Akkapelimannit : Kaustinen

In the early 1980s, the group of musicians in Kaustinen was still very male-dominated. Frustrated by this, violinist Kreeta-Maria Kentala asked her friends to join the first female musician group in Kaustinen, and thus Akkapelimannit was born.

This album is a cross-section of the repertoire that the group has accumulated over the years, which includes compositions by the band members and their relatives. The productions of Kaustinen composers Konsta Jylhä and Wiljami Niittykoski have also naturally always been an important part of the Akkapelimannit repertoire. Kaustinen traditional songs, the opening traditional greeting and the traditional multi-part wedding dance, purpuri, have been combined into a sikrem. The enchanting power of Kaustinen music remains strong from decade to decade. The dance-like accompaniment of harmonies and bass strongly carries the musical story forward as the violinists embellish the lightly meandering melodies. With the music, thoughts fly to the summer landscapes of the river valley: the roar of the Mosalankoski rapids, wide open fields, daisies in the whirlwinds and swallows soaring high.

The players of Akkapelimannie are musicians originally from Kaustinen: Minna Järvelä trains violinists at the Lahti Conservatory, Jaana Virkkala teaches music to student teachers at the University of Jyväskylä, Kaija Saarikettu is a professor of violin music at the Sibelius Academy, Maria Pulakka and Leenakaisa Sandberg are violinists of the Central Ostrobothnia Chamber Orchestra and Kreeta-Maria Kentala is a freelance baroque violinist. Merja Wirkkala has made her life's work as a soloist and cantor at the Finnish National Opera, Kaarina Nisonen is a pianist and accompanist at the Central Ostrobothnia Conservatory. The musicians share a childhood spent playing and singing in Kaustinen, and all have had their first major musical experiences through fiddler music.

FORMAT: CD