Next summer's big concert will feature pieces by the first ever master players, including a waltz composed by Kustaa Järvinen of Eureka. (Photo: Leo Torppa/Folk Music Institute archive)
The Kaustinen Folk Music Festival prepares for the summer with music. The rehearsals for the big concert are already in their second phase. On Easter Day, the live broadcast will come from Satakunta, and will be conducted by Jari Paavola (accordion) together with a master gambler Pentti Mattsson (violin). They will start the camera from Paavola's own Spielimannhaus in Kokemäki at 14:00.
The remote exercises started at Easter in Kaustinen. The third exercise will take place on 5 June in Halsua, Central Ostrobothnia, and the fourth on 3 July in Savo. The festival week programme includes a big concert on Saturday 17 July.
Now in the training queue is the Kustaa Järvinen song. He is one of the first four master players whose famous songs will be played in a big concert in Kaustinen on Saturday of the festival week. The tradition of naming a Master Playing Man began in Kaustinen in 1970, when the festival was three years old.
Jari Paavola has become an expert on Kustaa Järvinen's playing style by playing. The son of this Olavi Järvinen captured the young Paavola to the Eura players in the 80s, and that's how their friendship began.
Separate note markings for two lines
The notes of the pieces played on the Feast of the Saviour also include indications for two-stringed accordions. Paavola says that the two-stringed instruments are included because of his dream of the moment when the players finally get together.
- I can see in my mind that there are a lot of different instruments playing in the Arena, but there are also little string players on the floor. A lot of new players have recently joined the two rows.
- Practising a performance piece Maple House Fairy Waltz. We will also play together from Kustaa Järvinen's repertoire Poseidon's typhoon (Pthe hush-hush of a part-divorce). I also made a note for this one, taking into account the two lines. It can also be played by violins. In addition, during the broadcast we will tell you about Kustaa Järvis and his music.
More information and sheet music for the co-playing exercises can be found in From the My Kaustinen group on Facebook.