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Cover: Kevätsointuja. Spring tunes

Kevätsointuja. Spring tunes

YL Male Voice Choir
Matti Hyökki, conductor

ODE 1144-2 · CD · March 2009

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Longing for the Spring to arrive: the reputed YL Male Voice Choir performs traditional Finnish student songs

Track listing

27 tracks · 52:03

Listen to samples on selected tracks.

Pekka Juhani Hannikainen

  1. 1 Kevätsointuja 1:55

Frans Alfred Frieberg

  1. 2 Laulajain lippu 1:48

Gustav Adolf Härtel

  1. 3 Sua tervehdin 1:55

Robert Kajanus

  1. 4 YL:n marssi 1:58

Eduard Hermes

  1. 5 Metsämiehen juomalaulu 2:05

Christian Fredric Kress

  1. 6 Porilaisten marssi 1:45

Joseph Hartmann Stuntz

  1. 7 Ylioppilaslaulu 1:27

Traditional

  1. 8 Frühlingslied 2:25

Hampus Wetterling

  1. 9 Uinahda sä vieno 1:23

Fredrik Pacius

  1. 10 Suomen laulu 2:43
  2. 11 Trinklied (Juomalaulu) 2:00

Traditional

  1. 12 Gaudeamus igitur 2:26
  2. 13 Oi kallis Suomenmaa 2:21

Emil Genetz

  1. 14 Mieslaulu 1:25

Carl Michael Bellman

  1. 15 Sarkkasi juo 1:46

Franz Abt

  1. 16 Kesäaamu 1:32

Emil Genetz

  1. 17 Metsänhartaus 1:45

Anonymous

  1. 18 571 Jo joutui armas aika (Suvivirsi / Summer hymn) 3:06

Toivo Kuula

  1. 19 Vappulaulu 3:16

Pekka Juhani Hannikainen

  1. 20 Milloin Pohjolan nähdä saan 2:27

Emil Genetz

  1. 21 Terve Suomeni maa 1:54

Jooseppi Riippa

  1. 22 Kotimaani ompi Suomi 1:56

John Farrar

  1. 23 Sinut haluan vain 2:39

Walter Rae (Valto Veikko Tynnilä)

  1. 24 Tahiti 2:18

Traditional

  1. 25 Helan går 0:23

Gunnar Wennerberg

  1. 26 Halvan 1:009

Nils-Eric Fougstedt

  1. 27 Tersen 1:25

About this recording

This CD conveys to the listener the full panoply of Finnish life and the joy of spring awakening after harsh winter times. The album is named after the featured song Kevätsointuja (Spring Tunes).

The famous Helsinki University Male Choir "Ylioppilaskunnan Laulajat" under the direction of Matti Hyökki has recorded these songs which form an integral part of traditional Finnish student culture. Academic songs are coupled with patriotic songs, drinking songs, and love serenades. Known to every Finn, they are sung in particular on "Vappu" Day (May Day) - traditionally a commemoration day of the students though it has absorbed most of the population in some way or another.

In addition to the Finnish and the Swedish language, some songs use German or Latin, such as the presumably most famous international student song: Gaudeamus igitur - "Let us rejoice therefore!"

Features

Booklet with liner notes in Finnish and Swedish and the sung texts in the original languages

Press

Auktorisoidut mieskuorosuosikit (...) Musiikillisesti täysipainoisissa tulkinnoissa riittää haastetta yllättävänkin paljon (...) Näihin haasteisiin Matti Hyökin johtama YL pystyy vastaamaan.
Kare Eskola, YLE Radio 1, 14 Toukokuu, 2009

Helt oumbärlig för den tvåspråkigt sinnade, valborgsfirande manskörsälskaren.
Mats Liljeroos, Hufvudstadsbladet, April 29, 2009

The artists

YL Male Voice Choir

The YL Male Voice Choir is a pioneer in Finnish choral music. Founded at the University of Helsinki in 1883, it is the oldest Finnish-language choir in Finland. Its cultural merits, extensive history of concerts, several tours abroad and numerous critically acclaimed recordings have established it as one of the world’s most prominent male voice choirs.

Full biography

Matti Hyökki

An unparalleled figure in Finnish choral music, Matti Hyökki led the YL Male Voice Choir as conductor from 1980 to 2010, with many international accolades along their way. He was also chorus master of the Finnish National Opera from 1992 to 1995. Having earlier completed diplomas as church organist and music teacher at the Sibelius Academy, he became in 2003 the first graduate in Finland of a doctoral degree programme in choir conducting, with YL as his instrument. Since 2007, Matti Hyökki has been Professor of Choir Conducting at the Sibelius Academy. He is a regular jury member at international choir competitions and has conducted numerous international choir workshops.

Full biography

Also recommended

Sulle kauneimmat lauluni laulan

Serenades and Love Songs

YL Male Voice Choir · Matti Salminen, bass · Matti Hyökki, conductor

ODE 1069-2 · CD · Oct 2005

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Jean Sibelius

Kullervo

Soile Isokoski, soprano · Tommi Hakala, baritone · YL Male Voice Choir · Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra · Leif Segerstam, conductor

ODE 1122-5 · SACD / CD · Apr 2008

Info & buy