Archipelago Sounds and Landscapes

Marianne Maans Violin & vocals
Jaakko Ruola Video

A captivating concert experience featuring music performed by musician Marianne Maans (violin and vocals) alongside a video composition created by nature photographer Jaakko Ruola. The music draws inspiration from the sea, traditional sailing boats, and the folk music of the archipelago. The program includes both new compositions and traditional tunes arranged for voice and violin. The Archipelago Sea is part of the precious Baltic Sea region, and the concert reminds us of the importance of protecting our marine environments.

The video material was filmed with drones over the past ten years by Jaakko Ruola. The footage showcases the unique nature and landscapes of the Archipelago Sea across different seasons. The video was created specifically for Marianne Maans’ “Bow Waves” music and features images of the sea, nature, archipelago, islands, landscapes, weather, and wind. Together, Marianne Maans’ violin and vocals and Jaakko Ruola’s versatile video work create an enjoyable experience that highlights the moods and beauty of the Archipelago Sea in a fresh and immersive way.

BOW WAVES – LIKE A BIRD offers a holistic experience that invites reflection and appreciation of our musical heritage and the unique Archipelago Sea and Baltic Sea. The concert is suitable for all ages.

Marianne Maans, MuM, is a versatile professional folk musician who performs solo and with various ensembles. Her specialty is Finland-Swedish folk music, and her artistic reach includes contemporary styles and Argentine tango. The archipelago and traditional sailing are among her passions!

Jaakko Ruola, economist, has been documenting the Archipelago Sea in photos and film for over twenty years. The sea’s unique landscapes, nature, moods, and weather throughout the year and day are a strong source of inspiration for him. He is also deeply interested in issues related to the archipelago and its culture.

Trailer:

Marianne Maans vocals and violin
Mikko Perkola viola da gamba, recitation, vocals and electronics
Henrik Sandås bandoneon

Through folk music’s timeless themes of love, betrayal, loyalty and transformation, the trio Maans–Perkola–Sandås invites us on a journey into the depths of the inner life, where music, tales, mythology and poetry are woven into a harmonious whole. Universal stories of inner conflict, transformation and enlightenment. The trio explores these inner landscapes with expressiveness and openness, where every tone and every word becomes part of a deeper understanding of human existence and the soul. The power of music becomes not only a means of understanding the world, but a way of experiencing and expressing what is otherwise difficult to capture in words.

The Finland-Swedish folk music tradition—its fiddle tunes, ballads and love songs—springs from a shared Nordic heritage, yet forms a distinctive branch with its own tone and individuality. The trio’s versatile artistry places the heart at the center, whether in mythological folk songs or nuanced instrumental pieces, culminating in expressivity, beauty and sensitivity.

The trio also performs programs that combine Argentine tango and South American poetry.

Marianne Maans, violin and vocals, is a versatile folk musician specializing in Finland-Swedish and Finnish folk music. Her musical work ranges from folk music to Argentine tango and concerts that combine folk traditions with contemporary music. Marianne performs both solo and with ensembles in Finland and abroad. In various projects she collaborates with choirs, theatre, cross‑disciplinary productions and educational initiatives. She also works as a musician in care environments. In 2017, Marianne was one of the recipients of the Swedish Cultural Foundation’s awards.

Mikko Perkola, viola da gamba and vocals, tours both solo and with various ensembles in Finland and internationally. His productions are often multidisciplinary, combining music with other art forms. Composition, improvisation and electronics form an important part of Mikko’s musical expression. He has performed early music with groups such as Phantasm, whose albums have received top reviews and special distinctions. wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikko_Perkola

Henrik Sandås, bandoneon, has performed as a soloist and arranger with numerous chamber ensembles and symphony orchestras around the world. In 2025 he made his solo debut with the BBC Symphony Orchestra in London. In addition to his solo career, he is well known as the charismatic bandoneonist of Tanguedia Quintet, Otra Vez, Quartet Ajaton and the Henrik Sandås Quintet. His repertoire spans everything from Baroque music to tango nuevo, contemporary art music, jazz and improvisation. He is also a skilled and highly regarded arranger. Sandås plays an old bandoneon built by the legendary Alfred Arnold in 1936. henriksandas.com

Excerpts from reviews of the ensemble’s concerts

“Such precision and emotional depth… It was so intense you almost forgot to breathe! Culture at the highest level!”
— Österbottens Tidning, 2 Oct 2024

“Henrik Sandås offered breathtaking improvisations and delicate flights of expression, only to let his two colleagues shine in the next moment.”
— Vasabladet, 14 Apr 2024

“The interpretations with vocals, violin, viola da gamba and bandoneon merged into an artistic and sensitive whole.”
— Joutsan Seutu, 16 Jul 2024

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Trio Maans-Perkola-Sandås: Jag ser uppå dina ögon

Trio Maans-Perkola-Sandås: Näcken och jungfrun

An extraordinary ensemble of top-tier musicians, combining Argentinian tango, poetry and folk music. The trio consists of Marianne Maans (vocals and violin), Mikko Perkola (viola da gamba, recitation, vocals, and electronics) and Henrik Sandås (bandoneon). Together, they merge their extensive expertise in tango, improvisation, early music, folk music and the art of poetic recitation. The trio’s music is marked by virtuosic skill, expressive depth and profound interpretations. Their soundscape blends the powerful melodies of tango, the primal energy of folk music and the unique texture of the viola da gamba intertwined with electronics, creating varied and mesmerizing sonic worlds. Pablo Neruda’s poems on life and love are recited in multiple languages as needed.

The trio performs concerts featuring tango classics, tango nueva and Neruda’s poetry, with themed programs such as Alfonsina and the Sea, Corazón al Sur and Bach Meets Piazzolla. In 2025, a new concert program with a stronger focus on folk music will be prepared.

Marianne Maans (vocals and violin) is a versatile folk musician specializing in Finnish-Swedish folk music. Her repertoire spans from traditional folk to Argentinian tango, often combining elements of contemporary music in her concerts. Marianne has performed in over 20 countries as a solo artist and with ensembles. She has collaborated with choirs, theaters, and interdisciplinary projects and has appeared on around 20 albums. She also works as a musician in care facilities.

Mikko Perkola (viola da gamba, vocals and recitation) performs both as a soloist and with various ensembles in Finland and abroad. His productions often combine multiple art forms. Composition, improvisation and electronics play a central role in Mikko’s music. He has played with Phantasm, an early music ensemble whose albums have received several top reviews and accolades (wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikko_Perkola).

Henrik Sandås (bandoneon) has performed as a soloist and arranger with numerous chamber ensembles and symphony orchestras in Finland and across the Globe. In 2025, he will also perform as a soloist with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, among others. He is known as the charismatic bandoneonist of ensembles such as Tanguedia Quintet, Otra Vez, Quartet Ajaton and Henrik Sandås Quintet. Sandås plays a vintage 1936 bandoneon built by Alfred Arnold (henriksandas.com)

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”What precision and liveliness…. Melancholy songs and tearing Argentinian tangos alternated in a pleasant setting… It was so intense that you almost forgot to breathe! Culture at the highest level!”

Österbottens tidning 2.10.24

”Henrik Sandås offered amazing improvisations and sensitive unrestrainedness, to let his colleague shine in the next moment” 

Vasabladet 14.4.24

”The interpretation with singing, violin, viola da gamba and bandoneon combined into an artistic and sensitive whole. In particular, Perkola’s statements on the poems of Nobel laureate Pablo Neruda stopped and provoked thoughts” 

Joutsan Seutu 16.7.24

Eija Kankaanranta: Kantele

Marianne Maans: Violin and vocals

This concert blends contemporary music and folk music, featuring works by Finnish composers such as Pauliina Isomäki, Johanna Pitkänen, Kalle Ylitalo and Juhani Nuorvala. The duo’s repertoire also includes music by international composers like Ryuichi Sakamoto (Japan) and Ólafur Arnalds (Iceland). The folk music pieces and arrangements in the concert are marked by virtuosic improvisations, creating captivating soundscapes with kantele, voice and violin. Several of the pieces focus on the relationship between humans and nature—a connection that is bothrespectful, realistic and empowering.

Eija Kankaanranta, DMus, is a kantele musician with a deep passion for contemporary music and improvisation. She has premiered and recorded works by composers such as Juhani Nuorvala, Kaija Saariaho, Olli Virtaperko and Lotta Wennäkoski. Her active ensembles include a contemporary music duo with flutist Camilla Hoitenga (USA), the blues and folk fusion group Juurakko and Superpluck which performs Finnish and Japanese music with guitarist Rody van Gemert and harpsichordist Assi Karttunen. She also teaches in the classical music department at the Sibelius Academy 

ekantele.blogspot.com

Marianne Maans (vocals and violin) is a versatile folk musician specializing in Finnish-Swedish folk music. Her repertoire spans from traditional folk to Argentinian tango, often combining elements of contemporary music in her concerts. Marianne has performed in over 20 countries as a solo artist and with ensembles. She has collaborated with choirs, theaters, and interdisciplinary projects and has appeared on around 20 albums. She also works as a musician in care facilities.

mariannemaans.com

Now – In the Moment – Through Time – Always

A Bilingual Folk Music Performance

Maans & Puurtinen: Concept and excecution, violins and vocals 

“Soi torpat ja salongit II” interprets the traditional music of Southwest Finland and the Turku Archipelago through modern arrangements. Two violins, songs in Finnish and Swedish and bilingual storytelling connect the performers and audience to the timeless continuum of folk music. The musical soundscape of the archipelago, villages, and towns is simultaneously a reflection of the past and a creation of the present moment. This concert continues from the duo’s earlier work “Soi torpat ja salongit” (2019- 2024), during which they explored thousands of folk music scores and recordings from archives such as the Sibelius Museum, the Finnish Literature Society, the National Library of Finland, the Society of Swedish Literature in Finland and the Swedish Visarkiv. The new production continues this extensive and cross-linguistic exploration of folk music.

Marianne Maans has been a professional folk musician since the late 1990s, working on a wide range of music projects and is an expert in the Finnish-Swedish folk music tradition. Marjaana Puurtinen is a prominent figure in the folk music scene of Southwest Finland, known for composing and arranging music for major folk dance productions.

The performance costumes, made from recycled materials, are designed by Marjo Haapasalo. This versatile concert program suits various venues and events, appealing to a wide audience. The performance lasts approximately one hour.

Music through the ages

Maans & Puurtinen, fiddles and vocals

A bilingual concert presenting gems from the folk music of Southwest Finland and bringing archive material alive to listeners of today. The program is inspired by the rich musical traditions of the region in the 18th and 19th century. Treasures from the archives tell us about the meaning of music in people’s lives: music in everyday life and celebrations, in sorrow and happiness.

The borders between folk music and music played in salons are very vague. In the 19th century a priest in the archipelago could first play in the orchestra in Turku and then play dance tunes for the young in the village. All music is arranged by the musicians and performed in Finnish and Swedish on two fiddles and vocals. The program contains everything from medieval ballads and minuets to polkas and waltzes. The costumes are designed by Marjo Haapasalo and the concert is suitable for many kinds of spaces and events. Duration approx. 1 h.

Marianne Maans is a professional folk musician and expert in the folk music of Swedish-speaking Finland, a versatile musician active in the field since the 1990s. 

Marjaana Puurtinen is a driving force in the folk music in Southwest Finland and has among others made music for several bigger dance pieces. 

For this project, the musicians have studied thousands of music books and archive recordings in different archives such as the Sibelius museum, Finska litteratursällskapet, the National Library and Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland.