauna" by the Crumtown Ramblers from The finger lake region of New York. Richard Korski plays the 2 row with this band. The tape is available from the Button Box ,Amherst Mass.

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: GUEST,andy mööer
Date: 28 Sep 00 - 06:34 AM

thanks peg for the short spiel on Triakel,I'll have To get myself a listen. CarolC!,I'm a mandolin player so I'm not really licenced to give you accordian tips ,HOWEVER! I got a lot of my Finnish tunes from a cds by Ottopasuuna (they have 2 albums,the first has more trad stuff).Of all the finnish recordings I have ,Ottopasuunas stuff is the easiest to learn ,cos the arrangements are very uncluttered and the tunes are'nt too quick. well worth a listen if you can.Also their cds are easy to get,you could try the Arctic Paradise homepage If you have trouble elsewhere. And welcome to the beautiful world of finnish music!!!!! Andy.

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: CarolC
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 09:05 PM

Thanks, jets. Will do.

Carol

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: jets
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 09:57 AM

vumeinen Valssie or The Last waltz is one of the tunes that my band plays.It is in Am.Another in Am is Sillalailla Tallalilla or This way ,That way. These and other like songs are on the Koski tape. Email me @ [e-mail] for puchasing details. Another that we do that I am sure that you would like ,as we do, is The flowers of the forest in Em I am told that it is actualy a Swedish piece

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: CarolC
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 12:04 AM

Thanks jets.

Do you know how easy or difficult it is to obtain a copy of this recording?

Also, the pieces that I like the best so far, are Metsakukkia, and Viimeinen Valssi. Can you recommend any other pieces with a similar sound?

Carol

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: jets
Date: 26 Sep 00 - 07:39 PM

Carol: A great source for Finnish music played solo on a Honner c/g accordion is by Richard Koski. Richard sat down and recorded 52 old songs that he had learned from his father.He did so for he felt that these old songs were being forgoten and lost.

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: CarolC
Date: 26 Sep 00 - 02:24 PM

Thanks, Margaret.

Carol

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: Margaret V
Date: 26 Sep 00 - 12:15 PM

Carol, you might want to try a message to jets (see his posts above), as he plays accordion in a trad. Finnish band. Best, Margaret

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 10:12 PM

Peg, they'll be in NYC on Nov. 8th at the WFC Winter Garden. It says they'll be adding more dates at NorthSide. They'll be here, in Minneapolis, TWICE thistour. (Nyaaaah-nyaaaah!) :)

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: Peg
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 11:44 AM

Triakel is a more traditional band that Emma Hardelin also sings with (she of Garmarna); when are Garmarna playing NYC? We are hoping to get them back in Boston this fall!

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: CarolC
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 09:31 AM

Guest, Andy (can't do your last name, sorry),

I haven't heard much Finnish music performed by others, but I am learning how to play the accordion, and some of my favorite pieces that I'm learning to play are traditional Finnish waltzes.

Do you play traditional Finnish music yourself? If so, do you have any helpful advice for a beginner like myself?

Best regards,

Carol

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: GUEST,andy mööer
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 08:22 AM

who's Triakel?

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 22 Sep 00 - 03:32 AM

I'd rather hear the loud stuff, too. The last time they played their Hildegard stuff here, I got a little bored. But Garmarna's still one of my favourite bands, so I'll be there:)

I hope Triakel comes through town this year, too...

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: Margaret V
Date: 21 Sep 00 - 11:00 PM

That would be lucky, too, Lepus! Despite (or perhaps because of) the fact that I am an erstwhile medievalist, I'd much rather hear the loud stuff than the Hildegard stuff.... Anyway, nothing's REALLY free in NYC; by the time you get there, ride a subway, and drink some water you've spent fifty bucks! Margaret

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 21 Sep 00 - 02:20 PM

Free?! AND you get to go to Ireland. Lucky... :) I'm going to try and see Garmarna twice, once with their regular, loud show, and once with the Hildegard von Bingen stuff.

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: Margaret V
Date: 21 Sep 00 - 01:05 PM

Thanks for the link, rabbit. Looks like I could go see Garmarna for free in New York City, the day after I get back from Ireland. Enjoy the shows! Margaret

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 21 Sep 00 - 11:22 AM

Andy, at the Cedar Cultural Centre in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Sorry, Andy, not your neighborhood, eh? I just got my ticket confirmation this morning, so I'm happy:) They've got US tour dates at NorthSide.
Garmarna's coming up, too...
---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: GUEST,Andy mööööööööööööööer
Date: 21 Sep 00 - 08:55 AM

pwww ,Wimme AND Hedningarna!!!,I'm jelous. What a lucky duck you are!,where is it that they're playing?.

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 11 Sep 00 - 04:38 PM

Wow, this thread's back? Swell. Welcome 'back', andy. Holland, grr... Gelderland kicks either Hollands' ASS! ;)

Wimme and Hedningarna are playing here this month... Gotta get some tickets...

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: GUEST,andy mööer
Date: 11 Sep 00 - 07:11 AM

Umm looks like I have'nt said enough yet. Lena,no I wont be at the 2001 national the next time I go back to Australia might be late this year,to visit my parents and that does'nt really coincide with the nat a.

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: GUEST,andy mööer
Date: 11 Sep 00 - 07:06 AM

Well! now I'm back home again,From 3 weeks in Holland with my girlfriend,funny I come back to Austria and Its the first bit of sunshine and heat(I've had) for 21 days But the lowlands are'nt really famous for the sunshine. so hello again,and Hello Lena! yes I think I remember seeing Martin carthy that year,but sometimes the 5 nationals form one big conglomerate festival in my mind,(with a bit of Woodford,Cobargo and Majors creek thrown in).You know....I was wondering why 'Mr Malaska' was ringing enormous bells in my head,must've been too loud to extract any sence from it.What does that 'shop -Martin carthy,Linsay' (at the top of your message) thing mean?? .And do you live in Canberra? I did ,for 8 years the band I was in is now called 'Katushya',you might have wandered in their direction at the last national Probably only 5 percent of their stuff is Finnish(if that). In Amsterdam I bought a dubious-looking cd called 'the rough guide to Scandinavia,I dont usually go in for that sort of thing ,but it was one of those rare times where i had money to waste.Asit turned out it was'nt a waste there were some good things that I had'nt heard before like FRIFOT .and other swedish and Norweigan bands. I've said enough for today ,bis spater ,Andy.

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: Lena
Date: 12 Aug 00 - 05:33 AM

ANDY!!!!!ANDY MOER

At the National,this year...I was told they're the two players who came here years ago together with two dancers.

Lindsay wasn't there this year,alas...He's usually more likely to be found at Woodford.I know which National you went to...I wasn't there but was told about it.Martin Carthy was there as well,he?!

Are you going to perform here again next year?!Did you apply for 2001 National?!We REALLY need more finnish music down here....let me know please

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 12 Aug 00 - 04:14 AM

And, looking around on the Finnish section at Digelius, because I'm bored, I found: A band called 'Tango Kings;' compilations called 'Finnischer Tango' and 'Suuret Suomalaiset Tangot;' and more. And JPP, like I mentioned before... If you care, go look;)

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 12 Aug 00 - 04:07 AM

Ah, Shambles and Andy: JPP put out an album called 'I've Found a New Tango' a few years back, if you can find it. And they've got tangos here and there on their other albums, too.

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 12 Aug 00 - 02:41 AM

Sure, Margaret... Nordan Project has released two (that I know of) albums, 'Nordan' and 'Agram' on ECM. The cds are actually labelled 'Lena Willemark/Ale Möller', but they're only two of the members, so that seems kind of unfair...

They play mostly old Swedish ballads and folk songs, but in a less 'folky,' more jazzy way than Frifot. Their albums are probably at your local record shop, but they can be hard to find: I've seen them in the 'folk' section, sometimes in 'jazz', sometimes in 'international'... One time I saw them sitting in 'easy listening.'

But if you like Frifot, I'd really recommend them:)

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: Margaret V
Date: 12 Aug 00 - 01:20 AM

Well, if you say please he might. Can you tell us a little more about the Nordan Project? I like Frifot very much and would be interested in their other work. It may never be too late for bagpipes, but it IS too late for me to still be up playing on Mudcat... Goodnight, Margaret

Subject: RE: Mostly finnish music
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 12 Aug 00 - 01:05 AM

Hmmm, Margaret...That all depends: Do you think Per Gudmundson would fly in from Sweden for me tonight? And it's NEVER too late for bagpipes;)

---Lepus Rex