ENSEMBLES:
Aoide uses both archaic and modern instruments to bring traditional Finnish melodies to the present day and via improvisation forms music that is at the same time ancient and new, soft and fierce, still and constantly evolving. In summer 2018 in Kaustinen Folk Music Festival Aoide won a nationwide ’Konsta Jylhä competition’ held by the Finnish Folk Music Institute and was greatly acclaimed for their incomparable musicianship, deep understanding of Finnish archaic music and passionate performances. Record company Helmi Levyt released Aoide’s debut album in November 2020.
Heli Hartikainen – woodwinds
Minttu Hellstén – voice
Jenni Venäläinen – kantele
Essi Hirvonen – double bass
DANCE THEATRE:
Hartikainen has worked as a musician and performer in Dance Theatre Auracos pieces ‘Tuntu’ (2017) and ‘Miksi Mix’ (2020) and AINUT (2021-). In ‘Miksi Mix’ Hartikainen also worked as a composer and sound designer.
PERFORMANCE ART:
Since 2018 Hartikainen has worked as a “fire saxophonist” in Maria Baric Company and Fire theatre Tulikansa.
Peloton collective:
Dance Like A MoFo
ALBUMS:
Aoide – I (Helmi Levyt 2020)
Passionate, minimalistic, improvisational art folk that has its roots in the finno-ugric music traditions
Sibelius Academy Folk Big Band – Katrilli toisesta elämästä (Siba Records 2019)
Finnish folk orchestra of 40 musicians with fiddles, kanteles, accordions, harmoniums, guitars, percussions, winds and vocals.
Museum of Impossible Forms – thinking sound (Impossible Reader 2019)
Thinking Sound is the first edition of the Impossible Reader – a biennial publication in the form of vinyl record. 11 artists respond to the curatorial vision of ‘The Fierce Urgency of Now‘ and perform a series of manifestos on Improvisation, experimentation, Music and Sound as Art.
Project Vainiolla Ensemble – Suruvesi (Vainiolla Sounds 2018)
Project Vainiolla Ensemble’s debut album Suruvesi is an exploration of possibilities of laments and a prepared piano. The laments – also called poetry of eternal parting and final passing – are mixed with instruments, both acoustic and electronic, and improvised soundscapes that were recorded in the fields and forests.
Heli Hartikainen 