Press release 27.6.2017
Singing has always played an important role in Kaustinen's folk music festivals. This year, one of the themes of the festival is the annual theme of the Folk Music and Folk Dance Promotion Centre, called Everybody Sing!
As part of the "Everybody sings" theme, the Folk Music and Folk Dance Promotion Centre (KEK), among other things, is actively collecting folk songs for publication online. The KEK will also be represented at the Kaustinen Festival, where songs will be collected and filmed from Monday to Wednesday.
Among the performers are a host of vocal bands and choirs, including the World Music Charts-winning vocal folk hop group Tuuletar. Singing performers can be heard every night at 22:00, especially in the Soittosal, including Tiilat and Pelimannit, Ellun kamut and Fiori. Professor emeritus Heikki Laitinen explores the song in a series of three debates.
Festival-goers are also encouraged to sing. Musician Pia Rask runs four evenings of singing workshops, interspersing song learning and performances. She says that many people come to the singing workshop to learn something new. The programme has included poetry singing, truck songs and even making up your own stems. The words are projected on the wall of the Pelimann House, and the accompanists are Paula Susitaival and Jaakko Kyrö.
”Sometimes I've sung repertoire that I'm sure everyone knows, but many people have said that singing is one of the few places where you can learn something new, not just singing the Urals. There are familiar songs in the back pocket if you start to feel that it's too difficult!”
The songs are built around a specific theme. Finland 100 celebrations will be taken into account through regional songs.
”There will be regional songs in every songbook, and even those will include more verses than are usually sung!”
You can use what you have learned at the latest on Saturday 15.7. at the big Provincial Song Concert at the Central Ostrobothnia Arena at 12 noon.
The anniversary of Kaustinen will also be reflected in the programme.
”Songs from different villages in Kaustinen, as well as songs related to the festival. My aim is to highlight the history of the Folk Music Festival through different people, their signature songs and favourite songs. Konsta Jylhää and Viljami Niittykoskea we're guaranteed to sing too!”
Other song themes are Weddings at home and elsewhere and Slavic Evening, which will include wedding traditions of Finno-Ugric peoples and Finnish nostalgia. Pia Rask is not too worried about the future of singing.
”There has always been singing, and yes, people still sing a lot! And they also know how to hold their ground, tell you if it's too high or too low, or wish for a certain repertoire. Of course, there can be concern that children are not learning enough songs, but I think that will pass and that singing will continue to be a form of self-expression.”
Pia Rask's singing performances at Pelimannitalo Wed 12.7. at 20.15, Thu 13.7. at 19.45, Fri 14.7. at 21.45 and Sat 15.7. at 18.45
Regional Song Concert at Keskipohjanmaa Arena on Sat 15.7. at 12 noon
Through poetry to sound
The Kaustinen Folk Music Festival also offers an opportunity to try out poetry meditation. Selma Eliisa Kilpi lead these events, which combine the meditation tradition with their own language and culture.
”I am building a whole based on the Old Poems of the Finnish People and looking for stories for which I have found my own mythical explanation. For me, the Birth of Fire, Big Oak and Kuuttari's Jewellery are important. The aim is to give the stories a deeper level of interpretation.”
Poetry mediation is about traditional poetry singing. The lead singer sings verses in front and the others repeat.
”I often sing with my eyes closed, I recommend it to others. Start by practising the basic technique and then move on to singing the actual verses. We discuss the content of the songs and sing them again so that we can repeat the same poems several times.”
Selma Eliisa Kilpi has been running these workshops for a couple of years now, and the dream is to go deeper and deeper.
”I was in the eco-village of Findhorn in Scotland when the words poetry song and meditation came together in my head. Putting the two together and finding a way to put it into my own mouth and find an interpretation is slow work, I feel like I'm just at the beginning of the journey. ”
Poetry meditation in Mauno's dormitory Tue 11.7., Wed 12.7. and Sat 15.7. at 10 am
For more information and interview requests:
Information Manager
Tove Djupsjöbacka
p. 040-6585340
press(at)kaustinen.net