The Land of Dreams: Finnish-American Church Music

This diverse concert will feature church music composed and arranged by Finnish Americans. Much of this music will be performed for the first time in Finland. At the turn of the 20th century, many Finns immigrated to North America in search of a better life. There, they established congregations and churches that developed a musical tradition based on Finnish hymn singing. The concert is part of a project entitled The Land of Dreams – Mi­gra­tion and Mu­sic from the 19th Cen­tury to the Pre­sent. Dr. Samuli Korkalainen compiled the concert program primarily from American archives.

The concert can also be watched live on Vimeo.

The concert is organized in cooperation with the Sibelius Academy of the Uniarts Helsinki, Kallio Lutheran Parish (Helsinki), and the Finnish Society for Hymnology and Liturgy. The concert is funded by the Finnish Cultural Foundation.

Program

Martti Nisonen: Prelude from the cantata The Calvary of the World
Paul Karvonen: A Lenten Meditation
Anna Pulli-Huomo, organ

Martti Nisonen: Tieni (“My way”) (text: Hilja Haahti)
K. W. Kilkka: Painuva päivä (“An expiring day”) (text: Eino Leino)
Martti Nisonen (arr.): Pappien emäntien laulu (“Song of the pastors’ wives”) (text: Aino Lilja Halkola)
Female Voice Choir Pihlaja, dir. Karla-Maria Toiviainen

Martti Nisonen: Oi sinä korkea Kuningasten Kuningas (“O Thou Great King of Kings”), variation on a Finnish filk song
Eveliina Sumelius-Lindblom, piano

Martti Nisonen: Rauhalla ei loppua (“Peace without end”) (text: Niilo E. Vainio)
K. W. Kilkka: Oli aamu kerran (“Once it was morning”) (text: Hilja Haahti)
Paul Karvonen: Slowly (text: K. A. Tavaststjerna, transl. by Hilja Karvonen)
Tommi Niskala, baritone, and Eveliina Sumelius-Lindblom, piano

Paul Karvonen: Prelude on ”The Sun Has Gone Down” (Nu solen går ned)
Anna Pulli-Huomo, organ

Paul Karvonen: Prelude on the Swedish hymn ”Till fridens hem” (“To the home of peace”)
Eveliina Sumelius-Lindblom, piano

Alfred Laakso (arr. Martti Nisonen): Sinun siunattuun armosuojaas (“Into your blessed shelter of grace”) (text: Aino Lilja Halkola)
Julius Siik (arr. Kalle Liimatainen): Rukous (“Prayer”) (text: Hilja Haahti)
Johanna Talasniemi, mezzo-soprano, and Eveliina Sumelius-Lindblom, piano

Svante Luoma: Pääsiäislaulu (“Easter song”) I and II (text: Svante Luoma)
Arthur Hill: Juhlalaulu 1976 (“Festive song 1976”), Suomi College in Hancock, Michigan, 80th anniversary (text: Impi Mykkänen & Elma Krym)
Finnish folk song (arr. Paul Karvonen): Tiedän paikan armahan (“I know a dear place”) (text: Kosti Raitio)
Kallio Cantata Choir, dir. Tommi Niskala

Alfred Laakso (music) & Aino Lilja Halkola (lyrics): Tällä tiellä (“On this way”, melodrama)
Minna Ruuttunen, poetry recitation, Johanna Talasniemi, mezzo-soprano, and Anna Pulli-Huomo, organ

Martti Nisonen: Sunnuntaina (“On Sunday”) (text: Kasimir Leino)
Paul Karvonen: For Unto Us a Child Is Born (Isaiah 9:5)
Alfred Laakso (arr. Martti Nisonen): Amerikan suomalaisten laulu (“Song of the Finnish Americans”) (text: Alfred Laakso)
Male Voice Choir Veisuuveljet, dir. Samuli Korkalainen

Paul Karvonen: O Holy Spirit, enter in, A Wedding Song (text: Michael Schirmer, transl. by Catherine Winkworth)
Johanna Talasniemi, mezzo-soprano, and Anna Pulli-Huomo, organ

Paul Karvonen: Christ is the Way! (text: Gerhard Tersteegen, transl. unknown)
Tommi Niskala, baritone, and Anna Pulli-Huomo, organ

Martti Nisonen: Wedding March
Anna Pulli-Huomo, organ