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The
Voice Theatre Iki-Turso is a group concentrating
experimental voice theatre and archaic rune singing. Iki-Turso
came into being during the Kalevala 150th jubilee year in
1999. The researcher and musician, professor Heikki
Laitinen collected a group vocal improvisation and rune
singing focused musicians who now went deeply into
ancient singing culture. The musicians produced 14
different Runolaulun jäljillä (At Footsteps of Rune
Singing) concerts for the Finnish National Theatre. They
sang Kalevala epic and lyric tunes both solo, in small
groups and all together; the performances were seasoned
with storytelling. In these concerts rarely heard text
improvisation was revived for instance in the form of
competitive singing. An essential part of Iki-Turso performances from day one has been vocal improvisation. The intention has been to broaden the statement of human voice, and also to help the musicians to develop as comprehensive performers. At Footsteps of Rune Singing has been followed by Mythologia Fennica (2000), a performance while visiting the international theatre festival Arts Berezillia in Kiev, Voice Day in Suomenlinna (2000), a voice trek on the walls, in the vaults and the towers of Suomenlinna which took a full Saturday, Muistolaulu Marijalle (A Remembrance Song for Maria, 2001), a series of vocal performances at the Museum of Cultures in Helsinki while there was an exhibition of the Mari people. For April and May 2002 Iki-Turso did a voice theatre work Imaanin huuto (Cry of an Iman) at the Ateneum Art Museum (http://www.ateneum.fi) in Helsinki. Voice Theatre Iki-Turso: Eila Hartikainen, Taito Hoffrén, Maari Kallberg, Ilona Korhonen, Heikki Laitinen, Anna-Kaisa Liedes, Outi Pulkkinen, Juha Valkeapää. |
