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Written in fRoots issue 220, 2001

ILPO SAASTAMOINEN & KALERVO UUTTU
Velhon Aika
Santa Claus Medias SCMCD 01 (200)

Double CD of items from three “ethnic operas” staged in Finnish Lapland, mythical/historical/natural libretti by Kalervo Uuttu, music by Ilpo Saastamoinen drawing on his long researches in Arctic and Finno-Ugrian traditions, featuring local choirs, singers and his jazzy-ethnic band. Substantial and intricate melodies, winding and shifting rhythms, these great annual musical events are the binding stuff of community and culture, and only partly representable by mere audio.


© 2001 Andrew Cronshaw
 

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