Samuelin Poloneesi 2026 in Savonlinna through a player's eyes
Samuelin Poloneesi, the annual main event of the Finnish Folk Music Association, wrapped up in Savonlinna with Sunday's closing concert.
The festival opened on 12 March at Nälkälinnanmäki, where Savonlinna-kvartetti and Sirkka Kosonen premiered Syvänmuan navoilla, a work composed by Timo Alakotila. The evening continued with a dance evening and folk music jams.
On Friday there was Soiva vaellus, a sounding walk in Olavinlinna castle, where small groups moved through dim rooms and halls. A different band or musician performed at each stop, among them Perriin Tyssit, Katri Susitaival and Lassi Logrén.
On Friday, Puruveden Pelimannit wanted to bring a taste of the Poloneesi to Punkaharju, the home town of several band members. In Punkaharju they played for schoolchildren and care home residents and held an open rehearsal for the villagers.
The Kellarin kautta club offered free admission to hear several performers on both Friday and Saturday.
Saturday started with Freija's concert for the whole family in the Melartin hall. The Saturday folk musicians' parade opened with a joint performance by music institutes, and the parade section proper was closed by Puruveden Pelimannit, a local folk music group. After the parade, the Kaustinen folk musicians and the Hääkuoro wedding choir performed. The parade is a fine overview of the sheer variety of folk music playing, instruments and skills. It is not often you hear Finlandia played on saws, and the line-ups showed no lack of imagination. Kesäpelimannit represented the Helsinki region; the Kanteleorkesteri kantele orchestra Eastern Finland. Puol'villaset is a Savonlinna jouhikko group that honours the jouhikko tradition of Savonranta.
The evening culminated in a concert by The TaKaMus and HUIPPU. The TaKaMus band brings together 17 former TaKaMus members from four different decades. HUIPPU is a six-piece group playing new folk music with punch.
On Sunday morning there was a folk music mass, put together by cantor and folk musician Pia Rask. Kaustisten Pelimannit stood in for the organ, and the Kaustinen Hääkuoro led the singing.
At the main celebration, the stage of Savonlinnasali filled with players and singers who had rehearsed the joint pieces in advance: the traditional Samuelin Poloneesi, Enkeliska from the Savonlinna region, and Niin läksin minä. The Kupari brothers — half of Mottinen, the Young Folk Musician of the Year band — entertained the audience with a couple of tunes, and the local folk dance group Hökkyrät performed, accompanied by board members of the Itä-Savo folk music association. TaKaMus of course performed at the main celebration as the local band. Kaustinen folk musicians and the Hääkuoro in their fine costumes also took the stage. HUIPPU, representing newer material, closed the main celebration.
Throughout the event there were performances in museums, shops, the library and care homes. In all, the event brought hundreds of players and singers to Savonlinna in about 50 different line-ups. Well done, and thank you to all the organisers, performers and volunteers.
Finally, warm congratulations to Mikko Nikula, MMus, on the gold merit badge awarded to you by Suomen Kansanmusiikkiliitto for decades of work as folk music teacher at the Savonlinna Arts Upper Secondary School and for all the other work with which you have supported musical life in Savonlinna.
Anna-Maija Asikainen
Association member, plays in Puruveden Pelimannit
Pictured: Puruveden pelimannit performing at Punkaharju school on 13 March 2026. Photo: Nina Bruce.
