Metsakukkia... ??... anyone know this tune?

[Goss]

I have found this in the ruins of Finnish installations at the Mannerheim Line (Ink-6 pillbox of Inkila sector). Cracked disk "Metsakukkia" of Valjo Vesterinen.

[Weejie]

Now I, as a Finn, am very interested in how this tune has arrived to Ireland and into irish repertoire? Because it's known by its finnish name, it has certainly came from here, but when. ? Does anybody know, when this waltz came to Ireland?

It does appear to have come to Ireland through Cathal McConnell. I gave him a transcription of the tune around 1985 or 1986 after he heard us playing it in Stromness, Orkney. I learned it from the Danish band "Sand på gulvet" (now disbanded) and I think it was their box player Henning Nørgaard who learned it in Fyn (Funen), Danmark. Sand på gulvet gave it a Danish translated title "Skovblomster" and it was a friend - clarinettist Richard Robinson - who came back from Minnesota providing us with its title in Suomi.
We played it in A minor but Cathal, being Cathal, recorded it in some odd key. I have since heard him play it on a Chinese flute with about five holes in it.

Many years later, an Australian friend was singing the tune on Iona and said she learned it in Tasmania from someone who got it from Cathal. Nice to know that I played a part in its meandering round the world.

[anniemcu]

Now I, as a Finn, am very interested in how this tune has arrived to Ireland and into irish repertoire? Because it's known by its finnish name, it has certainly came from here, but when. ? Does anybody know, when this waltz came to Ireland?

It does appear to have come to Ireland through Cathal McConnell. I gave him a transcription of the tune around 1985 or 1986 after he heard us playing it in Stromness, Orkney. I learned it from the Danish band "Sand på gulvet" (now disbanded) and I think it was their box player Henning Nørgaard who learned it in Fyn (Funen), Danmark. Sand på gulvet gave it a Danish translated title "Skovblomster" and it was a friend - clarinettist Richard Robinson - who came back from Minnesota providing us with its title in Suomi.
We played it in A minor but Cathal, being Cathal, recorded it in some odd key. I have since heard him play it on a Chinese flute with about five holes in it.

Many years later, an Australian friend was singing the tune on Iona and said she learned it in Tasmania from someone who got it from Cathal. Nice to know that I played a part in its meandering round the world.

Ah... so you're to blame.

Glad you posted to this thread and reminded me of this great little tune. Thanks!

[Guinness]

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... rch=Search

The first and fourth hits are worth a watch/listen. The third hit might fit nicely in an episode of the Addam's family.

[anniemcu]

And for instrumental version by accordion go to: http://uralica.com/music2.htm

It is played there by Viljo Vesterinen, who was also the first to record it in Finland.

Dee

At that link -

Metsäkukkia (Woodland Flowers) - Valssi, Viljo Vesterinen ja Lasse Pihlajamaa, 1950. Composed by Felix Burns. - Scotsman with a Finnish touch!

A link there yields the following info on the Composer http://www.footstompin.com/artists/felix_burns

FELIX BURNS (1864 - 1920)

Felix Joseph Burns was born in Perth on 5th March, 1864. He showed a remarkable musical talent from an early age, progressing from the tin whistle and mouth organ to the piano. He became a fine organist and, joining the local band, mastered a variety of brass and woodwind instruments. From an early age he showed a flair for original composition.

According to Leo Burns, Felix's youngest son (now 97 years of age and living in Coventry), his father ran way from home at the age of 16 in 1880 and joined the 'Moore and Burgess Travelling Minstrel Show'. As well as his instrumental skills he had a lifelong love of the theatre and showmanship as reflected in many of the titles of his tunes.

From there he moved on to be a pianist with a travelling 'Diarama' Show and it was during this time that he met and married Catherine Burns, his first cousin from Motherwell. During a long and happy marriage they had thirteen children, nine of whom survived into adulthood. They were - sons Frederick, Douglas, Felix Jnr and Leo and daughters Catherine, Winifred, Susan, Leona and Doris.

In 1885 Felix, Catherine and their first two children arrived in the 'Border City' of Carlisle with the Diarama Show. Unfortunately the manager of the Show absconded with the money, a not uncommon occurrence in those days, leaving the Burns family and the rest of the crew stranded.

Felix however, expressed his belief that they would be all right in Carlisle since he liked the look of the place. From his introduction to the Border City at the famous 'Matchbox Music Hall' he quickly established himself as a music teacher and working musician. His teaching studio above the Market Arcade in Carlisle contained two grand pianos and a concert harp.

While trying a piano in a local music shop one day he was asked by the manager about the tune he was playing. Replying that it was one of his own compositions the manager asked for a copy and sent it to a publisher in London who accepted it for publication.

This was to be the start of another very successful side of Felix's career. He published a total of 16 'Popular Dance Albums' (the last three were published after his death by Felix Jnr) which sold at 2 shillings each, is addition to a great many piano solos. Just for the record the dance albums were entitled Royal (1905), Imperial (1908), Greater Britain (1910), Flag of Empire (1911), Royal Standard (1912), Harlequinade (1913), Vaudeville (1914), Vanity Fair (1915), London Town (1915), Merry Makers (1917), Gaiety (1918), Old Drury (1919), Black and White (1920), Tower of London (1921), Dickens (1922) and lastly Frivolity (1923) . Collectively they contain no less than 120 compositions, an impressive collection in itself. His own personal favourite was a Barn Dance tune entitled 'Woodland Flowers'.

Many of the titles therein reflect the period during which Felix lived, with the British Empire becoming the mightiest the world had ever seen during his lifetime but seeing the sun set on it in the Great War of 1914-18. 'Pageant of Empire', 'Queen Mary Waltz', 'Somewhere in France' and 'Over the Top' to name but a few. His piano solos were published under several nom-de-plumes, a custom of the time - Leona Lacoste, Claud Roslind and Leon Fabrina.

Despite the fact that he was not blessed with the best of health he was able to cram an amazing amount of musical activities and achievements into his short working life. It is impossible to calculate the total number of his compositions as there were at least twenty-two known Publishing Houses turning out his music under his real name as well as his nom-de-plumes.

He had several part time activities as a musician also. He was Bandmaster of the 4th Battalion Border Regiment (Volunteers). He was also organist and choirmaster of St Mary's and St Joseph's Church in Carlisle and he provided piano accompaniment at the Winter Concerts organised by the Town Council. He was engaged to organise and play at dances in fashionable houses throughout Cumbria and to accompany celebrated performers of the day when they visited Carlisle to give Concerts.

Felix would take pride in giving one of his latest compositions its premier at one of the Carlisle Winter Concerts. He is remembered with much affection in his chosen 'home town' as a man who was proud of the Border City and contributed to its quality of life an its future. He was always eager to volunteer his services to assist any charitable cause or simply to help or give a little pleasure to those in need.

During, and following, the First World War there were many who needed all sorts of support and to have their spirits lifted. Felix knew that he was fortunate to be blessed with rare talents and that he should use them for the benefit of his fellow men and this he did on countless occasions. He was very well aware of the beneficial and therapeutic effects that music can impart.

In person Felix Burns was a pleasant, quietly spoken and earnest man. Despite his relaxed ways he was a man of great warmth and kindness and very great personality. He was a popular and good natured public figure and, in private, a loving father and a dedicated family man who had attained his own success and brought up a highly talented family by his endeavours.

In later life Felix suffered from prolonged ill health (he was possibly diabetic) but never complained. He died very suddenly on 19th January, 1920 at the age of 55. He had given 4 music lessons that day and still had 79 pupils on his register. Catherine, his wife, outlived him by 19 years and died in 1939.

To conclude, from impressions gained from my researches and from speaking with Leo, I should say that Felix Burns knew that it was not given to everyone to be a virtuoso but that everyone can enjoy music. He hoped that everyone who is blessed with the ability to play will try to appreciate music in all its forms and work to improve their skills for the betterment of their own enjoyment and satisfaction as well as the appreciation of those who listen to the music they play.

As Scottish Dance Band musicians we are indeed lucky to benefit from so many fine tunes, bearing in mind that they were originally composed for a completely different musical idiom. The tunes in this book have also faced and passed the ultimate test - the test of time, which sees them in everyday usage a century after their composition. I hope that everyone, especially our younger musicians, enjoy the tunes that follow. I have no doubt that will be the case, just as I have no doubt that Felix would have been delighted with this publication.

Tom Cowing
Hexham
July 2003

[anniemcu]

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... rch=Search

The first and fourth hits are worth a watch/listen. The third hit might fit nicely in an episode of the Addam's family.

Lurch would no doubt play a fine version of it.

[Weejie]

Metsäkukkia (Woodland Flowers) - Valssi, Viljo Vesterinen ja Lasse Pihlajamaa, 1950. Composed by Felix Burns. - Scotsman with a Finnish touch!

Someone has their wires crossed. The "Metsäkukkia" composed by Felix Burns (and recorded by Jimmy Shand) is a Schottishe and doesn't bear any resemblance to the waltz. There is a transcription of it here:

http://www.talespinner.co.uk/abc/tunes/ ... rnpipe.pdf

- and a picture of the original printed edition here, clearly describing it as a barn dance or schottishe:
http://www.sheetmusicwarehouse.co.uk/de ... ?ref=26837

In fact, the band "Pirteät pelimannit" (The Lively Musicians) recorded the tune by Felix Burns under the name "Metsäkukkia" and defined it as a jenkka, which is pretty accurate as it is a saksanpolkka (schottische) which is a standard jenkka:

R 6265 PIRTEÄT PELIMANNIT, joht. Toivo Kärki (19.9.1955)
2334 Metsäkukkia (Woodland flowers), jenkka (2:41), (Felix Burns, sov. Rainer Kisko)

http://www.yle.fi/aanilevysto/firs/rtmvr2.htm

So it looks like whoever figured out that the waltz "Metsäkukkia" is the same tune that Felix Burns composed needs a little more research.

Incidentally, the well known song/pipe tune "The Floo'ers o' the Forest " would translate as "Metsäkukkia" in Suomi. I can't quite picture the pipes playing "Metsäkukkia valssi" when Bogle's words are sung:

"And did the band play 'The Last Post' in chorus? Did the pipes play 'The Flowers Of The Forest'? "

That would be Lurch playing "Metsäkukkia" on those pipes?

No....I don't think so....

Check out the renditions of "The Green Fields of France" on YouTube.
Much bigger cringe factor than Metsäkukkia....

[anniemcu]

A Whistle 'friendly' version in Bm is available here in PDF fomat (requires half-holing on the low E in a couple of spots)
http://www.slainte.ch/music/metsa5.pdf

if you don't mind half-holing a few other notes, it's also in Am here in notation and midi
http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:1QX ... =firefox-a

if you prefer a PDF file of the Am notation, go here
http://www.mne.psu.edu/lamancusa/tunes/metsakukkia.pdf

[FinnWhistler]

http://www.dulcimers.com/tunes/metsakukkia.mid

Its noted to be "A finnish folk tune". Very familiar to me. A "must" for all finnish accordeon players.

[anniemcu]

I like this gal's version. It works on a Bb whistle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7prbExND ... 8&index=26