Artists and programme
Strand...Rand
Performances
The singers of Strand… Rand Sofia Joons and Meelika Hainsoo have been on a voyage of discovery through Estonian Swedish and Estonian folk music since the turn of the century. Sofia, who was born in Sweden but has Estonian Swedish ancestors, lived in Estonia for almost 20 years before she moved to Helsinki. If asked why she’s interested in Estonian Swedish music, she usually says she’s just curious. She has gotten to know the worlds of folk hymns, talharpa leiks and newer Estonian Swedish traditional songs. These songs, some of which have been around for a hundred years are or widely known, are like keyholes to history through which you lose the sights of the Great History and see the people instead each of whom has their own story to tell. Sometimes these songs confirm the widely known understanding of history but these can also show the listeners new and surprising opinions and knowledge.
Meelika’s roots are deep in the soil of Southern Estonia. Tunes and songs from Võrumaa form a unique island the shores of which Meelika is exploring for inspiration. In these old songs, the lives, happiness and problems of the people living on the sea shore and in the forest meet. These journeys which are similar but different at the same time show how the patterns of people’s lives have changed over the last hundred years. The traditional songs from this period often talk about lifer choices, forced love, urbanisation and human hope for happiness.
Together, Sofia and Meelika have created a repertoire of traditional songs, folk hymns, talharpa tunes and fiddle music where fragments of Estonian Swedish music meet Estonian and also Finnish Swedish and Ukranian Swedish music. They’ve found inspiration from handwritten song books, recordings, meetings and stories. Together with Mall Ney and Robert Jürjendal, they let the pearls of their repertoire shine in new arrangements.
Sofia Joons – vocals, talharpa, fiddle
Meelika Hainsoo – vocals, talharpa, fiddle
Robert Jürjendal – guitar
Mall Ney – harmonium
