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Eila
Hartikainen (born 1972 in Kerimäki) found her way into
folk music already while she was living in her native
region. She both sang and played violin as well as double
bass in folk and dance music ensembles. As a child she also sang in Savonlinna Opera Festival children´s choir. While Eila was studying at the Savonlinna Senior Secondary School of Art and Music she made music in the folk ensemble Takamus. Eila began her folk music studies at the Sibelius Academy in 1990, majoring in singing. The solo concerts in Kalevala rune singing brought out the strong interpreter of ancient music culture in Eila Hartikainen. This force and ability to interpret was awarded with the Finnish Championship of Rune Singing in 1995. Together with Kirsi Räisänen and Sirkka Kosonen, Eila´s sister, Eila in 1994 created a piece of musical work crossing conventional boundaries, Kalevala, which was performed in the caves of Retretti Art Centre in Punkaharju. Co-operation between the two sisters continued in the Kalevala for Children and Young People project, in which 100 children and young people danced and which was performed at the Högfors factory in Karkkila. Eila gained more insight into the depths of rune singing and voice improvisation as well as theatrical statement by joining the Voice Theatre Iki-Turso in 1999. At the moment Eila, who received the masters in music in 2000, is fully employed by her three lively sons. In addition to her domestic duties Eila manages to work as a musician, too. |
