JPP, fiddle band from Finland, to offer workshop, concerts Oct. 6-7

JPP, the Järvelän pikkupelimannit ("Little Folk Musicians of Järvelä"), will conduct a fiddle workshop in Hancock and present concerts in Calumet and Crystal Falls this weekend, Oct. 6-7. (Photo courtesy Finlandia University.)

HANCOCK -- JPP, the most prominent fiddle band in Finland, will be in Hancock and Calumet on Saturday, Oct. 6, for a fiddle workshop and a concert.

"This is something no folk music fan will want to miss," said Oren Tikkanen, local musician. "JPP is a group of six fiddlers with bass and pump-organ accompaniment that starts with the fiddling tradition of western Finland, adds the swing of Texas fiddling and moves on to the realm of 'new acoustic music.' The members are all well-trained working musicians who are still rooted in folk tradition, but capable of adding elements of jazz, tango and whichever world music elements tickle their whimsy."

JPP will lead the fiddle workshop from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6, in Finlandia University's Finnish American Heritage Center (FAHC) in Hancock. Participants will have the option to join JPP on stage during the concert beginning at 7 p.m. at the historic Calumet Theatre Saturday night, Oct. 6, or at the Crystal Theater in Crystal Falls, Mich., Sunday, Oct. 7.

JPP frontman Arto Järvelä has taught for the prestigious Sibelius Academy 's Folk Music Department. He has performed with several other musical groups and recorded three solo albums.

In the summer of 1987 JPP, the Järvelän pikkupelimannit ("Little Folk Musicians of Järvelä"), set a world's record by fiddling non-stop at Finland 's Kaustinen Folk Music Festival for an hour and 32 minutes before an electrified crowd. Since then, the famed fiddling group has performed countless concerts and has nine albums to its credit. But their energy hasn't waned - in fact, it's grown stronger.*

The JPP fiddle workshop is part of a two-day workshop opportunity for folk musicians of all ages and skill levels. Kantele workshops will also be offered both Friday and Saturday, Oct. 5-6.

Joyce Hakala of St. Paul , Minn., a leading authority on the kantele, will conduct two 10-string kantele lessons -- at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 5, and again at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6. Hakala will also conduct a five-string kantele lesson at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6.

Hakala is a leading authority on the kantele and its use by Finnish immigrants. She is a former director of Koivun Kaiku, one of the best-known kantele ensembles in North America. Hakala has also written two books: The Rowan Tree and Memento of Finland: A Musical Legacy. The kantele is the national instrument of Finland.

Advance registration is required. The cost of each individual workshop is $15.00. Participants may attend both 10-string kantele workshops for $15.00.

To register for the fiddle workshops or to obtain more information, call 906-487-7505. To register for the kantele workshops, call Kay Seppala at 906-523-6271.

*Visit www.thejpp.fi for more information about JPP.