Press release 2.7.2018
Kaustinen cavalcade 2017. Photo by Arto Kuorikoski.
Every year, Kaustis tradition and culture feature strongly in the programme of the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival. And Kaustinen has plenty to draw on: there are plenty of players, singers, actors and folk dancers from all over the world, and a younger generation fills the ranks as the older generation retires. Kaustinen has a dozen or so village bands of various sizes and almost half a hundred of them. That makes an estimated total of more than 120 players. There are ten dance groups with around 180 dancers of different ages. Quite a number for a municipality of 4300 inhabitants
The Kaustinen cavalcade is now a carnival, not a carnival
Kaustinen kavalkadi has been around as long as the festival itself, and now the Kaustinen tradition and know-how will be marched to the Arena for the 51st time.
- This year's Kaustinen cavalcade is more of a concert, says the master gambler Mauno Järvelä, who has once again put together and rehearsed the music for the cavalcade. The theme is 19th-century country cantatas and vocal music. The expert was a church musician who has also written a doctoral thesis on the subject, theologian Dr. Hannu Vapaavuori. Background material has also been compiled by Pelimanni Matti Mäkelä.
The upstream has been drafted by Antti Huntus, the storyteller behind several cavalcades.
– An interesting point that emerges from the cavalcade is that the strong evangelicalism in the region has actually supported the gambling culture. The priest has taught the people the purple and playing the minstrels has not always been a sin," Huntus says.
A large amount of Kaustisian expertise will be seen again at the Keskipohjanmaa arena: a group of several dozen players and the Häälaulajat led by Merja Wirkkala. Elements of purple are also seen in the cavalcade Jarkko Peltolan performed by dancers directed by. The story on stage is carried by Harri Tastula.
Kaustis cavalcade: Three canters on Thu 12.7. at 17.15 and Sat 14.7. at 16.30, Keskipohjanmaa-areena
One hundred years since the birth of Laurin Friit
A trumpet artist from Kaustis is remembered at the festival Lauri Ojala aka Laurie Friit, whose birth will be one hundred years ago this year. Mauno Järvelä has put together a concert in memory of Lauri Ojala, featuring the Kaustinen Wedding Choir, Johanna Ojala-Haapala, Jani Klemola accompanied by Matti Vähäkainu, the Kaustinen players and the bugle players.
The Ojala family is one of Kaustinen's strong families of musicians and musicians. Friiti, officially Fritiof, Ojala was one of the famous wedding players of the first half of the last century and is also to be thanked for the most widely used fine Wedding Waltz in the country.
Friit's son Lauri became a successful and internationally awarded trumpeter. He was the trumpet leader of the Helsinki City Orchestra for more than 30 years (1945-1977) and a trumpet lecturer at the Sibelius Academy for 42 years (1955-1997). In the 1980s, it was said that almost all Finnish trumpet players had at one time or another been taught by Ojala. He also conducted several orchestras, wind ensembles and choirs during his lifetime. At the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, Ojala was seen as a conductor, trumpeter, violinist, kantele player and singer. Lauri became known to the festival audience as the composer and perennial performer of the festive fanfare together with his brother Raimo Ojala and Matti Varilan kanssa.
Friitin Lauri Tue 10.7. at 20 Kaustinen hall
Artturi Peltokanka's sheet music book and concert
Artturi Peltokangas was born in 1898 in the American state of Michigan. He moved to Finland with his mother and two brothers at the age of five and the family settled in Kaustinen Järveli, the village where Artu's mother was born. In Järvelkä, during his youth, many skilful players were influenced by Artu's mother's parents. Viljami Jylhästä, Konsta Jylhän father, became an important role model and teacher for Arthur, alongside many other older playing manners. Arttu returned to America as an adult, where he played with his uncle's Finnish hawks and played the dances of his uncle. Jussi Jylhän with. His final home, however, was the familiar village of Järvelkä, where he settled permanently in 1934. The influence of his American years could be heard in his repertoire and playing style. His home band was naturally the Järvelä Players, with whom Arttu was able to play at a few festivals.
Artturi Peltokanka's compositions will be performed at the festival in a concert dedicated to him, which will also be accompanied by the publication of a book of sheet music by Artturi Peltokanka, edited by Mauno Järvelä.
The performers are Kaustinen's minstrels and dancers. The concert in Wiljam will be preceded by a short square dance performance in the courtyard and the audience will leave the event to the rhythm of the purple.
Artturi Peltokangas: citizen of two countries, Fri 13.7. at 12 noon Wiljami
51. Kaustinen Folk Music Festival will be held 9.-15.7.2018.
Summer programme information can be found on the website http://www.kaustinen.net
In cooperation with the 150th anniversary of Kaustinen municipality