MUSIC TASK

Last 8th October, I had the opportunity to listen and enjoy the Centria Music Night where students of the university performed. The event took place at Kokkola’s conservatory.

I was able to listen to some music in Finnish and also in English. At first, I listened to students singing in Finnish some opera pieces, it was really astonishing since I couldn’t believe the tones the performers were able to reach and even though I wasn’t able to understand the words they sang, I think they did just beautifully and I could perceive the emotions that songs communicate.

After Finnish students’ performance ended, I was able to see two bands: Soft Potatoes and Surprising Mission. Both bands played songs in Finnish and English, I recognized a few of them. It was very nice to see the enthusiasm with which the band played and how the audience got caught up with their mood.

The song I enjoyed the most was “Like a Star”, the singer gave her best while singing it and that’s what I believe is one of the things that makes music great: the way it is performed.

I really enjoyed the music that night, music is one of my favorite things in the world and to have the chance to listen to it live in Finland, is priceless!

On October the 31st I went to Corner’s Pub where I had the chance to listen to Miikael Arkimo performe a few songs in Finnish like “Tehosekoitin-Maailma on Sun, Haloo Helsinki-Pulp Fiction, karjalainen-Mies Jolle ei koskaan tapahdu mitaan” and surprisingly one of my favorite songs of the Arctic Monkeys, “Do I wanna know?” 

After his performance, we were able to share a few words with him and he told us a little about him: He is an ice hockey player who was born in Helsinki, Finland. He’s traveled around because of his work, he lived for a while in Alaska and some other parts of Finland. Also, he mentioned he likes to play music as a hobby and that’s why we could listen to him that day. He was a very nice and polite guy and I truly enjoyed to listen to him singing and playing his guitar.

Music Task: The Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra

On Saturday 24^th of October I went to a concert of the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra at the Snellman hall in Kokkola. 

The Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra was founded in 1989 by Juha Kangas which was the conductor of the Central Ostrobothnian Music Institute. Since its beginning, the orchestra has been on tours in European countries, Japan and the United States. New generation of conductors have succeeded to Juha Kangas since then and in the autumn 2013, Sakari Oramo took over as Artistic Director.

The show I went to was conducted by Antti Tikkanen, who wasn’t only conducting it but also playing violin along the other musicians. The musicians were only playing violin, strings and one man was doing the percussion. They started by playing music written by Sibelius (Finnish composer), than music written by Pärt (Estonian composer) and also written by Atterberg (Swedish composer).

Jean Sibelius was a famous Finnish violinist and composer of the late Romantic and early-modern periods. He lived during the 19^th and 20^th centuries. His work is still played by a lot of orchestra especially in Finland and one of its best-known compositions is Finlandia.

I had never been to a classical music show before and I can say that I wasn’t disappointed. I wanted to experience it once and with the help of this task I took the chance to do it. The atmosphere was really nice and relaxing. I think I can say that I was one of the youngest people in the audience but it wasn’t a bad thing at all. I was really impressed by the fact that the music can transport you in another place. At some moment I was just closing my eyes to enjoy the violin and forget about where I was. I really enjoyed the concert; it was a first for me but for sure not the last classic concert I will go to.

Music task Hu Jinyu

Music task

I still remember the first festival I join in when I came to Finland. And this festival was to celebrate the end of summer. So there had a big music party in the center of Kokkola. And it's really a wonderful night. I came to the center accidentally with my friends. They told me about the music party when I heard someone was singing. Then we came to listen music. To my surprise,everyone there was so high,no matter children or old man. I have never seen Finnish people so crazy like this. So, I was happy too. Though, I didn't know what the song talk about,it's in Finnish. And I have never heard about this song.But,it's really a beautiful song. I love it. Then , I heard there would also have another singer to singing. I was so happy when I heard this. It's my first time to listen Finnish music as a long time.  And then I knew the singer's name is Jenni Vartiainen. Before I join the party I have never heard her name. She is a fantastic singer in Finland. And has a lot fans.

And I left after listened many songs. It's a great experience for me to know more about Finland. And I know a famous person in Finland. The most significant thing is that I begin to listen Finnish music after the party. And now, I have listened many types of music from Finland. Finally, I know why Finnish music is so famous in the world.
 
I hope I can have more chance to enjoy Finnish music.

D I E

DIE

There was a strange thing I met in Finland . During the autumn holiday, I went to Kajaani ( a city in Finland )to find my  sister by train. When I took the train from Kokkola to Oulu ,there had a ticket-taker to check the ticket .But he said Finnish , I didn’t know what he said.Then he just went past me.And then , I asked someone next to me about the sentence he said . And when the man back to my car , I gave him my ticket immediately .Because everyone need to check the ticket in China. I  was afraid I missed the checking.When I back to Kokkola , I took  three times trains .There were nobody to check the ticket.It can’t happen in China.
There are a little of my friends meet same thing.I guess the reason why they don’t check the ticket is they trust people . The most important thing to maintain a good order is trust.And another reason  is they don’t have enough time to check every car,so they just select some car to check .When I took the return train , my car was not be chosen.Obviously,it’s impossible happen in China.In China,everyone should check ticket and through the security check when they go to the train station.
After this thing,I think Finland is a state of mutual trust.And Finland is a country with low crime rate.So,they don’t need to check security . Everyone will buy ticket consciously

Musik task : Sibelius

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) was a finish violinist and a composer. He wrote only classical music which represent Finland. Two of his writing are well known, "Valse triste" and "Finlandia". He composed the most of his music between 1880 and 1920.
   I was in Turku to visit and I saw that there was a concert in Sibelius museum. Moreover the music played was composed by Jean Sibelius and since we spoke about him in class I was interested about his writing. It was a piano concert and the pianist was Tuomas Nikkanen. He played "Zhen Stüke für Klavier, op.24", "Sonate, op.12" Cinq Morceaux pour piano, op.75" and "Finlandia, op.26".

     Classical music it's a little special so I don't like everything but in these four writing my favourite was Finlandia. Why? Because it was interpreted well and when you are listening this music you can find the different pieces of Finland's history. I liked this concert and the place was very good to listen this kind of music (look picture).

task 3

One day,I just walked to the city center to buy something.And I met a old man walked with his dog.He smiled and said"Hyvä,päivä!"when he passed me.I was very surprised at that time but I still said"Päivä!"and smiled back to him.

It is very strange if happened in China.Because we always only say hello to the person we know each other on the street when we meet.And I also heared that Finnish people are very shy and silent only become outgonging and say a lot after they drinking before I came here.So it really surpried me because in my own opinion Finnish people do not talk to a stranger especially on the street.But I think that may because they were just thinking to be friendly to the new students like me from other countries and gave a good impression to us.And obviously I came from Asian and looked like a teen.Also,old people are more enthusiastic than young people.

I felt very happy regarding this situation.It seems like local people accept me.It is a very improtant feeling for a foreigner.If I was a member of the host culture and hels the dominant cultural values and beliefs,I may feel very normal and not at heart.

Programme Mon, 2.11.2015, / 8.00 at school and after excursion

Monday, 2.11.

 

Mon, 2.11. we have class at 8.00 school (classroom 282) and after that we will have an excursion to the town museum quarter.

We will meet on time at address: Pitkänsillankatu 26, at the read wood building ”Pedagogio”, at 9.30 when our guided tour starts. Be on time!

There is a task for you at the ”Pedagogio”. Take a picture with your phone of any item that you are familiar with from your own school, it may be a school bag, a book or anything that you recognize. Send the picture and a short comment about the item to instagram hashtag #khrm or you may send to the e-mail: monica.witting-kangasniemi@kokkola.fi

If it is okay for you, your picture and comment might be inserted on the museum’s facebook and/or blog.

 

 

See you at school at 8.00 tomorrow!

 

Best rgds,

Lena