Sámi National Day concerts in Aurora and Sello Hall

On the Sámi National Day, Tuesday 6 February at 18:00, Finland’s internationally best-known modern joiker Wimme Saari and the distinguished saxophonist and clarinettist Tapani Rinne, whose roots are in experimental jazz, will step on the stage in Aurora.  The only sound sources for the Wimme & Rinne duo’s music are the human voice and bass clarinet. The soundscape could be called minimalist, rugged and archaic and the musical elements meagre, but this is a rich performance. The music is both sensitive and fierce, it has dark ambient tones and electronic brimstone.

In 2013, Wimme Saari and Tapani Rinne released their collaboration album “Soabbi”, which was the final seal for them creating music as a duo. Today, they have been working together for more than 30 years. Wimme & Rinne has performed in concert halls and festivals around the world, from the shores of the Arctic Ocean to the Banjul Stadium in the capital of The Gambia. The concert is suitable for all ages.

Further information about the concert in the Children’s Cultural Centre Aurora is available on the espoo.fi website. 

In honour of the Sámi National Day, a festive concert will be held in the Sello Hall in Leppävaara on the day after the national day – Wednesday 7 February at 19:00.

“The Sámi are known to be the only indigenous people in the territory of the European Union. Their languages and rich cultural heritage have not been taken sufficiently into account before – this fact has now been understood and we at Sello Hall consider it crucial that every year, around the Sámi National Day, we introduce an artists or group that represents the Sámi culture of today. Last year, our programme included the excellent Ume Sámi musician Katarina Barruk,” says Henna Salo, Sello Hall Production Manager.

This year, the Sámi National Day concert combines two ancient heritage areas: Skolt Sámi and Karelians. The concert will feature songs, leu’ddes and laments in Skolt Sámi, Karelian and Finnish – both traditional songs and the performers' own music. The concert is part of the project “Karjalasta kolttien maille” that studies the similarities and special features of Karelian and Skolt Sámi cultures through folk music and folk tradition. Common denominators include at least long narrative songs, laments, quadrille dancing and background as refugees. The working group includes Karelian folk music specialists Amanda Kauranne (vocals, percussions) and Emmi Kuittinen (vocals, accordion, ukulele), and experts in Skolt Sámi music and dance traditions Anna Lumikivi (vocals) and Erkki Lumisalmi (vocals). The songs are only broken up by dance numbers – after all, the traditional quadrille dance is part of both Skolt and Karelian cultures.

“The “Karjalasta kolttien maille” performance is part of a project by artists and researchers who are thoroughly familiar with the topic, and this was the perfect time to invite them to share their knowledge with us. The performance is a journey to an ancient, precious cultural heritage. Skolt Sámi and Karelians are united by their evacuee background, Orthodox faith and the many impacts of Finnicization policies. This will be a unique event where the atmosphere goes from joy to tears and back, led by songs, dance and music,” Salo says.

Further information about the Sello Hall concert is available on the espoo.fi website and the “Karjalasta kolttien maille” blog(external link, opens in a new window).