Language/Finnish/Culture/Finnish-Music-and-Arts

Finnish Culture → Finnish Traditions and Customs → Finnish Music and Arts

Finnish music and arts are an essential part of Finnish culture. Finland has a rich tradition of classical music and is recognized for its contribution to contemporary music as well. Finnish arts include fine arts, such as painting, sculpture, and architecture as well as performing arts like theater, dance, and film. In this lesson, you will learn about Finnish music and arts, from classical to contemporary.

Finnish Classical Music

Finnish classical music has a long history that dates back to the middle ages. Some of the most notable Finnish composers include Jean Sibelius, Einojuhani Rautavaara, and Kaija Saariaho. Sibelius is particularly well-known for his symphonies, tone poems, and violin concerto. Finlandia, one of his most famous compositions, is considered the national anthem of Finland. Rautavaara's most famous compositions include Cantus Arcticus, a concerto for birds and orchestra, and Symphony No. 7, Angel of Light. Kaija Saariaho is a contemporary classical composer whose music is known for its layered textures and spectral soundscapes.

In Finland, classical music is celebrated in events such as the Annual Savonlinna Opera Festival, which attracts music lovers from around the world. Sibelius Academy, a renowned music school in Helsinki, is where many Finnish musicians study classical music.

[table class="wikitable"] ! Finnish !! Pronunciation !! English |- | Jean Sibelius || Yahn See-beh-lee-oos || Finnish composer and violinist |- | Einojuhani Rautavaara || Aye-no-yoo-ah-nee Rau-tah-vah-rah || Finnish composer and musicologist |- | Kaija Saariaho || Kye-ya Sahr-e-ah-ho || Finnish composer and teacher |]

Finnish Folk Music

Finnish folk music is an essential part of Finnish cultural heritage. It has its roots in traditional Finnish folk songs and dance tunes, and its history dates back to the 17th century. The most typical Finnish folk instruments are the kantele, a string instrument similar to a zither, and the accordion.

There are different styles of Finnish folk music, such as Hautamäki music, Pelimanni music, and Karelian music. In Hautamäki music, the songs are sung with a nasal twang and accompanied by the accordion. Pelimanni music is dance music that is typically played at weddings and other celebrations. Karelian music is folk music that originated in the Karelia region of Finland and Russia.

[table class="wikitable"] ! Finnish !! Pronunciation !! English |- | Kantele || Kuhn-teh-leh || A traditional Finnish plucked string instrument |- | Pelimanni music || Peh-li-mahn-ni mu-sick || Finnish dance music |- | Karelian music || Kah-ray-lian mu-sick || Folk music from the Karelia region |]

Finnish Contemporary Music

Finnish contemporary music is influenced by various genres, including rock, pop, heavy metal, and jazz. Finnish bands and musicians who have gained international recognition include HIM, Nightwish, Apocalyptica, and Lordi.

Nightwish, a symphonic metal band, has sold millions of records worldwide and has been awarded numerous gold and platinum records. HIM, a rock band, gained popularity in the early 2000s and has sold over ten million records worldwide. Apocalyptica is a heavy metal band that plays cello rock music, and Lordi is a hard rock band known for their monster costumes and horror-themed shows.

[table class="wikitable"] ! Finnish !! Pronunciation !! English |- | Nightwish || Night-wish || Symphonic metal band from Finland |- | HIM || H-I-M || Finnish rock band active from 1991 to 2017 |- | Apocalyptica || Ah-puh-kah-lip-tih-kah || Finnish cello metal band |- | Lordi || Lor-dee || Finnish hard rock band best known for winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 2006 |]

Finnish Arts

Finnish arts include a wide range of disciplines such as literature, fine arts, architecture, theater, dance, and film. Finnish painters such as Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Helene Schjerfbeck, and Eero Järnefelt are well-known for their contributions to Finnish art.

Finnish architecture is notable for its functionalism style, which emphasizes practicality and simplicity. Alvar Aalto is a famous Finnish architect who designed numerous buildings, including the Finlandia Hall in Helsinki and the Paimio Sanatorium.

Finnish theater is characterized by its experimental and avant-garde approaches. Tampereen Teatteri and Helsingin Kaupunginteatteri are some of the most notable theaters in Finland. Finnish cinema is also recognized for its unique style and approach. The Kaurismäki brothers, Aki and Mika, are prominent Finnish filmmakers who have gained international recognition.

[table class="wikitable"] ! Finnish !! Pronunciation !! English |- | Akseli Gallen-Kallela || Ahk-seh-lee Gal-lehn-kal-leh-lah || Finnish painter famous for his illustrations for the Kalevala |- | Alvar Aalto || Ahl-vahr Ahl-toh || Finnish architect and designer |- | Tampereen Teatteri || Tahm-peh-reh-ehn Tay-teh-ri || A theater company in Tampere, Finland |- | Mika Kaurismäki || Mee-kah Kau-ris-maki || Finnish film director and producer |]

Conclusion

Finnish music and arts have a rich and diverse history that reflects the country's cultural heritage. From classical music to contemporary rock, Finnish music offers a range of styles and genres that appeal to a wide range of musical tastes. Finnish fine arts and architecture are equally impressive, as are its theater and film industries. By exploring Finnish music and arts, students of the Finnish language can gain a deeper understanding of Finnish culture, traditions, and values.

Sources

• Music of Finland
• Architecture of Finland

Table of Contents - Finnish Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Introduction to Finnish

• Alphabet and Pronunciation
• Basic Sentence Structure

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Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

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Nouns and Adjectives

• Noun Cases
• Adjective Agreement

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Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-20
• Telling Time

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Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense

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Daily Activities

• Daily Routine
• Hobbies and Leisure

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Questions and Negation

• Forming Questions
• Negation

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Food and Dining

• Food Vocabulary
• Dining Out

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Prepositions and Postpositions

• Prepositions
• Postpositions

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Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Travel Phrases

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Finnish Culture and Traditions

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Finnish Sauna

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Weather and Seasons

• Weather Vocabulary
• Seasons

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Conjunctions and Subordinate Clauses

• Conjunctions
• Subordinate Clauses

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Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationships

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Finnish Literature and Music

• Finnish Literature
• Finnish Music

Related Lessons

• Finnish Folk Music and Dance
• Finnish Contemporary Literature
• Finnish Holidays and Festivals
• Finnish Traditional Crafts
• Finnish Classic Literature
• Finnish Film Industry
• Finnish Sauna
• Finland Timeline
• Finnish Cuisine