Jorma Hynninen, Ostrobothian Chamber Orchestra, Juha Kangas - Toivo Kuula, Kimmo Hakola: On The Fields Of Tapiola

On The Fields of Tapiola

Jorma Hynninen, baritone
Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra
Juha Kangas, conductor

Toivo Kuula:
South Ostrobothnian Folk Songs, Op. 17b
Prelude & Intermezzo, Op. 16b
The Song of the Sea, Op.11/2
Wedding March, Op. 3b/2

Kimmo Hakola:
Seven songs to texts by Aleksis Kivi

On Te Fields of Tapiola album features baritone Jorma Hynninen's interpretations of Toivo Kuula's South Ostrobothnian Folk Songs, orchestrated by Kimmo Hakola, and the Kivi-laulut composed by Hakola.

Aleksis Kivi's poems are our most central national treasure, the core of Finnishness, from which later generations have diligently drawn, starting with Eino Leino, not to mention other writers and composers. Kimmo Hakola has succeeded in creating captivating melodies for Kivi's texts, which can be predicted to become perennial favorites comparable to our best folk songs.

Juhani Koivisto writes in his introductory text about the works on the album:

As Finnish as the content of this album, with its folk songs and Aleksis Kivi's poems, is, the unifying factor is Paris. Toivo Kuula, who longed for his homeland, created his most inspired folk song arrangements while studying in Paris, and a hundred years later in the same city, Kimmo Hakola got a new touch with Finnishness and immersed himself in Aleksis Kivi's poems. "I'm pretty sure that I would have done them differently in Helsinki," Kimmo Hakola has said. The foreign culture opened up the Finnish soul in a new way. "I have to admit that everything in those songs has come completely from the heart."

Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Juha Kangas, shines as the orchestra on the album. They will also hear instrumental versions of Toivo Kuula's works, including Prelude and Intermezzo arranged for Sulho Rantan's string orchestra, Meren virsi arranged by Pekka Helasvuo, and Kuulan Häämarssi arranged by Juho Näykki.

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A young man is turning eighty

"So long I trampaan echoes so gallantly that it is impossible to believe that the singer is 71 years old. [...] Toivo Kuula's Southern Ostrobothnian folk songs receive a delicate golden edge from Kimmo Hakola's orchestral arrangements. Hakola's own Kivi songs are many degrees gentler, uncomplicatedly romantic and directly speaking. String orchestral arrangements of Kuula's four songs, including Häämarssi and Meren virsi, complete the ensemble."

Jukka Isopuro / Helsingin Sanomat

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Hynnisen's condition remains

"What's the point of Hynnisen singing when his voice is and remains in top condition and there is plenty of custom-made songs available, such as Kimmo Hakola's Kivi songs and Toivo Kuula's arrangements of Southern Ostrobothnian folk songs. [...] With age, Hynnisen's baritone has accumulated smokiness, but in a beautiful way like a wall of rust. The sound is still open and sharp, the purity is flawless and the pronunciation of the words is the clearest you can find in Finland. [...] Overall, the album is still one of Hynnisen's best in years, and no wonder. The music, lyrics and singer have hit the mark."

Kare Eskola / Yle new releases

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See the review / See the review: MusicWeb International  - Göran Forsling

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See the review / See the review: MusicWeb International - Hubert Culot

FORMAT: SACD