Bio

TERVAKELLO is an instrumental orchestra from Finland. Tervakello group members conjure up a shamanistic sound-landscape by surrounding the drum beat with a variety of acoustic wind instruments, rain sticks, shakers, kalimba, analogue synthesizer, sampler etc. The singular atmosphere created by the music is mainly based on improvisations upon a basic tuner structure. The roots of the Tervakello-orchestra name, which can be freely translated as "Tar-Bell", trace back to a wooden instrument that was traditionally sounded before the lighting of a tar-burning pit in the Finnish forests. The bell was used as an alarm signal, as well as to inform the nearby villagers on the ongoing tar burning process. The creation of Tervakello in the spring of 2002, was the result of a long-nourished idea of an ethno-primitive orchestra. Since its formation Tervakello has participated with its music in numerous events: in the annual Medieval Market Festivals of Turku, the Kaustinen (Finland) Folk Music Festival, in making sound scenes for theatrical and dance performances, as well as for animations. And of course its own individual concerts have tuned up and refined the music world of Tervakello. Tervakello's first album, produced and recorded by Teho Majamäki (Ismo Alanko Säätiö, HC Andersen) and Heikki Savolainen (Leningrad Cowboys, Hidria Spacefolk, Kimmo Pohjonen), was released on May 7, 2004. It was recorded some 110 meters underground at the Tytyri Mine Museum in Lohja (Finland). The recording captures with excellence Tervakello's musical landscape combining it smoothly with the distinctly audible mine surroundings, the dropping water and the occasional rocks crashing down into the abyss darkness. Music Mosaic (www.music-mosaic.com), which is a division of the Australian company Music a la Carte, licensed the title called Engelstreftir into their compilation album called Fire Drums. The principal members and instruments of the orchestra: Esa Nikula / udu, rain stick; Ville Matti Simonen / udu, natural bark flute; Santeri Väyrynen / udu, recorder, saxophone; Jonne Nikula / shaker, kalimba; Jesse Juup / analogue synthesizer, sampler; Henrik Wakonen / udu, shaman drum.