Maria Kalaniemi This is Me

Education

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1. 1. N o r t h S i d e - Biography - Maria Kalaniemi

   www.noside.com/bio_MariaK.html - [Cached]

   Published on: 5/11/2006   Last Visited: 5/16/2008

   Maria Kalaniemi
   
   Maria Kalaniemi has been playing 5-row button accordion since she was eight.Encouraged by her grandmother, she spent eleven years in classical training, rapidly developing and fine tuning her technique.Maria's curiosity for adventure emerged early in her studies as she discovered a fascination for folk music; a genre frowned upon by classical music teachers.In spite of discouragement from her music school, Maria sought folk training and performed in public at dances.This classical/folk duality has always been quite uncommon among accordionists, as the two camps tend to remain separate, but working in both areas gave Maria a unique perspective and set the stage for what would be a challenging future.
   
   She joined Heikki Laitinen's newly established Folk Music Department at the Sibelius Academy in 1983, while de-emphasizing her studies in classical music.The program opened up the brave new world of Finnish folk music, and this formal and innovative folk training proved to be a major turning point for Maria.She mastered a chosen instrument while studying multi-instrumentalism, composition, theory, improvisation and performance in an adventurous and borderless atmosphere.Maria also studied mandolin, violin and kantele and began composing and arranging.
   
   One of Maria's first projects at the Academy was the formation of the group Niekku in 1983.They set out to reinvent folk music, and their three albums and numerous concerts at home and abroad established them as leaders of the "New Finnish Folk" movement.Ever searching for new challenges, Maria left the band in 1989 and headed for France to study for a short time with accordionist Marcel Azzola.
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   The free-bass technique Maria explored and developed opened up a whole new world of possibilities for her, in performance, composition and arrangement.Two years later she mastered the technique, thus achieving unique status in Finland and perhaps the world.
   
   In 1995, Maria officially established her band, Aldargaz, including Timo Alakotila, Arto Järvelä, Olli Varis, Tapani Varis and Petri Hakala. (Timo and Arto are mainstays in the Finnish fiddle band JPP, Tapani has released a solo set, Jews Harp, on NorthSide.) Their first release, Iho, features mostly original pieces by Maria and collaborator, pianist Timo Alakotila.In 1995, Maria officially established her band, Aldargaz, including Timo Alakotila, Arto Järvelä, Olli Varis, Tapani Varis and Petri Hakala. (Timo and Arto are mainstays in the Finnish fiddle band JPP, Tapani has released a solo set, Jews Harp, on NorthSide.) Their first release, Iho, features mostly original pieces by Maria and collaborator, pianist Timo Alakotila.
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   Maria was an instructor in accordion at her alma mater, The Sibelius Academy, although now she devotes herself full time to composing and recording.In 1996, she was, along with Aldargaz, the first "folk music" artist in Finland's history to receive the "Prize of Finland" award for artistic excellence (an award which was exclusively bestowed upon classical, jazz or pop musicians in the past).
   
   Maria's other projects are numerous, she is a member of the international accordion collective, Accordion Tribe, featuring five players from different traditions.She also performs in the Swedish-Finnish project Ramunder, and the Helsinki Melodeon Ladies quintet.
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   1992: Maria Kalaniemi ("Master of the Folk Accordion") Olarin Musiikki (Finland) OMCD 40, Finlandia Innovators (reissue) (Finland) 3984-23224-2, Xenophile/Green Linnet (U.S.) GLCD 4013
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   The Word on Maria Kalaniemi
   
   " ... center stage belongs to Kalaniemi, and like the late Argentinian Astor Piazzolla, she has complete mastery of the accordion, easily collapsing the barriers between musical genres.

2. 2. Nordic Roots Festival 2006 Information

   www.nordicroots.org/nrf2006/NR - [Cached]

   Published on: 1/1/2006   Last Visited: 4/29/2007

   Maria Kalaniemi
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   Maria Kalaniemi, a master of free-bass button accordion, is one of Finland's leading contemporary accordionists.Once a member of pioneering groups Niekku and Aldargaz, from the famed Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department, where she now teaches, her roots are in folk and classical music but her sights and abilities go far beyond existing styles.Technically brilliant as a player, and adept at improvisation, she is also a very powerful, intuitive and sensitive composer, with pieces that stylistically touch in numerous areas but feature her own personality as the driving force.Melody is the meaning and with Maria, listeners are sure to feel her message deeply.
   
   Maria has released many albums, the latest are the duo and live trio CDs with pianist Timo Alakotila.
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   Maria has toured and performed with these groups and other projects throughout Europe, USA and in Canada.Her new work Bellow Poetry is centered around solo accordion pieces.
   
   "'The melody is the message' she comments in the liner notes, and what a graceful series of messages she gives us.The success of the record is due in part to its intimacy.Produced in her home studio, a track like 'Rain' brings together a skeletal waif of a tune with her natural surroundings.Thus birdsong, wind, and rain combine to form a sensitive orchestration with composer.If fellow Finn, Kimmo Pohjonen is said to be the Hendrix of the instrument, then Maria can be credibly claimed to be its Erik Satie."-- BBC Radio
   
   " ... center stage belongs to Kalaniemi, and like the late Argentinean Astor Piazzolla, she has complete mastery of the accordion, easily collapsing the barriers between musical genres.
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   Maria was voted winner of the Golden Accordion, a live nationally televised accordion competition.The direct result of this was the opportunity to record her first album, featuring, as in the competition, traditional Finnish dance tunes.Secondly, Maria entered Helsinki's Sibelius Academy and joined Heikki Laitinen's newly established Folk Music Department.Soon after entering, she finished her classical training completely and devoted all her time and energies to folkmusic.
   
   Maria's experience with Laitinen and his revolutionary approach to folkmusic training was a major turning point in her life and career.Her work there was extensive and all encompassing, including thorough knowledge of tradition, mastery of a chosen instrument, multi-instrumentalism, composition, theory, improvisation and performance, centered around a broad minded, adventurous and borderless attitude towards all forms of music.So, while progressing rapidly in her accordion skills, Maria also studied mandolin, violin and kantele and began composing and arranging.
   
   The second major turning point came in 1990 at Maria's Sibelius Academy graduation, where she began investigating the use of left hand free-bass melodies, an approach not previously attempted as free-bass playing was considered exclusive to the classical music genre.The free-bass technique Maria explored and developed opened up a whole new world of possibilities for her, in performance, composition and arrangement.She promptly and with great intensity set her course on this path and within two years she was a master, a position unique in Finland and perhaps the world.
   
   In 1995, Maria officially established her band, including Timo Alakotila, Arto Järvelä, Olli Varis, Tapani Varis and mandolinist Petri Hakala and christened it Aldargaz, named after a tribe of skinheads residing in the Ural mountains.
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   Featuring mostly original pieces by Maria and collaborator, pianist Timo Alakotila, Iho was a dramatic leap forward in composition, arrangement and style.
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   Maria Kalaniemi Trio perform mostly original compositions by accordionist Maria Kalaniemi and pianist Timo Alakotila, with some Finnish traditional pieces.
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   The Trio are: Maria Kalaniemi (accordion, see bio above), Timo Alakotila (piano, see bio below), Olli Varis (guitar).
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   Timo made a duet album May Monday with British accordionist Karen Tweed, then toured England with Karen and Maria to promote that release.
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   Timo and Maria released their duo album, entitled Ambra, in 2001.
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   In 1994, Timo formed the group Aldargaz, with Maria Kalaniemi.
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   As pianist, composer and arranger for the group, Timo played an integral role in the ensemble's concept and sound and it's the additional chemistry with Maria that gave the band a highly sophisticated yet deeply personal style.

3. 3. Hoedown - Maria Kalaniemi

   hoedown.com/main.site?action=s - [Cached]

   Published on: 10/6/2004   Last Visited: 5/28/2008

   Maria KalaniemiHoedown - Maria Kalaniemi
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   > Maria Kalaniemi
   
   Maria Kalaniemi, a master of free-bass button accordion, is one of Finland's leading contemporary accordionists.Once a member of pioneering groups Niekku and Aldargaz, from the famed Sibelius Acdemy Folk Music Department, where she now teaches, her roots are in folk and classical music but her sights and abilities go far beyond existing styles.Technically brilliant as a player, and adept at improvisation, she is also a very powerful, intuitive and sensitive composer, with pieces that stylistically touch in numerous areas but feature her own personality as the driving force.Melody is the meaning and with Maria, listeners are sure to feel her message deeply.
   
   Maria has released many albums, the latest is her solo album Bellow Poetry.She is also a member of the international accordion collective Accordion Tribe, Swedish-Finnish music group Ramunder, UNTO Tango Orchestra as well as many other projects.Maria has toured and performed with these groups and other projects throughout Europe, USA and in Canada.
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   BWell known Czecj journalist Petr Doruzka interviewed Maria Kalaniemi for an article on his World Musoc website and the resulting article can be accessed here.
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   Maria Kalaniemi and Olli Varis travelled to Taiwan for two concerts in support of the release.
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   Maria Kalaniemi's solo album, Bellow Poetry, was released this day in Finland on Aito Records.The album features seven new Kalaniemi compositions, one traditional piece and one song by Swedish composer Evert Taube. [ More ... ]
   
   Maria Kalaniemi appointed Artist Professor
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   On Dec 17, 2004, Finnish National Theatre in Helsinki presents the premiere of production of "Niskavuoren Nuori Emäntä" featuring music composed by Maria Kalaniemi.
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   Maria Kalaniemi in Finnish
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   Finnish speaking visitors and others wishing more in depth information about Maria Kalaniemi are invited to visit her newly opened website.