So, am now in a band that's playing traditional Finnish-American music. We're trying to concentrate on the standards, or at least good tunes.
What I'm looking for are some suggestions for tunes that may not pop into my head immediately as a "standard". But are, or at least were popular folk tunes. Instrumental or vocal. For example, I ran across Tuusulan Polkka. The band leaders had forgotten about that one, and it was popular at one time.
So, if anyone has suggestions, especially if they have a link to video/audio or sheet music, I'd appreciate it.
The Finnish-American repertoire is pretty square compared to the stuff in Finland, like getting Irish tunes from The Irish Rovers vs. The Bothy Band. A lot of the more complicated stuff, the polskas and such, didn't seem to survive the emigration in dance hall repertoire.
Accordionist Viola Turpainen was perhaps the leading Finnish-American performer in 1940-50's New York City and the northeast. Walter Erickson - the same for the Swedish Americans, though he also did some Finnish tunes. Both had recordings and their material are "standards" among those communities.
But more recently...last 30 years
Accordionist Richard Koski from Trumansburg, NY had a band called The Crumtown Ramblers the did an album called "Saturday Night Sauna". He also made a recording called "The Father Tunes" of stuff he learned from his accordionist dad. Another Finn American is Oren Tikkanen (Calumet MI) who had a duo with accordion player Al Reko and put out numerous tapes.
But standards... Boy From Karelia/Karjalan Poikka
Sakijärven Polkka
Ison Talon Antti (Andy From the Big House)
Emma https://www.mandolincafe.com/tab/emma.txt
Villi Ruusu
Metsäkukkia
Kaakuuri
Siltasaaren Sotiisi
but if you're already in a band that is playing Finnish American music you probably have some familiarity with those.
Charles Saksena published a lovely waltz “Tusen Sjöars Vals” a.k.a. “Tuhansien Järvien Valsii (Thousands of Lakes Waltz),” in his collection.
Saksena, Charles. Fiddle Music from Northern Lands, Fiddle Music from Northern Lands: A collection of traditional tunes from Denmark, Finland, Norway, Orkney, Shetland, and Sweden, 2nd edition. Montgarrie, Aberdeehshire, Scotland: Catacol,
I arrange it for 3 mandolins (or any treble instruments) with chords for guitar or accordion. It's in my Big Book for 2017. (Evelyn's Big Book for Mandolin Trio for 2017).
Thanks. Ralph is the leader of the band. And he's the reason I'm playing mandolin instead of guitar full time. We're one of the other bands right now. And Al Reko is the one who formed Finn Hall. And have both the 2CD sets.
As to polskas, while I play them in other Scandinavian music, not so much in Finnish. Although I do have Arto Jarvela's book on order where he found a Minnesota Accordion player who had a lot of polskas.
Niles. Actually, there are a couple on your list that are not considered common here in Minnesota. Thank you for those suggestions.
As to it being square, maybe, but there I like the fact this band is trying to preserve it. Llove the modern stuff, but would rather perform the older stuff. There are always new ways to look at things. Have also been looking at some of the northern Michigan tunes that Carl Rahkonen has preserved. He's another great source of this music.
Just looking to help Ralph to expand the tune trove. Groups like Finn Hall have been playing music long enough that some of the older tunes are pretty much forgotten. Am trying to help find them again.
Spent part of last Saturday sitting in on a Finnish Tango workshop and was trying to figure out mandolin backup to the accordion. That's another area we may start exploring as a group.
As to it being square, maybe, but there I like the fact this band is trying to preserve it. Love the modern stuff, but would rather perform the older stuff.
Actually, much of the material in the Finnish (Finland) performers' (JPP, Vaartiina, Tallari, Gjallarhorn, Maria Kalaniemi, Pirnales......and I could rattle off a dozen first-rate but now-defunct outfits - Koinurit, Primo, Ottopasuuna,...) is the OLD STUFF.
I've got many of the same source collections that those Finn players have used, and the polskas predate the introduction (in the mid-late 1800s) of the polka, waltz and other newer dance forms, by 100+ years. And the runo melodies go even further back.
The hambos, humpas, mazurkas, schottisches etc are dance hall music, as is the most recent "import", the tango. There's some good tunes amongst that scene, but it isn't "traditional" in the same way the tunes from the 1700's are.
I had some contact with Finnish Tunes on the mandolin, and even met Heikki Lahti at the Finnish Folk Festival one year. I still play "Aaltojen Laulu Valssi" as one of my regular tunes. I used to play Lokakuun Polkka and Sakkijarven Polkka - at least I still have my tab for them. If you like to explore minor keys - Finnish tunes are the place to look.
Niles (and others) - thanks for the suggestions so far. Brought up Ison Talon Antti at practice on Friday night and our fiddler (and lead singer) immediately started singing it. It's a tune she heard growing up in Finland. Ralph Tuttila also provided us with some other tunes to start working on, including Penttilän sillalla. In G minor. Another tune are singer already knew.
As for my own tunemongering, just received a copy of Arto Järvelä's book Frank Hietalan Nuottikirja. Polskas from a Finn who emigrated to Virginia, MN. These were tunes he heard and played growing up. Not only did he transcribe them (in 1942), in the 1960's he was recorded by a folklorist who captured all these tunes and many more.
Still waiting on my copy of Fiddle Tunes from Northern Lands. Hopefully will be waiting for me after vacation.
A Finnish mandolin player, Seppo Sillanpää has published at least three mandolin books, Lamentarola, Akustin Polska, and an instructional book (in Finn) "Mandoliiniopas". Some of these books are out of print but if you contact Seppo at: sillanp(at)pp.phnet.fi he might be able to find you copies. The books contain many traditional Finnish tunes as well as some of his originals. I had replied to a similar thread in 2012 - some of the websites are gone now but Seppo is a member here so he might reply with info on the availability of his book. The ISBN numbers are: ISBN 951-9268-14-6 or ISSN 0355-9270. ebay might have copies. I have well worn copies I got when he did a workshop for my students here during FinnFest a good number of years ago here in Duluth.
Hello mandolin players who like tunes with Scandinavian, especially Finnish flavour! I have news for you!
In this thread some people have mentioned my mandolin publications: Mandoliiniopas (1990) A mandolin guidebok with lots of trad tunes. Akustin Polska (1989) All material notated of my solo album Akustin Polska (POWCD 7) Power records Lamentarola (1990) All material notated of my solo album Lamentarola (POWCD10) Power records Duokirja (1997) Duets for mandolins or fiddles (notated).
Last week I finally got finished the PDF versions of both Akustin Polska & Lamentarola.
You can listen to both albums from YouTube here
I am selling these PDF booklets via Paypal for $6 each.
When you pay six dollars to my Paypal account (sillanp@gmail.com) and leave your email address, I'll send you your personal copy of the album you chose. And of course with $12 you'll get both.
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