Assu
February 6th is National Sámi day in Finland. The Sámi people come from the extreme northern areas of Finland, Norway, Sweden and Russia. The area has a rich culture and their heritage can be expressed through a musical tradition of joiking. Joiks can be created and passed down through many generations. A joik can be about daily life such as herding reindeer or about a relative they may have... or about a place or an animal. The chanting style of this art form is similar to Native American cultures.
The Ensemble named Assu is led by direct Sámi descendant Ulla Pirttijärvi. With the help of percussionist Harald Skullerud and multi-instrumentalist Olav Torget, Assu will be releasing a joik single on National Sámi day. Without compromising the tradition of a joik, the ensemble adds a modern approach to this ancient art form. Following this single release, there will be a full album of joiks with this mix of traditional and modern styles. These tracks will be all personal stories and experiences of Ulla and her rich history of Sámi tradition. I recently corresponded with all three members on this project.
Ulla Pirttijärvi
R.V.B. - Congratulations on the upcoming album. Do you feel these 11 tracks paint an art picture of the traditional joiks from the rich culture of your homeland
U.P. - I hope that people can feel and hear the traditionally joik culture of this album and still at the same time the experience the modern and strong feelings of musically expressing... Hope this music is coming near listener..
R.V.B. - How are joik's part of the traditional Sámi culture?
U.P. - Tradition joik have been always the communication between the peoples, way to remember family members and friends, relatives, also teach children and express contact to nature...These days it's still same importance of course to Sámi people, but it also has the bigger meaning being proud of our unique musical way, and show it to others also outside of culture.
R.V.B. - The music for these joiks had a meditative droning style. Did you want this feeling as opposed to some of your other pop style releases?
U.P. - To me it has always been important that my music would wake up strong spiritual feelings, I hope that this album could do it ...
R.V.B. - You seem to be on a mission to preserve this beautiful culture through your art. How do you convey to the musicians that worked on this project what type of groove you would like for let's say a family related joik or a region related joik?
U.P. - I have been very open to new good ideas in musical ways. So long time when it's working in my thinking way, feeling that it's all right and it's touches my feelings so it's ok. If I have a feeling that it's not working in musical way so it's not good to do it. I have so simple thinking way, because we Sámi don't have traditions to play instrumental music, only the shamanic drums in old times, so all instrumental music with joik mixed is new way to make music anyway...
R.V.B. - I understand Vulles Heaika will be released as a single. Why did you pick this one?
U.P. - It have been very difficult to choice one joik to the single of this album...That joik melody is joyful and happy, different than the others ...
R.V.B. - Will there be a CD release performance?
U.P. We are going to have release concerts in Oslo and Helsinki at the end of March and beginning of April ...
R.V.B. - Was this a special project for you in that it showcases events of your life and people you are associated with?
U.P. - This is a special project in many ways. I am joiking traditional joiks of my relatives and villages and it is part of my identity and my life. Through joiks, I was little afraid to begin to made this joik album, because it is so personally and at the same time, traditional to me. And modern in musical way...Many things same time must be working.
Olav Torget
R.V.B. - How much fun was it for you to take you stringed instrument craft and create this unusual traditional music?
O.T. - To meet musicians and create is a great thing. The meeting with Ulla and her tradition was very inspiring, and I always feel thankful for such opportunities. Our meeting was very open. We listened and communicated, and the meeting really had golden moments.
R.V.B. - How did this project come about with Ulla?
O.T. - My long time friend and colleague Harald, with whom I’ve been travelling to Senegal and Gambia with, called me and asked if I would be interested to meet this incredible singer/joiker. We met in my studio, and started to play.
R.V.B. - What was the process in determining how to approach these joiks? Which came first the lyrics or the music?
O.T. - When working with music in this way, what comes first is the total impression of the music. Especially since I don’t know the Sami language. You get a sense of the atmosphere, energy and sentiment, and what I look for is my initial reaction. The intuitive response. Sometimes a further development require a plan and arrangement, sometimes the whole piece is an improvisation. Ulla explained the lyrics, and they would guide us further.
R.V.B. - Have you tried any of these songs out in public yet or were they all contrived in the studio?
O.T. - Ulla and Harald knew each other from before. This was my first meeting with Ulla. Everything happened in the studio. I’m looking forward to play live with the trio.
R.V.B. - Do you feel the new electric sounds maintain the integrity of the history behind the pieces?
O.T. - Tradition evolves and new expressions and combinations of expressions emerge. Traditionally this is vocal music that is sometimes performed with a single drum. The introduction of tonal instruments and strings is not part of the tradition. Electric or not doesn’t make any difference to me. The spirit of our meeting is what’s maintaining the integrity I hope.
Harald Skullerud
R.V.B. - What a nice project for you to have the opportunity to add percussion to these works of art. Was this a real creative opportunity to do something different?
H.S. - Yes it s really great to have this opportunity. It s so good to work with Ulla and Olav because they understand the music and are open for the direction I want. That's why the Assu is for real:)
R.V.B. - Were any of these tracks built around a percussive beat that you came up with?
H.S. - Ulla and me built this together some from percussion beat but also from the joiks line.
R.V.B. - What are you proud about with this collection of songs?
H.S. - I m proud about Ulla and that I have the opportunity to work with her. I think she is the best joiker in the world!
R.V.B. - Some of these tracks have a certain "wall of sound." Was the harmonium the right instrument to help this fact? I'm sure the chimes added to the color also.
H.S. - Yes it s right! "Wall of sounds" I m always trying to find instruments that is useful for the songs and joiks.
R.V.B. - How long did the album take to make?
H.S. - Ulla and me start to work in 2016, after that Olav come in to the project. Olav and me has work together long time so it was natural for me to invite him to this project.
- SÁIVUI
The word sáivo has two meanings: It can be a lake where there are two bottoms or sáivo which can also mean the posthumous spirit world. Sáivo-lakes are sacred places.
Sáivu-sánis lea guokte mearkkašumi. Sáivu sáhttá leat jávri, mas leat guokte bodni dahje juo don beale máilbmi, gosa olbmot máhccet jápmima maŋŋá. Sáivvut leat maid leamaš bassi báikkit.
2. BASEJÁVR-HÁNSA
Basejávr-Hánsa was a reindeer herder, who lived 15 km from village Angeli in the direction of the village Inari, by the lake Básejávri. He was Ulla’s great aunt’s husband. The village of Angeli is located 60 km from the village of Inari, in the Inarijoki River valley.
Basejávr-Hánsa lei badjeolmmoš, guhte orui Básejávrri gáttis sullii 15 km Áŋŋelis Anára girkosiidda guvlui. Basejávr-Hánsa lei Ulla goaskeáhku isit. Áŋŋela gilli lea Anárjoga leagis, sullii 60 kilomehter geahčen Anáris.
3. GÁVPEJAS HANS LÁIDE
Hans Láide was from Utsjoki and he was a famous and rich shopkeeper, who lived at the turn of the 20th century.
Gávpejas Hánsa, Hans Láide lei eret Ohcejogas. Son lei dovddus ja rikkis gávpejas, gii elii 1800-1900-loguid doajáldagas.
4. EALU ČOHKKEN
Jari-Heikki Länsman, Ulla’s late husband, has written the lyrics for this joik. He made his living as a reindeer herder and he joiked this joik as a young man, when he was herding the reindeers. The joik describes his everyday life as a reindeer herder.
Ulla isitrohkki, Jari-Heikki Länsman lea bidjan sániid dán luohtái. Su eallinbargun lei boazodoallu ja son lea nuorran ráhkadan dán luođi. Luohti govvida su árgabeaivvi badjeolmmožin.
5. UVDEL OVLLÁ
Uvdel Ovllá is a rich and famous reindeer herder from Angeli and he is also grandfather of the members of band Angelit. The joik tells how he had one of the biggest reindeer herds of his time. The young Ulla performed with the band Angelit and visited their home and met their grandfather.
Uvdel Ovllá lei rikkis ja dovddus badjeolmmoš, guhte lei eret Uvdelis Áŋŋelis. Son lei maid Angelit-joavkku juigiid áddjá. Luohti muitala su stuorra ealus, mii lei okta guovllu stuorimusain. Ulla gulai nuorran Angelit-jovkui, ja mánnán son láviige galledit Uvdelis, gos songe beasai oahpásnuvvat Uvdel Ovllái.
6. UHCA NIILLAS
Uhca Niillas was sámi author Kerttu Vuolab’s father and the relative of Ulla’s late husband Jari-Heikki Länsman. The joik tells how people wished peace and a place for him, when he returned from the war.
Uhca Niillas lei girječálli Kerttu Vuolab áhčči ja Ulla isitrohki, Jari-Heaikka fuolki. Luohti muitala, mo sutnje sávve ráfi ja saji go son máhcai soađis.
7. VULLEŠ HEAIKA
This joik is from Utsjoki. Vulleš Heaika was from the house of Kultala in Utsjoki. It is the joik of Olavi Aikio’s father. Olavi
Aikio worked in the same siida (reindeer district) with Ulla’s late husband.
Vulleš Heaikka ruoktu lei Ohcejoga Guldalis. Dát lea Olavi Aikio áhči luohti, Guldal Olavi lei Ulla isitrohki, Jari-Heaikka siidaguoibmi.
8. ÁŠŠU
The joik tells about the importance of fi re and nature in Sámi culture. Embers were important, because they kept the lávvu (traditional Sámi dwelling) warm, and in the woods the embers were used to warm up the sleeping berths before going to bed.
Luohti govvida dola ja luonddu mearkkašumi sápmelaččaide. Áššu lea leamaš dehálaš go dat lea doallan lávu liekkasin. Ášuin leat maiddái liggen oađđensajiid ovdalgo leat vuoiŋŋastišgoahtán.
9. VULLE MIHKKU
Vulle Mihkku was Ulla’s mother’s grandfather and a reindeer herder from Angeli. The joik tells how he once drove a reindeer sledge so fast, that he smashed a pole to pieces. Reindeer had been a common mode of transport in Angeli and in Sámi area until the 1950s.
Vulle Mihkku lei Ulla máttaráddjá ja son lei áŋŋellaš badjeolmmoš. Luohti muitala, mo son vujii bohccuin nu garra leavttuin, ahte čuoldage manai rastá. Boazu lei dábálaš fi evru Áŋŋelis ja Sámis gitta 1950-logu rádjái.
10. JOĐEDETTIIN
This piece of music combines the joiks of three Sámi villages: the joik of the village Karasjok, the joik of the village Utsjoki and the joik of the village Kautokeino. These villages are located a few hundred kilometers from each other, and people have always travelled between them, by reindeer in the old days but nowadays by car.
Dán luohtái lea časkojuvvon oktii golmma sámegili, Kárášjoga, Ohcejoga ja Guovdageainnu, luođit. Vaikko giliid gaska lea moadde čuođi kilomehtera, de gilis nubbái leat goittotge álot johtán, ovdal herggiin ja dán áigge biillain.
11. ÁNNE JUVVINA
This joik tells about Juhani Lantto, who was from the village Angeli. He was a relative from Ulla’s mother’s side, her grandmother’s cousin. This music combines two diff erent versions of the same joik. First one brags about how there was no other in the village Angeli than Juhani Lantto. Another version tells about his youth, how he proudly drove the reindeer to the village Inari and got the local girls’ attention and admiration.
Dát lea áŋŋellaš Lántto-Juhána, Juhani Lantto luohti. Son lea Ulla fuolki eatni bealde, áhku vilbealli. Dán bihtás Ulla lea ovttastan guokte sierralágan veršuvnna su luođis. Vuosttas luohti rábmo dan, ahte ii gávdno Áŋŋelis oktage seammalágan Ánne Juvvina. Nubbi veršuvdna fas muitala, mo Ánne Juvvina nuorravuođas čevllohalai herggiin Anára
márkanii, ja mo Anára nieiddat su hervošedje.
Interviews conducted by Robert von Bernewitz
Photos by Ihne Pedersen
This interview may not be reproduced in any part of form without permission from this site.
Special thanks to Aija Lehtonen
For more information on Assu visit this site www.bafesfactory.fi
For information on this site contact Robvonb247(at)gmail(dot)com
