Inspired by their Finnish ancestral heritage, Michael Ludgate (mandolin, kantele, banjo) and Katrina Mackey (fiddle, flute) formed Metku to learn more about traditional Finnish music and dance. They are often joined by Philip Robinson on guitar and master accordionist, Richard Koski, who has played Finnish-American folk music since 1970.
Richard has always lived in the Finnish-American community in Trumansburg, NY, and since the 1940s, has been exposed to the music of that community. His repertoire consists of approximately 100 tunes Richard learned from his father, William Koski, and were routinely danced to in the local Finnish social halls in the 1920-50s in Spencer, Van Etten, Newfield and Trumansburg, New York. Historian A. William Hoglund documents the first Finns settling in the Finger Lakes in 1910. As agriculture spread into the midwest there were many abandoned, unkempt farms in Central New York and the land was cheap. Local real estate agents put ads for farms in Finnish newspapers in Upper Michigan. Three Finnish families came to buy farms in 1910 and encouraged others to come from the Upper Midwest. By 1960, approximately 500 Finnish families purchased farms in the Spencer, Van Etten, Newfield, and Trumansburg areas.
As a scholar of the local Finnish community, Richard has interviewed locals of Finnish heritage and documented traditional Finnish elder musicians, many of whom are now deceased. His contributions to documenting Finnish immigrant communities, and their cultural heritage are unique in a field that has predominantly focused on Finnish communities of the Upper Midwest. Since 2018, Richard has been teaching Katrina and Michael to play the songs Finns here in the Finger Lakes have enjoyed listening and dancing to since they began arriving here in the early 20th century.
Katrina, Michael, and Richard’s work to sustain this local Finnish-American music heritage for the next generation has received multiple grants, including two Folk Arts Apprenticeships from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA). This project has also been presented nationally during FinnFest in Duluth, Minnesota.
Finnish Dance Tunes of the Finger Lakes combines transcriptions of Finnish-American schottisches, polkas, and waltzes alongside historic photos and oral history interviews recorded by Richard with many of the people who listened and danced to this beautiful music. It is available for purchase directly from Richard.
The Finnish Dance Music Apprenticeship Project is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.
“Laurin Sottiisi” (“Lauri’s Schottische”) is performed in the key of D. It’s another one of the tunes Richard learned from his dad, who didn’t know the names of most of the tunes he played. Richard later found it on an old Finnish American 78 rpm as “Laurin Sottiisi.” One another recording it was listed as “Jukkan Sottiisi.” Richard says, “Sometimes what we think of as Finnish folk tunes, especially the schottisches it seems, are found in other Nordic countries under Swedish or Norwegian names.”
Richard named this tune “Sisu Polka,” which refers to the Finnish concept describing the strength of character one acquires through great struggle. When Finns began arriving in Spencer, Van Etten, Newfield and Trumansburg areas in 1910, they bought farms that had been neglected or abandoned in part due to the rugged nature of the land. They learned to work the land and built cooperative agricultural businesses to support one another. This notion of sisu feels appropriate for both the Finns that settled in the Finger Lakes, and for the way the musical tradition continues today. “I’ve never heard anybody else play this tune — not on old Finnish records or anywhere,” says Richard about it. “I don’t know where Dad got it, but it sure sounds Finnish, and the only music he ever played was the old Finnish music that his parents’ generation brought over from Finland.”
“Kallen Valssi” (Carl’s Waltz). When Richard asked his dad the name of the tune, he said he didn’t know its name, but he used to hear his uncle Jake in West Danby, New York play it. For years, Richard referred to this tune alternately as “Jake’s Waltz” and “West Danby Waltz.” He eventually heard it on an old 78 rpm record listed as “Kallen Valssi”, which is how he refers to it today.
For nearly the last 20 years, Burke has performed as a solo delta blues guitarist throughout the region. Hear in his own words about his upbringing in Elmira’s Black community and his journey to become the deeply emotive player he is known as.
On March 8, 2020 Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts hosted Toivo’s seasonal time change dance. Local traditional dancer and musician Katrina Mackey teaches viewers how to dance the “Rattikkoon,” a traditional Finnish polka. The band even throws in a Cajun tune for good measure!
For nearly the last 20 years, Burke has performed as a solo delta blues guitarist throughout the region. Hear in his own words about his upbringing in Elmira’s Black community and his journey to become the deeply emotive player he is known as.
On March 8, 2020 Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts hosted Toivo’s seasonal time change dance. Local traditional dancer and musician Katrina Mackey teaches viewers how to dance the “Rattikkoon,” a traditional Finnish polka. The band even throws in a Cajun tune for good measure!
