Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
As well as compiling and writing the
Kalevala,
Elias Lönnrot's work in creating a standard
Finnish grammar and vocabulary by adopting words and expressions from various dia-
lects was of great importance. Finnish has remained very much the same ever since, at
least in written form.
There's an excellent, detailed, though somewhat out-of-date, index of Finnish and other
Nordic authors in English at
www.kirjasto.sci.fi
.
Music
Finland's music scene is one of the world's richest and the output of quality musicians per
capita is amazingly high, whether we're talking another polished symphony orchestra viol-
inist or a headbanging bassist for the next big death-metal band.
Summer here is all about music festivals of every conceivable type.
Classical Music
Composer Jean Sibelius' work dominates Finland's music but some contemporary com-
posers are also turning heads. Partly thanks to Helsinki's Sibelius Academy, Finnish mu-
sical education is among the best in the world, with Finnish conductors, singers and musi-
cians performing with some of the world's top orchestras. There are some excellent clas-
sical music festivals in Finland.
Popular Music
In recent years Finnish bands, mostly from the heavier side of the spectrum, have taken the
world by storm, and indeed Finland has one of the liveliest metal scenes around. The
biggest exports are HIM with their 'love metal' and darkly atmospheric Nightwish, whose
former vocalist Tarja Turunen is also pursuing a solo career. Catchy light-metal rockers the
Rasmus continue to be successful. All genres of metal, as well as a few made-up ones, are
represented, including Finntroll's folk metal (blending metal and humppa), the 69 Eyes'
gothic metal, Apocalyptica's classical metal, Children of Bodom's melodic death metal,
Sonata Arctica's and Stratovarius' power metal, Eternal Tears of Sorrow's symphonic met-
al, and Impaled Nazarene's black metal. All great stuff.
