Finland - Kanta-Häme, Satakunta & Southwest

 Next on our virtual trip through Finland we're going on a brief foray into the region of Kanta-Häme and the municipality of Hattula.  This is where composer and pianist Timo Alakotila was born in 1959.  He was a founding member of folk fiddle band JPP (whom we met here), has worked on numerous projects with orchestras, dance and theatre and counting some 250 albums he has contributed to.  On his latest release he is collaborating with accomplished composer and accordionist Johanna Juhola (born 1979), who blends Bueonos Aires tango with dark Finnish forest landscapes.  Together as the Timo Alakotila & Johanna Juhola Duo they produced this beautiful and playful 2023 album called Amicum.  Here's a live version of the opening track of the album called Lupa tanssia:

Next we're heading to the town of Rauma in the Satakunta region.  This is where Kantele player Ulla Katajavuori was born in 1909 (d. 2001).  Known as the Grand Lady of the Kantele she played the modern multi-stringed version of the Finland's national instrument.  Her playing days of course are a long time ago, but there are still historical recordings of her music available such as this single from 1949 called Ack Värmland, which appears on an eclectic collection of historic recordings from around the world by The Sound of Shellac: 

Multi-instrumentalist and Finnish folk music's number one sideman Eero Grundström was also born in Rauma in 1976.  His main instruments are the pump organ and the harmonica, but has also found himself working on modular synths and writing rap lyrics.  He has collaborated with the likes of Suistamon Säkhö, the harmonica quartet Sväng and accordion master Maria Kalaniemi.  He says of himself: "I'm at my best when I can work in the background, and when I'm involved in a bit weirder music".  Here's a track from his 2020 album Mielo with Maria Kalaniemi called Metsähanet (Woodland Geese):

Composer and zither player Barbora Xu was actually born in the Czech Republic, but has made the island of Otava near Naantali in Southwest Finland her home.  She found remarkable similarities between the music of Finland and China and specifically in the style of their respective zithers, the Finnish kantele and the Chinese guzheng.  She sets old poetry from both countries to her own compositions.  Here is the opening track to her 2021 debut album Olin Ennen (I was) called Olin Ennen Otramaana:

Next we are heading to the oldest city in Finland, Turku in Southwest Finland.  This is where accordionist and 'musical blacksmith' Toni Perttula comes from.  He combines his incredible finger dexterity on the button accordion with sounds of a blacksmith workshop including sounds of hammers and anvils, developing his own unique style.  He released his debut solo album Pajavasara in 2021 and this a track called Rauta / Iron:

Fiddler and singer Päivi Hirvonen is also from Turku.  She uniquely sings at the same time as playing the fiddle or the bowed lyre.  Her music is filled with stories and strong emotions.  She also acts as a teacher at the Turku Conservatory.  Here is a track from her 2018 debut album Alku called Viinapiru (The Booze Devil) obviously warning of the dangers of overindulgence of alcohol:

That's it for today, next we're heading for the capital of Finland, Helsinki.  In the meantime, as usual, you can follow my virtual travels on my tripline map.