Ameriikan Poijat to entertain at Wirtanen Farm July 20

MARKHAM—The brass instruments of Ameriikan Poijat will make beautiful music at the Wirtanen Pioneer Farm at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 20, through the Northern Lights Music Festival. Gates will open at noon.

Darlene Saumer, president of Friends of the Wirtanen Farm, invites one and all to the admission-free event. In true Finnish tradition, cardamom pulla and other Finnish baked goods will be available. The gates open at noon. Saumer said, “Bring a lawn chair if you wish. There will be vendors with tasty treats to purchase. Hope to see you there! Kiitos.”

The Finnish American seven-piece brass band Ameriikan Poijat translates as Boys of America. Performers will be Stephan Orejudos, Edina, Eb Comet; Stacy Carolan, Duluth, Bb Cornet; Denise Pesola, Moorhead, Bb Cornet; Brian Borovsky, Northfield, Alto Horn; Roger Gomoll, St Paul, Tenor Horn; Paul Niemistö, Northfield, Euphonium; Tracey Gibbens, Duluth, Tuba.

Saumer wrote the following in the Markham newsletter:

“Poijat” was founded by Dr. Paul Niemistö in Northfield, Minnesota, in 1990. They made their first concert tour to

Finn Fest in Florida the next spring and their first trip to Finland in 1992 for Finland’s 75th anniversary.

Niemistö recently retired from St. Olaf College music department as Professor Emeritus. In 1979 he founded Canon Valley Regional Symphony Orchestra, which he still conducts.

The Ameriikan Poijat’s purpose is to preserve and perform traditional Finnish brass septet music for both the benefit of Finnish-American audiences and music lovers in general. Niemistö recently published a book “Cornets and Pickaxes, Finnish Brass on the Iron Range.”

This concert will feature polkas, schottisches, waltzes, marches, and overtures.

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Niemistö listed Poijat’s favorite Finnish tunes:

• Muistoja Pohjolasta March

• Siirtolais Marssi-sov Arturi Rope

• Sibelius Jääkärien March

• Rakovalkealla Reino Helismaa

• Savitaipaleen Polkka

• Minun Kultani Kaunista

• Taistojen Tielle March-Konno

• Musette Sibelius

• Katupoikien Laulu

• Heilani Jenkka

• Lampaan Polkka Kuula

• Mustalainen Valssi

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Poijat’s favorite Finnish concert music

Allegro—Sibelius

• Bagatelles Jukka Linkola

• Preludium—Armas Järnefeldt

• Soitto—Toivo Kuula

Kevätlaulu—Leevi Madetoja

• Berceuse—Armas Järnefeldt

• Chaconne—Durand

• Wuorella Toivo Kuula

Intermezzo Tuominen

• Seven Fanfares-Almila

• Suvisoitto Kansan Tapaan—Fuhrmann

Seven Brothers Fanfare Almila

• Savitaipaleen Polkka—Esko Heikkinen

• Ballade—Johansson

Surut Sävelissä—Wäinö Warvikko

• Suomi Medley—Swanson

• Dance Suite “Bal”—Jukka Linkola