(Please note: Links will become activated as reports are made) |
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Program | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Traditional Map Pinning Ceremony | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
One of the traditions
of the Sata-Häme Soi Accordion Festival is when festival Musical Director
Kimmo Mattila conducts the traditional "map pinning' ceremony. A large
map gracing the walls of the Finnish Accordion Institute is covered with
pins, as visiting guest artists and VIP's locate their city and country
of origin. Pictured here is Heather Masefield (left) from the New Zealand Accordion Association (NZAA), as she pins in Auckland, New Zealand on the Sata-Häme Soi international guest map. The Map is located in the staff room adjacent to the Public Relations Manager Minna Plihtari's (right) office, where all International press and publicity is coordinated. |
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"To the Memory of my Mother" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The first
official function of the annual Sata-Häme Soi Accordion Festival
is a folk performance and gathering at Lasse Pihlajamaa's monument "In
the Memory of my Mother" on the outskirts of Jämijärvi,
some 30 km from Ikaalinen. This beautiful monument is located at the approximate
site of where his boyhood home once stood.
Recalling an often difficult childhood and the profound respect he had for his widowed mother "Hilma", Lasse worked for many years planning this monument as an ongoing tribute to the special place she has in his heart. Lasse has since donated the monument and the land it stands on to the Jämijärvi municipality. In addition to the monument, Mr. Pihlajamaa also composed a work "Muisto Aidille" in memory of his mother, an artistic manuscript of which is housed inside the monument. Several hundred people gathered around the monument as a local Folk Musicians performed. This has become an annual tradition prior to the official beginning of the annual Sata-Häme Soi Accordion Festival. A highlight of the ceremony and concert was the attendance by Lasse's wife Maire, who had traveled from the Helsinki area to attend the event. Unfortunatley Mr. Pihlajamaa's health has not allowed him to attend this annual event for several years, but he is always there in spirit. During the festivities Anneli Pitkänen read a beautiful summary of Lasse's life and the background of the building of the monument for his mother, Sata-Häme Soi Accordion Festival Musical Director Kimmo Mattila played one of Lasse's many works for accordion, and vocalist Anne Kasittula accompanied by Kimmo Mattila performed a moving piece in honor of this special occassion. At the conclusion of the
ceremony Maire Pihlajamaa greeted the many guests including founder
of the Sata-Häme Soi Accordion Festival Mr. Heikki Eranen, who
worked with Lasse to program the original festivals, visiting VIP guest
Heather Masefield from the New Zealand Accordion Association (NZAA),
and CIA President and Accordions Worldwide Representivite Kevin Friedrich,
Sata-Häme Soi Accordion Festival Director Sirpa Sippola and Musical
Director Kimmo Mattila. |
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Folk Accordionists on the Arena | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
After the ceremony
at the Pihlajamaa monument, a concert was held in the Jämi Arena where
many of the guest artists for the festival previewed their programs. Approximately
700 people filled the arena to capacity while being entertained by some
of the worlds finest accordionists including Russian concertina and xylophone
artist Valentin Osipov, and other artists from Spain, Finland and Macedonia. |
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Shirunov and Seven Young Accordionists | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Young Russian
accordionist and first runner up in the 2005 Primus Ikaalinen Competition
Alexander Shirunov along with the Silver Accordion finalists appeared
in Concert at Puumila in Kihnio.
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Tulenkantajat featuring Quinteto Fuego and Julien 'Speedy' Gonzales and Cyril Carbonne | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The quintet of
Heli Siekkinen (accordion), Elina Mero (Violin), Outi Jussila (Piano), Joona
Hasan (Guitar) and Petri Jaakonaho (Bass) performing as Quinteto Fuego delighted
the audience at the popular Oma Tupa with a program of Pizzolla music. All
professional musicians, the group is based in Jyväskylä.
Accordoinist Heli Siekkinen is a former student of Mr. Dogopolov and has
also studied in masterclasses with Matti Rantanen. She performs regularly
as a classical and folk artist. The second half of the concert belonged to the outstanding French duo of Julian 'Speedy' Gonzales (accordion) and Cyril Carbonne (clarinet) who provided a spectacular performance pushing the boundaires of ensemble playing towards new limits. Cyril's playing, which could be described as an extension of his soul.... combined with the flawless rhythmic and techincal expertise of Julian, intertwined to combine the two artists and their instruments into a one magical musical moment after another. Utilizing continuous breathing in his clarient playing, Cyril's melodic lines took the audience on a seemingly endless exciting journey, while Speedy's charming, sensitive and sometimes almost mischievious personality, combined together to take the audience on an incredible musical journey. |
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In and Around Ikaalinen | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Official Sata-Häme Soi Festival Website | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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