Ritva Talvitie in Tallar's studio upstairs in Pelimann House.
This year, the folk music group Tallari celebrates its 30th anniversary. At the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, in addition to its own anniversary concert, the ensemble will have numerous performances, both in collaboration with various artists and, for example, the Wedding Choir, and on its own. However, the main concert of the anniversary year will not take place until the autumn. Tallar's musician and artistic director Ritva Talvitie has been involved from the start.
Varied and diverse work
More than 30 years ago, Ritva Talvitie was a classical violinist graduating from the Sibelius Academy and working with the Finnish National Opera Orchestra. Of course, she had been playing Pelimann music since childhood, and in Kauhajoki she had her own groups, such as the Karolina.
- I was interested in making things with different groups, Talvitie says. So, alongside her opera work, she started studying to become a teacher at a community college.
However, in 1983, Winter Road was diagnosed with an eye disease that made it difficult for him to work with the orchestra. Little by little, he considered different possibilities, and when he heard about a professional folk music orchestra in Kaustinen, he became interested.
- First of all, it was a different kind of music from what I had been doing for a living," he says. I also thought it would give me the opportunity to have more influence on the music I was playing.
Ritva Talvitie admits that, as someone born and raised in the countryside, she was also attracted to the idea of living in a rural village in Kaustinen. All in all, the work has met and even exceeded her expectations.
- As well as playing, I've also been able to study folk music and look through archives," he says happily.
Talvitie has found, for example, the study of the Järviseu region's pelimannis tunes very motivating and inspiring. In 1989-90, with a grant, he scored pelimannis tunes from Vimpel, which the Folk Music Institute published as a book of sheet music by Erkki Metsäpello. Ritva Talvitie has also arranged a lot of music for Tallari over the years.
- The work at Tallar has been very broad and varied.
”Well, I like that playing.”
Ritva Talvitie's skilful and lively playing in Tallari always conveys a sincere enthusiasm. How has this enthusiasm and motivation been maintained over thirty years?
- Well, I like that kind of playing, Talvitie says with a smile. Of course, the key thing is that the band has always had nice playing friends, each of whom adds their own spice and stimulation to the playing.
- Even old songs that were once in the repertoire years ago can take on a whole new perspective.
At the moment, Talvitie is particularly enthusiastic about improvisational work. Sampo Korvan and Katri Haukilahden kanssa.
- Of course we work in many different ways, but there is something magical about playing together, listening to each other, communicating, taking impulses from each other, and living in the moment," he says.
Tallar's very varied programme and the many visitors also add variety.
Survival strategy
This year, the folk music group Tallari will perform every day at the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, with several concerts on some days. The work starts at the same time as the festival. In addition to the 30th anniversary concert at the Folk Art Centre on Friday 15 July, Tallari will also play traditional repertoire in its own concert in the Iholla Hall, an arena concert, and a concert in the arena. Jesse Kaikurannan and one concert with the Häävi band. In addition to these performances, Ritva Talvitie will also get together to play with the ”senioritallarei” and duet with Katri Haukilahti. All in all, Talvitie reckons she will have more than a dozen performances. How does one survive such a number of performances? The answer is simple and steady.
- Careful, early preparation and scheduling, Talvitie describes his strategy, born of thirty years of experience. By the time the party starts, you need to have a crystal-clear plan.
The songs have been rehearsed well in advance, a schedule has been drawn up for each day, and the instruments and costumes have been thought out. Then we go day by day. In the end, concentration in the performance situation is crucial.
- You have to breathe and give yourself a moment before you start playing, Ritva Talvitie says. That's where it starts.
Tallari 30 years at the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival 2016, among others:
today 11.7. at 17.00 Kaustis start. Festival area.
Tue 12.7. at 20.00 Institute class. Tallari & Häävi. Folk Art Centre.
Wed 13.7 at 17.00 Senior Gallop Master Risto Ala-Ikkelän
as a guest.
Thu 14.7. at 15.00 Selected pieces IV. Tepos, Finnish sawyers, Tallari and Grupo Folclórico las Lavradeiras da Meadela (PT). Central Ostrobothnia Arena.
Fri 15.7. at 18.30 Tallar's 30th anniversary concert. Folk Art Centre.
Fri 15.7. at 21.00 Tallari & Jesse Kaikuranta. Keskipohjanmaa-arena.
Sat 16.7. at 15.00 Tallari. At the skin hall.
Text and photo: Hilkka Rauhala