Petri Hakala

I was born in 1962 in Tervakoski, and my musical career started with guitar playing at the age of 11. Towards the end of the 1970s, I started to play acoustic American bluegrass and I also became interested in the mandolin. After that, Irish music was a natural choice. I was a member of a band called Korkkijalka, a pioneer in the Irish music scene in Finland, formed in the early 1980s. Soon after this, I also took an interest in Finnish folk music. The teaching in string instruments at the Department of Folk Music of the Sibelius Academy began in 1989. The bands Ottopasuuna and Helsinki Mandoliners, also established around the same time, meant the introduction of octave mandolin, mando-cello and violin to my repertoire.

My solo album Kirjo was released in 1999. The album features my own compositions, traditional Finnish pieces and my latest favourite, Brazilian choro music. I have also played in several folk combos, such as Maria Kalaniemi & Aldargaz, Tango orchestra Unto, Markku Lepistö’s band and a duo with Markku Lepistö. I have worked with folk musicians from abroad, particularly with several American bluegrass performers when they have visited Finland, not forgetting Erik Hokkanen & Lumisudet. My most recent international project is FRESHET which, besides me, involves Ruthie Dornfield, John Miller and Tapani Varis.

I perform regularly in Finland, Europe and the United States. I have also worked as a studio musician and a mandolin player in the Finnish National Opera. I teach string instruments at the Sibelius Academy as well as at the Central Ostrobothnia Conservatory and Haapavesi Folk Music Festival courses.

Recordings

• Petri Hakala: Kirjo, 1999. Kansanmusiikki-instituutti (Folk Music Institute), KICD 69.
• Petri Hakala & Markku Lepistö: Pelimannien jäljillä (In the trace of the folk musicians), 2002. ZLM CD 006.
• Freshet, 2005. Orb Discs Orb-1006
• Helsinki Mandoliners: Helsinki Mandoliners 2, 2003. Kansanmusiikki-instituutti (Folk Music Institute), KICD 89
• Helsinki Mandoliners: Helsinki Mandoliners, 1995. Kansanmusiikki-instituutti (Folk Music Institute), KICD 38.
• Tango-orkesteri Unto: Finnish Tango, 2003. ARC EUCD 1830.
• Erik Hokkanen & Lumisudet: In the Heart of the Waking Dream, 2002. Olarin Musiikki, OMCD 96.
• Erik Hokkanen & Lumisudet: Kaustinen, Texas, 1995. Olarin musiikki OMCD 65.
• Maria Kalaniemi & Aldargaz: Ahma, 1999. Rockadillo Records, ZENCD 2059 / 2001 Northside USA.
• Maria Kalaniemi & Aldargaz: Iho, 1995. Olarin musiikki, OMCD 57 / Rykodisc, Hannibal, USA, HNCD 1396.
• Ottopasuuna: Suokaasua, 1996. Texicalli Records, TEXCD 002.
• Ottopasuuna: Ottopasuuna, 1991. Green Linnet, Xenophile USA, GLCD 4005.
• Korkkijalka: Through the Grey Stone. 1989 Bang Trax.
• Korkkijalka: Korgleg, 1986. Amulet.

Links

• Finnish Music Information Centre FIMIC – Petri Hakala page
• Freshet combo intruction
• Kansanmusiikki-instituutti (Folk Music Institute)
  Introduction to Kirjo solo album, Helsinki Mandoliners and Helsinki Mandoliners 2 CDs (in Finnish)
• Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department CD Series
  Introduction to albums and samples: Petri Hakala, Kirjo (no. 28); Helsinki Mandoliners (no. 12); Erik Hokkanen & Lumisudet (no. 25); Markku Lepistö, Silta (no. 34).
• Digelius
  One of the greatest record shops in the world (in Helsinki)
• Cd roots
  The best way to purchase Finnish recordings in the United States

Mandolin sites

• Mandolin Cafe
  A mandolin site
• Co Mando, Guest of the Week, Petri Hakala
• Stefan Sobell
  Stefan Sobell’s mandolins and guitars
• Joao Batista
  Joao Batista’s mandolins
• Gilchrist mandolins email: mandolins@gilchrist.com.au

Guitar sites

• Flatpicking Guitar Magazine
  A special American flatpicking site

Instruments

Mandolins

• Gilchrist model 5
• Joao Batista maple model
• Gibson H-5 mandola 1924
• Stefan Sobel cittern (DGDAE)

Guitars

• Gibson J 45 1950
• Regal 000 50's
• Martin OM-18V