Värttinä

Värttinä, Finand's most successful contemporary folk music group, is distinguished by the fact that they have invented a roots-based vocal/instrumental style unlike anything in Finland or, in fact, anywhere on this planet. Effortlessly blending ancient Finnish runo poetry, distinctive Finno-Ugric vocal harmonies, traditional and contemporary acoustic instrumentation, complex and uncommon rhythms, and original and highly imaginative compositions and arrangements, Värttinä stands alone as an innovator, with eight groundbreaking albums and over a decade of international touring.

Värttinä's style, stemming from the women's singing traditions of Finno-Ugric tribes of the east (including Karelia, Setu, Mari Republic, Ingria, Mordva and others), adds an explosive spirit of honest joy and creative energy to close-knit harmonies. As fiddler Kari Reiman explains, "Värttinä's harmonies are a combination of many styles, with our own ideas added in." These traditional harmonies may seem strange to western ears, but Värttinä's presentation makes assimilation to this complex style pleasurably easy. The original or adapted compositions run the gamut of emotions, from the sinister drama of songs like "Äijö," a traditionally based piece which tells of a crazy old man who casts a spell on a poisonous viper, to the high-spirited dance music of "Laulutyttö" and the exaltations of a young girl born to sing, to the gentle lullaby of "Milja."

The evolution of Värttinä is almost as fascinating as their music. In 1983, a small group of girls in the Karelia region of Eastern Finland, led by sisters Sari and Mari Kaasinen, begun to recite and sing old Karelian traditional poetry and songs. "People were always asking my mother for some kind of performances from (my sister and me) because everyone knew we liked to sing," says Mari, who started studying fiddle, accordion, and kantele (the folk zither that is regarded as Finland's national instrument) at the age of four. Mari, together with her sister and two cousins, formed a small band that developed into Värttinä. Mari explains, "when we started singing and plyaing kantele, almost every girl in Raakkyla wanted to join, so by 1985 we had 21 members." Added to the tradition folk music of Karelia were modern instruments like accordion, saxophone, double bass and guitar. In addition, tired of simple recitation and ordinary singing, the vocalists developed their more aggressive and powerful style. The entire provocative concept was new to folk music and to Finland, and Värttinä rapidly gained national recognition.

After six years of remarkable domestic success, including two albums and several tours, the mature Värttinä downsized to four female vocalists and six male musicians, including some of Finland's top rock, bluegrass, and Celtic players. At this point, the band added sources to their mainly reki repertoire (developed in the 17th century and found on their certified platinum album Oi Dai), including runo (an older style common until the 17th century), Swedish, American, and Russian folk music, and Finno-Ugric music, which influences most of their compositions today.

Since then, Värttinä has progressed and evolved to greater heights of sophistication and skill, with original compostions (based on traditional styles and elements) more elaborate arrangements and instrumentation. Subsequent albums Seleniko and Aitara brought them international acclaim including foreign license deals and numerous tours and concerts. Personnel changes have occurred over the years, including departure of founder Sari Kaasinen in 1996, but each change brings new vitality and creative energy to the band and results in each album being superior to the previous. Today, three original members remain in the Värttinä line-up.

Värttinä's sixth album Kokko, released globally on the Nonesuch label and their seventh album Vihma released by Wicklow/BMG, were their first two ventures into the exploration of Karelian runo songs. Runos are ancient sung verses with a particular repetitive, alliterative style and there are literally thousands in Karelian folklore. Runo texts and imagery gave Värttinä greater depth and emotion to their music, inspired even more imaginative compositions and arrangements and propelled them to the peak of their creativity. Värttina's year 2001 album Ilmatar, produced by Frenchman Hughes de Courson, is unanimously acclaimed as the pinnacle of their career, featuring the most complex and dynamic vocals yet, their most adventurous compositions to date, extensive and effective use of percussion and a spacious production that allows the music to breathe like never before.

Värttinä remains almost entirely acoustic yet manages to make music that is as compelling and uplifting as any electric band. They are dedicated to exploring their own creativity with Karelian and Finno-Ugric tradition as the roots source and their collective skills and imagination as the vehicle for contemporary expression.

VÄRTTINÄ is:

• SUSAN AHO - vocals
  Playing accordion since the age of 13, she played accordion on Värttinä's Vihma album before moving to vocals. Previously involved at Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department, she worked with the folk music group Metsänväki and with accordionist Minna Luoma performing Finnish gypsy songs.
• MARI KAASINEN - vocals
  Original Värttinä member from Rääkkylä, in Karelia. Has been singing and performing since age 2 1/2. Previously a student at Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department, she now maintains a career simultaneous with Värttinä, teaching voice, kantele and accordion in Helsinki. In addition, Mari and Värttinä guitarist Antto Varilo have composed specially commissioned music for Finnish female choir.
• JOHANNA VIRTANEN - vocals
  Studied folk music and singing at the Central Ostrobothnian Conservatory in Kokkola. Also plays harmonium, violin and 2-row accordion. She joined Värttinä in 2001.
• JANNE LAPPALAINEN - bouzouki, saxophones
  Original Värttinä member from Rääkkylä and one of the band's chief arrangers and composers. Janne, a student of Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department and wind instrument specialist, has played in other Finnish bands including Ottopasuuna and Progmatics.
• HANNU RANTANEN - double bass
  One of Finland's top bassists. Having studied and now teaching at Helsinki Pop Jazz Conservatory and brilliantly skillful on double bass and electric bass, Hannu has been involved with numerous top Finnish outfits including UMO Big Band, Pepa Päivinen Trio, Raoul Björkenheim Triad, Avanti and Unto Tango Orchestra. Hannu has also played with international stars: Wayne Krantz, Larry Coryell, Django Bates, Anders Bergcrantz, Ted Curson and Luis de Matteo. He also does music for theatre.
• MARKKU LEPISTÖ - accordions jouhikko (3 stringed bowed lyre)
  From southern Ostrobothnia, one of Finland's most solid and reliable accordionists, playing folk and dance music since age five. A graduate of the Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department, where he studied kantele, woodwinds, double bass and fiddle, previously a member of the group Pirnales and still with Progmatics. Also works with mandolinist Petri Hakala and a klezmer band.
• LASSI LOGREN - fiddle, octave fiddle, jouhikko, nyckelharpa, vocals
  The original fiddler in Värttinä, from 1985-1989, officially rejoined the band in April 2002, although he has done several tours with Värttinä in recent years. Also playing nyckelharpa and jouhikko, Lassi graduated Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department, where he also teaches fiddle, in 2002. Lassi has played in several professional theatres since 1995 and has made a book/CD called "Harmony Parts for Finnish Fiddle" in 2001.
• JAAKKO "JASKA" LUKKARINEN - drums, percussion
  one of Finland's most versatile and energetic drummers/percussionists. Having studied under Marko Timonen, also in Sibelius Academy, Espoo Pop/Jazz School and Helsinki Pop/Jazz Conservatory, Jaska has developed a personal style that accentuates and propels Värttinä's rhythmical music to new directions. Jaska has performed in many popular bands in Helsinki and is an exciting addition to the Värttinä group.
• ANTTO VARILO - guitars, cümbüs tambur (Turkish long necked lute)
  A professional Helsinki guitarist for the past fifteen years. Has performed with numerous rock, Afro and jazz artists and bands including Hasse Walli, Badu N'Djay and Porvoo Big Band. Now one of Värttinä's main composers and arrangers, he and Mari Kaasinen have composed specially commissioned music for Finnish female choir.

The Old Värttinä (1983-1989)

The New Värttinä (1989-)

Discography

1987: Värttinä / The First Album Warner Finlandia (Finland)0630-18062-2
1989: Musta Lindu / Black Bird Warner Finlandia (Finland) 3984-23229-2
1990: Oi Dai (1990) (Polygram (Finland) SPIRITCD 4, NorthSide (US) NSD 6049
1992: Seleniko Polygram (Finland) Spirit 517 467-2, NorthSide (US) NSD 6022
1994: Aitara BMG (Finland) 82876502382, NorthSide (US) NSD 6050
1996: Kokko Nonesuch 79429-2
1998: Vihma Wicklow/BMG 09026 63262-2
2000: Ilmatar BMG (Finland) 74321 881792, NorthSide (US) NSD 6054
2001: 6.12 Live In Helsinki BMG (Finland) 74321 88180 2, NorthSide, (US) NSD 6066
2003: iki BMG (Finland) 74321 981452, NorthSide (USA) NSD 6071

Management: Phillip Page / Hoedown, Laivurinrinne 2, 00120 Helsinki, Finland ph: 358 9 6224804, fax: 358 9 628950, pap@hoedown.com

Värttinä website: www.varttina.com