Night on the Mountain
The music of The Helsinki Koto Ensemble is influenced both by Finnish folk music and by the Japanese koto tradition. A melodic and gentle feeling defines Minna Padilla's compositions, which delicately combine the sounds of Finnish kantele and the 13-stringed koto. The different backgrounds of the six musicians bring colours from folk, jazz, rock and pop into the music, and the arrangements also leave room for improvisation and variation. The ensemble was established in 2003.
Minna Padilla studied traditional koto playing in Japan, but in her own music she also uses playing techniques she has herself invented. The lyrics are Japanese poetry from the 9th to the 19th centuries, translated into Finnish by Kai Nieminen and G.J.Ramstedt. They lend their own unmistakable atmosphere to the songs. Finland's nature and the intimate but powerful sound of the Japanese koto have been sources of inspiration for these compositions, written by Minna Padilla.
Produced by Minna Padilla
Recorded by Taito Hoffrén
Assistant recording engineers: Kalle Vanhapelto
Mixed by Taito Hoffrén, Ääniä, Minna Padilla, Kristiina Ilmonen
Mastered by Svante Forsbäck, Chartmakers Oy
1. Night on the Mountain
Comp. Minna Padilla, lyrics Jakuren / Kai Nieminen, arr. Kristiina Ilmonen, Mirja Mäkelä, Minna Padilla.
Senni Eskelinen: kantele
Kristiina Ilmonen: flute
Olli Kari: accordion
Mirja Mäkelä: vocals
Minna Padilla: 13-string koto
Pasi Ryökkynen: electric bass guitar
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2. A Thought with the Lightness of a Kiss
Comp. Minna Padilla, lyrics Ono no Komachi / Kai Nieminen, arr. Mirja Mäkelä, Minna Padilla.
Mirja Mäkelä: vocals
Minna Padilla: 13-string koto
3. Koto 2003
Comp. Minna Padilla, arr. Senni Eskelinen, Kristiina Ilmonen, Olli Kari, Minna Padilla, Pasi Ryökkynen.
Senni Eskelinen: kantele
Kristiina Ilmonen: percussions, 5-kielinen kantele
Olli Kari: accordion, 5-kielinen kantele
Mirja Mäkelä: 5-kielinen kantele
Minna Padilla: 13-string koto, 5-kielinen kantele
Pasi Ryökkynen: electric bass guitar, 5-kielinen kantele
4. The First Snow
Comp. Minna Padilla, lyrics Basho, Issa, Kito, G. J. Ramstedt, Sampu, Seibi, Shiki, arr. Senni Eskelinen, Kristiina Ilmonen, Olli Kari, Mirja Mäkelä, Minna Padilla, Pasi Ryökkynen.
Senni Eskelinen: kantele
Kristiina Ilmonen: percussions, overtone flute
Olli Kari: accordion
Mirja Mäkelä: vocals
Minna Padilla: 13-string koto
Pasi Ryökkynen: electric bass guitar
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5. Iniko
Comp. Minna Padilla, arr. Kristiina Ilmonen, Olli Kari, Mirja Mäkelä, Minna Padilla, Pasi Ryökkynen.
Senni Eskelinen: kantele
Kristiina Ilmonen: flute
Olli Kari: accordion
Minna Padilla: 13-string koto
Pasi Ryökkynen: double bass
6. Conversations
Comp. Minna Padilla, arr. Olli Kari, Minna Padilla, Pasi Ryökkynen.
Olli Kari: accordion
Minna Padilla: 13-string koto
Pasi Ryökkynen: electric bass guitar
7. Snow Shoe
Comp. Minna Padilla, arr. Senni Eskelinen, Minna Padilla.
Senni Eskelinen: kantele
Minna Padilla: 13-string koto
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8. Hidden Inside the Leaves
Comp. Minna Padilla, lyrics Saighyo Hoshi / G. J. Ramstedt, arr. Senni Eskelinen, Kristiina Ilmonen, Olli Kari, Mirja Mäkelä, Minna Padilla, Pasi Ryökkynen.
Ihmisen täytyy joskus yrittää kurkottaa rajan taakse, siihen siltana toimii kaipaus. Sävelsin kappaleen vuonna 2006 Saighyo Hoshin runoon. Käytän kolmella koton alimmalla kielellä lisätalloja.
Senni Eskelinen: kantele, backing vocals
Kristiina Ilmonen: percussions, backing vocals
Olli Kari: accordion, backing vocals
Mirja Mäkelä: vocals, backing vocals
Minna Padilla: 13-string koto, backing vocals
Pasi Ryökkynen: electric bass guitar, backing vocals
9. Lullaby for Vilja
Comp. Minna Padilla, arr. Senni Eskelinen, Kristiina Ilmonen, Olli Kari, Mirja Mäkelä, Minna Padilla, Pasi Ryökkynen.
Senni Eskelinen: kantele
Kristiina Ilmonen: glockenspiel
Olli Kari: accordion
Mirja Mäkelä: vocals
Minna Padilla: 13-string koto
Pasi Ryökkynen: double bass