FINLAND 500 - Musica Nordica

FINLAND 500 is a feast of Finnish music stretching back at least 500 years: from ancient runolaulu and the C16th Piae Cantiones to Jean Sibelius to rip-roaring contemporary folk.

Finland has one of the richest musical heritages of all the Nordic countries: in the east, the 'Kalevala tradition', with its ancient tales and tunes, handed down orally over centuries; and in the west, the European fiddling tradition, introduced via Sweden, but which Finland has made very much its own. Sibelius drew huge inspiration from Kalevala, and this extraordinary 'folk epic' (compiled by Elias Lönnrot and first published in 1835) exerts its influence to this day. The oldest fiddle tunes date from the late C18th, and the tradition is still thriving, with groups like JPP and Frigg blending the old with the new.

Bedecked with blue and white, the ceiling twinkling like a starry arctic night, and with the scent of cinnamon buns and glögi in your nostrils, FINLAND 500 is rich with sonic enchantment and sensory delight.

INTRO: Nuorten miesten speli

PIAE CANTIONES: Personent Hodie / Gaudete / Good King Wenceslas

VANHOJA PELMANNISÄVELMIÄ: Orpolasten Polska / Varpusen Polska / Koko-maailman Polska

KALEVALA: Vanha valssi / Melkutus / Vaka vanha Väinämöinen

SIBELIUS: Vesipisaroita / Lullaby / Joululauluja / KUULA: Sanaton Laulu

KAUSTINEN: Villen Marssi / Hoppatahti / Liedeksen Polkka / Masurkka

KONSTA JYLHÄ: Vaiennut Viulu / Tähtisilmävalssi / Konstan valssi / Konstan parempi valssi

FINNISH-SWEDISH: Lagmansboda Brudmarsch / Leksands Brudmarsch / Return to Helsinki / Lundgren

What People Thought

“Thanks so much for organising the event on Friday – we really enjoyed it. The music was great and the Karjalan Piirakka were as tasty as my sister-in-law’s!”

“Kiitos paljon konsertista viime perjantaina! Se oli oikein kiva tilaisuus ja musiikki oli kaunista. Olitte nähneet vaivaa – tarjoukset olivat hyviä ja itsenäisyyspäiväkoristeet kauniita.”

(Thank you so much for last Friday’s concert! It was a really lovely occasion and the music was beautiful. You’d clearly gone to a lot of trouble: the refreshments were great and the independence day decorations beautiful)

“Thank you for a really lovely evening! It was the perfect detox to a stressful week – the music, food, decorations were all wonderful – you had gone to so much trouble! It was really appreciated by everyone.”

“We really enjoyed last night, thanks for organising such a special event. We especially loved the whole juxtaposition between feeling like we were in some charming rural hut in the middle of the Finnish countryside but actually being in a metal box on the Leith quayside.”

“Thank you for a fantastic Finnish night! We really enjoyed it: the music was truly interesting and well done. Some fab violin playing! Also great Karelian pies...”

“We just wanted to say another big thank you to you guys for a splendid occasion. We both thoroughly enjoyed it.”