Freshet: Freshet

Freshet is a Finnish-American collaboration, the result of an idea that occurred simultaneously to Petri Hakala and Ruthie Dornfeld one fine spring day in 2001. While Petri was on tour in Seattle with The Helsinki Mandoliners, their paths crossed for the umpteenth time and it struck them both that it would be a very good idea to play together. So, they invited Finnish bassist Tapani Varis and American guitarist John Miller to the project, and through and international correspondence of music, tapes, CDs, and mp3 files, put together a repertoire. It was an exciting moment when it all came to fruition a year later; we met in Helsinki, broke out our instruments, and played as a band for the very first time. After a wonderful two week tour we knew it couldn’t end there. We met in Seattle the following year for another tour, adding some freshly written tunes to the repertoire. In the spring of 2004 we recorded this CD in Finland. Here’s to cultural exchange! We hope your enjoy our music.

Äänitys Olli Varis ja Kalle Vanhapelto. Miksaus Olli Varis ja Petri Hakala. Masteroitu Garey Shelton Studiolla, Seattlessa, Washingtonissa, USA:ssa.

1. Homenaje a mi Pueblo (Homage to my Town)
Säv. Macario Gonzalez.

Ruthie found this tune on a wonderful Venezuelan recording of double fiddle waltzes.

Ruthie Dornfeld: viulu
Petri Hakala: mandoliini
John Miller: kitara
Tapani Varis: kontrabasso

2. Cranberry Hill
Säv. Tapani Varis.

A bossa nova Tapani named after a country outing with his daughter, Siiri, in which they found cranberries not in a bog, but atop a hill.

Ruthie Dornfeld: viulu
Petri Hakala: mandoliini
John Miller: kitara
Tapani Varis: kontrabasso

3. Orpolasten Polska
Säv. trad.

Collected in the 1890s by Ilmari Krohn and first published in his book, Old Fiddle Tunes, in the early 1900s.

Ruthie Dornfeld: viulu
Petri Hakala: mandoliini
John Miller: kitara
Tapani Varis: kontrabasso

4. East End
Säv. John Miller.

Peter Matthiessen’s novel, ”Far Tortuga”, provided the title for John’s tune. In the book, the East End of Grand Cayman Island is a place where the old ways, Obeah, are practiced.

Ruthie Dornfeld: viulu
Petri Hakala: mandoliini
John Miller: kitara
Tapani Varis: kontrabasso

5. A Slip of Blue
Säv. John Miller.

A slip jig that plays fast and loose with the rhythmic feel.

Ruthie Dornfeld: viulu
Petri Hakala: mandoliini
John Miller: kitara
Tapani Varis: kontrabasso

6. Hannuland
Säv. Ruthie Dornfeld.

A polska named in honor of Timo Hannula, a big-spirited violinist, violin teacher and music festival organizer who does so much to keep the town of Haapavesi, in central Finland, filled with music.

Ruthie Dornfeld: viulu
Petri Hakala: mandoliini
John Miller: kitara
Tapani Varis: kontrabasso

7. Halki Kirkkomaan
Säv. Petri Hakala.

Petri originally composed this beautiful air for a trio of mandolins.

Ruthie Dornfeld: viulu
Petri Hakala: mandoliini
John Miller: kitara
Tapani Varis: kontrabasso

8. Purple Sea
Säv. Timo Alakotila.

The great Finnish composer and keyboardist Timo Alakotila, with his distinctive harmonic and rhythmic sense, wrote this tune for us.

Ruthie Dornfeld: viulu
Petri Hakala: mandoliini
John Miller: kitara
Tapani Varis: kontrabasso

9. Oikotie
Säv. Tapani Varis.

Tapani plays overtone flute here in a trio with Ruthie and Petri.

Ruthie Dornfeld: viulu
Petri Hakala: mandoliini
John Miller: kitara
Tapani Varis: kontrabasso

10. Plowboy
Säv. Petri Hakala.

Petri composed this tune very shortly before the recording, and the band immediately took to it.

Ruthie Dornfeld: viulu
Petri Hakala: mandoliini
John Miller: kitara
Tapani Varis: kontrabasso

11. Luz (Light)
Säv. John Miller.

In this samba John creates a long form with a churning rhythm and the melody floating serenely over it.

Ruthie Dornfeld: viulu
Petri Hakala: mandoliini
John Miller: kitara
Tapani Varis: kontrabasso

12. A Labyrinth
Säv. Petri Hakala.

A chorinho, in a duet with Petri and John.

Ruthie Dornfeld: viulu
Petri Hakala: mandoliini
John Miller: kitara
Tapani Varis: kontrabasso

13. Raita
Säv. Tapani Varis.

Tapani has been inspired by French medieval music, and this tune reflects that spirit.

Ruthie Dornfeld: viulu
Petri Hakala: mandoliini
John Miller: kitara
Tapani Varis: kontrabasso

14. Fancy Squirrel / The Plover
Säv. Ruthie Dornfeld.

Two polkas, the first named for a stylish little fellow we saw foraging outside a Finnish cottage, and the second after the kildeer family that nests on the roof of Ruthie’s house every year.

Ruthie Dornfeld: viulu
Petri Hakala: mandoliini
John Miller: kitara
Tapani Varis: kontrabasso