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Arts in Finland Nature and Forest Myths in Finnish Arts

Arts in Finland Nature and Forest Myths in Finnish Arts. Vesa Matteo Piludu. Semiotics University of Helsinki. Lotman, Universe of Mind Symbols: otherness and archaic features. Symbols are a special kind of sign Symbols are always connected to signs of other orders or languages

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Arts in Finland Nature and Forest Myths in Finnish Arts

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  1. Arts in FinlandNature and Forest Myths in Finnish Arts Vesa Matteo Piludu Semiotics University of Helsinki

  2. Lotman, Universe of MindSymbols: otherness and archaic features • Symbols are a special kind of sign • Symbols are always connected to signs of other orders or languages • The content of symbols are generally highly valued in culture • A symbol is for example a religious sign used in a non-religious situation as art: novels or painting • There is always something archaic in symbols • Sometimes symbols go back to pre-literate or oral cultures (fairy tales)

  3. Symbols • Symbols preserves long and relevant texts in a condensed form (image, icon)

  4. The vertical cut • A symbol never belongs to one synchronic section of a culture • It always cuts across that section vertically • coming from the past • And passing on into the future • A symbol’s memory is always more ancient than the memory of its non symbolic text content

  5. Texts: heterogeneous • Every texts of a culture is heterogeneous, it form a complex plurality of voices, coming from different ages and times • Symbols, as powerful symbols, as condensed elements of cultural memory, can transfer texts, plots outlines, from one level of memory to another • The symbols activated cultural memory • The symbols prevent the disintegration of culture in isolated layers (no communication between classicism and romanticism)

  6. Duality of Symbols • Symbols reveals their duality • By one hand the symbol is conservative, it has elements of repeatability and invariance • The symbol is a seed, it exists before the text, it comes from the depths of cultural memory • The symbol is like an emissary from other cultural epochs • A reminder of the ancient foundation of a specific culture • To the other side • A symbol actively correlates with the cultural context of the text, transform it and is transformed by it • So there are many variant of the same symbol, that could have different meaning in different texts of different ages or places

  7. Finland • In Finland the nature is a relevant aristic symbol • Nature isn’t ”biolgical” but cultural and mythological • Many natural symbols derivates from mythology and in particular the national epic poem Kalevala

  8. Kalevala and Finnish Arts • The Finnish Epic Poem Kalevala: Old Kalevala 1828 - New Kalevala1849 by Elias Lönnrot (Ethnographer-Poet) • In English on the web: • http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/kveng/index.htm • The Kalevala • by Elias Lönnrot • Translated by John Martin Crawford • [1888]

  9. Gallen-Kallela: Mäntykoski (1892)

  10. Sibelius- Finlandia • Sakari Oramo conducts "Finlandia” • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci3RPAOFok4 • Sibelius:FinlandiaYle Radion Sinfoniaorkesteri (Finnish radio symphony orchestra)conducted by Sakari OramoOctober 22, 2005NHK Hall, Tokyo

  11. Finlandia Talo – Finlandia Hall • Arcitect: Alvar Aalto • Project: 1962 • 1967-71 and 1973-75

  12. Sibelius - Tapiola opus 112 (1925) • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYFEq80AwzU • Commission from Walter Damrosch for the New York Philharmonic Society. • The London Philharmonic OrchestraSir Adrian Boult (1889-1983)Recorded in 1956 • Tapiola is the realm of Tapio, the God of the forest • When asked by the publisher to clarify the work's program, Sibelius responded by supplying a quatrain: "Widespread they stand, the Northland's dusky forests, Ancient, mysterious, brooding savage dreams; Within them dwells the Forest's mighty God, And wood-sprites in the gloom weave magic secrets.“ • Kuvat: Oulanka

  13. Sibelius

  14. Kalevala: based on Finnish Folk Poetry • No Kalevala in Finnish Folk Culture, but a many differents epics songs, spells, marriage songs … disconnected to each other • The context was the village culture • The message was musical-lyrical performance of a skilled singer • The code was musical – mnemonic (kalevalaic octosillabic metre): • Nu-ku nuku nur-mi li----ntu • Two melodic lines (ab ab ab) • Modal incipit … incipit sol in g (sol-la-do-re-mi) • Rhythm: 2/4 or 5/4

  15. Kalevala ”manipulated” the signification processof Finnish Folk Poetry for a new social and cultural context • Elias Lönnrot wrote down the songs (change on the code: (from oral to written – from music to literature) • He joined toghether different themes and choosed the principal myth (Sampo) as a red line: from fragnetation to unity • Social context: from village culture to ”national culture” • Message’s contex: from oral performance to reading • Adresser: from Oral poets (anonimous) to a ”Poet” Lönnrot • Adressee: from other villagers to intellectuals, scholars, teachers, artists, politics … • Meaning of the kalevalaic signs: from rituals and village entertainment to the building of Finnish national identity and literature

  16. ”Sprawl” of Kalevala in Finnish Arts • From the literary text to: • Symphonic, opera, Classical Music (Sibelius, Rautavaara) • Visual Arts: painting (Gallen-Kallela), sculpture, architecture, comics • Military propaganda in the Winter and Continuation Wars • Jazz, rock and ”Contemporary folk music” (Värttinä, Gjallarhorn) • Media and advertizing (Sampo) • Multimedia art, Modern Dance: Kimmo Pohjonen, Tero Saarinen • Again we have complete redefinitions of the signification of the Finnish Folk poetry using differents codes and languages

  17. Akseli Gallen-Kallela • Axél Waldemar Gallén 1865 - 1931

  18. Akseli Gallén-Kallela: Paanajärven paimenpoikaThe sheperd of Paanajärvi

  19. Akseli Gallén-Kallela: Imatra

  20. Akseli Gallén-Kallela. Ad Astra, 1915. Astra: cosmic Ilmatar?

  21. Akseli Gallén-KallelaIlmatar

  22. Robert Wilhelm Ekman Ilmatar

  23. Joseph Alanen Ilmatar

  24. Sibelius – Op. 70 Luonnotar, 1913Karita Mattila, Tampere 2000 • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BU0LcAn4Tmc&feature=related • Karita Mattila sings Jean Sibelius' tone poem "Luonnotar" (Nature Goddess) in the 2000 Millenium Eve concert in Tampere, Finland. "Luonnotar" tells, according to the Finnish national epic "Kalevala", how the world was created • Olipa impi, ilman tyttö,Kave Luonnotar korea,Ouostui elämätään,Aina yksin ollessansa,Avaroilla autioilla.Laskeusi lainehille,Aalto impeä ajeli,Vuotta seitsemän sataaVieri impi veen emona,Uipi luotehet, etelät,Uipi kaikki ilman rannat.Tuli suuri tuulen puuska,Meren kuohuille kohotti."Voi, poloinen, päiviäni.Parempi olisi ollutIlman impenä elää.Oi, Ukko, ylijumala!Käy tänne kutsuttaissa." • Tuli sotka, suora lintu,Lenti kaikki ilman rannat,Lenti luotehet, etelät,Ei löyä pesän sijoa."Ei, ei, ei.Teenkö tuulehen tupani,Aalloillen asuinsijani,Tuuli kaatavi,Aalto viepi asuinsijani."Niin silloin veen emonen,Nosti polvea lainehesta.Siihen sorsa laativi pesänsä,Alkoi hautoa.Impi tuntevi tulistuvaksi.Järkytti jäsenehensä.Pesä vierähti vetehen,Katkieli kappaleiksi.Muuttuivat munat kaunoisiksi:Munasen yläinen puoliYläiseksi taivahaksi,Yläpuoli valkeaista,Kuuksi kumottamahan,Mi kirjavaista,Tähiksi taivaalle,Ne tähiksi taivaalle.

  25. Robert Wilhelm Ekman Väinämöinen luo valon, 1859.Väinämöinen creates light

  26. Robert Wilhelm Ekman Väinämöinen and Sampsa Pellervoinen

  27. Pekka Halonen (1813-1882)Väinämöisen soitto.

  28. R.W.Ekman:Väinämöisen soitto, 1858/1859

  29. Robert Wilhelm Ekman (1808-1873)Väinämöisen soitto

  30. Robert Stigell (1852 - 1907): Väinämöinen of the Old Student House (Vanha)

  31. Väinämöisen soitto. 1866

  32. Mansi music on the sangkvyltap instrumentFinnish music with kantele • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3u9xdXO-28&feature=related • Mansi (obsolete: Voguls) are an endangered indigenous people living in Khantia-Mansia, an autonomous okrug within Tyumen Oblast in Russia. The Mansi language is of the Ugrian branch of the Finno-Ugric family of languages. • The Finnish people has a similar instrument: the Väinämöinen’s kantele, still used to accompany kalevalaic songs in contemporary folk music: • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2i9XW2f1ylM&feature=PlayList&p=50006E299F3613D8&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=53 • Karoliina Kantelinen is a singer and an ethnomusicologist from Helsinki who specializes in different ethnic singing styles

  33. Various kanteles (right) and sangkvyltaps

  34. AMORPHIS - "My Kantele" (Acoustic Reprise) • Ensiferum - Kalevala Melody • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjh6hVj3mcM&feature=related • AMORPHIS - "My Kantele" (Acoustic Reprise) taken from the album Elegy • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUbk1Kp8xGc

  35. Joseph AlanenJoukahainen and Väinämöinen

  36. Akseli Gallén-KallelaAino-taru triptyykki, 1889/91. Aino

  37. Sibelius Op. 49 Pohjolan tytär - Pohjola's Daughter 1906 • Ormandy Conducts Sibelius Pohjola's Daughter, Op. 49 - Part ½ • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtB0ZRKSnLs • Composer: Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)Conductor: Eugene Ormandy (1899-1985)Performer: Philadelphia Orchestra • Ormandy Conducts Sibelius Pohjola's Daughter, Op. 49 - Part 2/2 • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT-0aKRANSs&feature=related • Composer: Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)Conductor: Eugene Ormandy (1899-1985)Performer: Philadelphia Orchestra

  38. Sibelius Op. 22 Lemminkäinen (Four Legends) 1895 – 1900 – 1939 • Lemminkäinen and the Maidens of the Island, Part 1 • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoYYjGhxHyU • Sibelius: Lemminkainen and the Maidens of the Island, Part 2 • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JdCYhLXalg&feature=related • Erotic natural atmosphere, Nordic Don Juan

  39. Sibelius: Lemminkäinen in Tuonela • Sibelius: Lemminkäinen in Tuonela, Part 1 • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pl1v-3wZQYM • Sibelius: Lemminkäinen in Tuonela, Part 2 • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZThUPSCnp4&feature=related

  40. SibeliusTuonelan joutsen – The Swan of Tuonela • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-SJo2sOI_M

  41. Tuonela

  42. The mother of Lemminkäinen

  43. Sibelius: Lemminkäinen's Return • Sibelius: Lemminkainen's Return • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxsvU2fBJgA&feature=related

  44. Sampo - Films • Sampo - based on the Finnish epic Kalevala • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVp4M12rmuE&feature=related • The Sampo (1959) 1/6 • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW4C-UZyb6s&feature=related

  45. Valkoinen peura / Den vita renen / The White Reindeer / Das Weisse Ren (1952) • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPvAe_2sths

  46. Aulis Sallinen: Rauta-Aika 1982 • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSOShhKiI5k&translated=1 • Rauta-aika 1982 • Director : Kalle HolmbergMusic : Aulis Sallinen

  47. Gjallarhorn - Suvetar • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjLTrKuK_Wg

  48. Gallen-Kallela: Sammon puolustus, 1896. The defence of the Sampo

  49. Kullervon kirous, 1899. Kullervo’s fury

  50. Carl Eneas Sjöstrand (1828-1906)Kullervon surma, 1858.

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