Finnish translations for women's choir rep by Kahara

Date: June 3, 2010

Hi Choral Colleagues,

I am considering use of two Finnish pieces for women's choir by Anna-Mari Kahara late next season but would like to know the meaning of the text before I go to the expense (and long wait) of ordering them. All I know right now is the translation of the titles. Does anyone know either of these pieces and their English translations:

Kuka nukkuu tuutussasi ("Who is sleeping in thy cradle?")

Laulu perunoiden kiehuessa ("A song while the potatoes boil")

Again, the composer is Anna-Mari Kahara. Both have been recorded by Philomela Women's Choir.

Thanks in advance for any wisdom!

Christina Murray,

Camerata Xara Young Women's Choir

Reply >>

Marian Dolan on June 4, 2010 5:48am

Here is some further information regarding Anna-Mari Kähärä's scores ...

"Kuka nukkuu tuutussasi / Who is sleeping in thy cradle"

- text by Sirkka Selja (pseudonym for Sirkka-Liisa Tulonen; b. 1920 in Koski, Finland)

http://www.liwre.fi/vanhat/mukkula_vanha/kirjailijat/esittelyt/selja-s-englanti.htm

(translation via Jaakko Mäntyjärvi; professional translator and composer)

Who is sleeping in thy cradle? Pain is sleeping in my cradle

Like a river under mountain, Like a stream in darkest deeping.

In thy hands what art thou hiding. In my hands I nought am hiding.

All my longings and desires, All my weird and wondrous musings.

O, but had I in my cradle, Blueness of the eyes beloved

Like a dark pond in my cradle, Like the light of all the heavens.

Sleeping star within my cradle, Heaven on my knee a-slumber,

Tiny sun upon my bosom.

"Laulu perunoiden kiehuessa / A song while the potatoes boil"

- Text by Jukka Itkonen (b. 1951; Finnish writer, poet, musician)

who has written hundreds of song texts

(translation by Susan Sinisalo from Philomela "Mieli" cd)

I sing a song to the water, I sing a song to the trees,

I sing a song to you; say, who else would I sing to, please?

I sing to the sun in the sky, I sing to the pathway here,

And if you should make your way here, I promise to be your friend, dear.

I sing to the fountain spring, and the depths of the forest green,

For there is nought to sop me singing, of all that they mean to me. laala laala...

I sing to the water to bubble as the potatoes cook.

I sing up a dart to aim with, and a dartboard to hang on a hook.

I sing a song to the mead, and a song to the raisins, too.

I sing a song to the bread, and the butter all golden and new.

I sing up plates for the table, and forks and spoons and knives.

I sing a song to the birds, and the honey bees in their hives. laala laala ...

I sing to the days of the living, and I sing a song to death,

Which I leave to slumber quietly under the little rug by the hearth.

I sing because I want to, I sing because I sing,

And I'll go on singing my heart out 'til the reaper arrives with his sting.

... I sing because I want to, I sing because I sing.

... I sing, I sing, I sing .... [laulan = I sing]

Scores can be ordered rather quickly from Sulasol, the Finnish national

choral organization cum publisher. http://www.sulasol.fi/en/sheet/

Sulasol publishes their own scores but also distributes scores of other

Finnish publishers. They process and mail orders quickly (and speak

English very well!)

Hope this encourages you to program this wonderful Finnish music

with your women's choir! Good luck / onnea!!!

Marian Dolan, DMA (and 51% Finn!)

The Choir Project; Naples, FL

mdolan(a)aya.yale.edu

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