FINNISH MUSIC

I’ve had wonderful opportunities to explore the music traditions from my family’s Finnish heritage, and to tour in Sweden and Finland. In 2021 I released my first book, an ethnomusicological memoir about the music of my Finnish immigrant ancestors entitled Lost Songs of the Suomi Synod. It’s been a highlight of my music career to collaborate and perform with folk and pop musicians from Finland!

I always love returning to Finland and Sweden to play music, perform at festivals, etc. Please email me at [email protected] to invite me back! Here are some of my adventures in Nordic music:

I spent from 2010 to 2013 touring North America with the Finnish-American instrumental folk duo KAIVAMA. We released our self-titled debut album in 2011 and collaborated with Finnish fiddler extraordinaire Arto Järvelä for our follow-up recording. The trio album Arto Järvelä & Kaivama was released in Europe in 2013 and was nominated for Folk Music Album of the Year 2013 by the Finnish Central Committee of Folk Music and Dance, Kansanmusiikki.

Arto Järvelä & Kaivama trio album, released in Europe 2013, and in USA 2012. CLICK HERE to purchase.

Arto Järvelä & Kaivama trio album, released in Europe 2013, and in USA 2012. CLICK HERE to purchase.

Kaivama album, released 2011. CLICK HERE to purchase.

Kaivama album, released 2011. CLICK HERE to purchase.

I play guitar and mandolin on the tune “Ukon ja akan riita” featured on the Arctic Paradise 2014 CD compilation published by Music Finland. This recording originally appeared on the Arto Järvelä & Kaivama album.

I play guitar and mandolin on the tune “Ukon ja akan riita” featured on the Arctic Paradise 2014 CD compilation published by Music Finland. This recording originally appeared on the Arto Järvelä & Kaivama album.

I play harmonium on the tune “Martnas-Marsj” featured on the CD7 compilation published by Kansanmusiikki. This recording originally appeared on the Arto Järvelä & Kaivama album.

I play harmonium on the tune “Martnas-Marsj” featured on the CD7 compilation published by Kansanmusiikki. This recording originally appeared on the Arto Järvelä & Kaivama album.

In 2020 I collaborated with my Finnish cousin Carl-Kristian Rundman on a trans-Atlantic songwriting and video project. Carl-Kristian wrote lyrics and I recorded music for a Finnish-language song called “Lanka (The Thread).” I recorded the vocals performed by Finnish group Saana Ensemble. We each shot video footage captured in Minneapolis and Helsinki, and released a music video. Carl-Kristian highlighted the song during a guest appearance on Radio Suomi in Finland.

In 2013 my original Nordic-inspired fiddle tune “Norman Borlaug Polka” first appeared on the Arto Järvelä & Kaivama album. I was invited to perform the piece at the World Food Prize Laureate Award Ceremony, broadcast live on Iowa Public Television from the Iowa State Capital Building. Here’s the digital single of the tune, and a video of the performance.

In 2021 I released my first book, Lost Songs of the Suomi Synod. This ethnomusicological memoir collects 28 songs from the Finnish-American Lutheran tradition. Notated and translated arrangements are included, along with historical and musical commentary. I have unearthed obscure contributions from such luminaries as Elias Lönnrot (collector of the Kalevala), Finland’s national poet J. L. Runeberg, Jean Sibelius (composer of Finlandia), and Martin Luther. Some of these songs have not been heard or sung in North America for a century, and some have never before appeared in English. In 2022 the book was awarded the Frederick Buechner Prize for Writing at Luther Seminary. Here’s a video trailer about the book:

The book includes the song “Paavo the Peasant.” Finland's national poet J. L. Runeberg wrote the poem "Paavo the Peasant (Saarijärven Paavo)" in 1830. Dr. Börje Vähämäki created this English translation in the 1980s. I composed the first-ever musical setting of Runeberg's legendary poem for the English language. Here’s the digital single:

Here are some of my other Nordic music recordings available on Soundcloud.

I was a panelist at the Music & Media conference in Tampere, Finland, in 2016. Here’s a video from that presentation:

NORDIC VENUES / EVENTS

Here are some places I've performed:

PRESS COVERAGE