EMMI KUJANPÄÄ: Nani (2020), Nani vinyl (2022)

Nordic Notes & Sibelius Academy Folk Music Recordings

World Music Charts Europe #13 in February 2020, #12 in March 2020, #13 in April 2020


CREDITS:


Emmi Kujanpää: vocals, 11 and 40 string kanteles, jewelry percussions

Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares Vocal Academy: Dora Hristova (choir conducting, bells), Mirela Asenova, Violeta Marinova, Stanislava Bobeva, Elizabet Janeva, Lubomira Pavlova, Maria Krusteva, Polina Paunova, Boryana Vasileva, Maria Georga, Radostina Nikolova, Elichka Krastanova

Eero Grundström: Harmonium, vocals

Jarkko Niemelä: Trumpet, vocals

Sauli Heikkilä: Tuvan throat singing, Morin khuur

Produced by Emmi Kujanpää

Recorded by Mikael Hakkarainen & Delian Ivanov at Bulgarian National Television, Sofia and Musiikkitalo, Helsinki

Mixed by Mikael Hakkarainen

Mastered by Taito Hoffrén

Translations by Stina Halmetoja

Photos and album covers by Venla Helenius


ALBUM INFO:

Kujanpää’s solo album was recorded as an international production at the Bulgarian National Television studios in Sofia and Musiikkitalo in Helsinki in 2018 and 2019. The album is published by the German record label Nordic Notes and it’s part of the publication series of the Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department.

​Kujanpää herself is responsible for the compositions on this album as well as, for the most part, the lyrics both in Finnish and Bulgarian. She has also acted as producer. The album consists of solo vocals and instrumental kantele parts which engage in dialogue with the choir parts performed by the Bulgarian Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares Vocal Academy. In addition to the choir, guests on the album include the Finnish musicians Jarkko Niemelä (trumpet/vocals), Eero Grundström (harmonium/vocals) and throat singer Sauli Heikkilä. Additionally, the music on the album includes percussions played by Kujanpää on traditional jewellery.

Lyrically, the album addresses ancient goddesses. On the title track, the mother goddess Nani is asked why she left her daughter to survive on her own in the midst of troubles. The lunar goddess’ metaphorical songs of warning go unheeded, however - precious jewelleries are stolen and all that is left are hidden pain, loneliness and sorrow.

Compositionally, themes of violence and #metoo experiences are expressed through vocal ornamentation, screaming, traditional lamentations and dissonance. Finno-Ugric and Bulgarian singing styles merge on the album to create a unified whole. The vocal and tonal language unique to Kujanpää combines serious topics with a music containing deeper meaning, filled with the beauty and wonder of life.


LYRICS & TRANSLATIONS :


OGREJALO SLANTSE – VUOTA VUOTA

Music & lyrics by Emmi Kujanpää


A young lady is crying because she hasn’t got a groom.

A bird asks why she is crying since she already has a flower behind her ear and is engaged.


Ogrejalo slăntse, mamo bilki bere, na tvoja došterjo.

Moma bjala i malka, moma sedna i plača: "Zašto njamam ljubeto?"

"Vuota, vuota varpuseni,

astuvi, astuu armahaisesi."

Ptitsa na moma pee: “Ovčarin v gora hodi, miriše bosilčok.

Hubava bjala Jana, zašto sediš i plačeš, kitka imaš na čeloto.”

"Vuota, vuota varpuseni,

astuvi, astuu armahaisesi."

Ogrejalo slăntse, mamo bilki bere, na tvoja došterjo.

Moma bjala i malka, moma sedna i plača: "Zašto njamam ljubeto?"



NANI – A CRY FOR MOTHER GODDESS

Music & lyrics by Emmi Kujanpää


Hear me, Nani, hear me.


Mila mamo

Nani, Nani

Mila moma

Nani, mamo

Kuule Nani, äitini.



NANI

Music & lyrics by Emmi Kujanpää


What are you crying for? What are you longing for? Why did you leave your beautiful ducks to freeze on the ice? My heart is like a flame. Hear me, Nani, hear me.


Mitä itket

mitä huudat

mitä vaadit

mitä kaipaat Nani?

Mila moma: ”Kuule, Nani.”

Mitä laulat

mitä tuudit

mitä varrot

mitä kuiskaat Nani?

Mila moma: ”Kuule, Nani.”

“Mamo, miksi kauniit sorsasesi jäälle jätit jäätymään?”

Stara maika

mila maika

moe sărtse

kato iskra Nani.

Mila moma: ”Kuule, Nani.”



CELESTIA

Music & lyrics by Emmi Kujanpää


Crystalline water sparkles in the summer night, a flame blazes in a verdant forest.


Mori voda, lele, mori bistra voda,

mori večer, lele, mori ljatna večer,

mori gora, lele, mori gora zelena,

mori plămak, lele, mori buen plămak.



MILENKALLE – A SONG FOR MILENKA

Music & lyrics by Emmi Kujanpää


Row, row my sister, despite the raging wind, despite the bloodthirsty water.


Milenka, sisko

souda

souda

yli virran vaahtopäisen

yli veden vertajuovan

vaikka virta

vesi vertajuova

saa sinut

pistää veneesi kylkiin

karit, kivet

souda!

vaikka viima voimallansa

raaka ilma raivollansa

souda!

muuten vesi vie sinut sisko.



MILENKA

Music & lyrics by Emmi Kujanpää


Milenka, a maiden with a heart of gold, walks in the moonlight in her wedding dress. She finds her groom in the ocean and he whisks the shining bride away into a dance. The waves sing an enchanting waltz: ”An amber necklace chokes your neck”. She comes back with reeds in her hair. Milenka, the snow white bird of the wedding day.


Oi Milenka, kultarinta,

neito nuori, morsiuspuvussaan.

Oi Milenka, kultarinta,

kulkevi kukka kuunvalossa.


Tähdistä nuo kirkkahimmat,

vievätkö luokse armahimman?

Yötaivaalla kyyhky kujertaa:

”Huomenna hunnun otsallesi saat.”


Oi Milenka, kultarinta,

rientää, rientää rusko poskillaan.

Oi Milenka, kultarinta,

löytää, löytää armaan meren aalloista.


Tanssiin nyt vie sulho sorea,

pyörittää morsiantaan hehkuvaa.

Aallot laulaa, valssia ihanaa:

“Meripihkahelmet kaulaasi kuristaa.”


Oi Milenka, kultarinta,

saapuu kaunis neito kaisloja hiuksissaan.

Oi Milenka, kultarinta,

morsiuspäivän lintu lumivalkea.



KUUTAR – THE GODDESS OF THE MOON

Emmi Kujanpää / trad. Bulgaria (Rodopi) & Finland (Ilomantsi, laul. Mateli Kuivalatar)


The Goddess of the Moon gave her gold and the Goddess of the Sun her silver.

We gathered together with the girls and fell asleep on the grass. While we slept, a thief arrived and stole the jewelry from our foreheads, necks, and waists.


Kuulin Kuuttaren kutovan, Päivättären ketreävän.

Antoi Kuutar kultiansa, Päivätär hopehiansa.

Săbrali sa se, săbrali, na mižovine dvorove,

na mižovine dvorove, mižu mu kepe da predot.

Nukuin nurmelle hyvälle, vaivuin maalle valkiselle,

risukosta katsoi rietta, varas katsoi varvikosta.

”Stanvajte, družki, da vidim, komu kina e lipsalo!”

Porva sa moma izruka: ”Mene gerdanče lipsalo!”

Otti kullat kulmiltani, päältäni hyvät hopeat.



SIRKUS SAVONIA

Music & lyrics by Emmi Kujanpää


A dance song, dedicated to my relatives.



LAULAJAN LOITSU – SINGER’S SPELL

Emmi Kujanpää / trad. Ingria, Vepsä & Finland, Luumäki


Who sings better? Whose voice is the most graceful? Whose voice is like nectar? If you sing once – I’ll sing twice… If you sing five times – I’ll sing six.


Kuka laulaa laatuisammin?

Kuka sirkuttaa siroimmin?

Kuka saanut linnun mielen?

Kuka siskoks’ satakielen?

Kuka helkyttää herkimmin?

Kuka kehrää kaunihimmin?

Kellä kurkus’ kultavettä?

Kenen äänes’ aamun mettä?

Kuka huokaa kuin humala?

Kuka laulaa kuin jumala?


Jos sinä laulat yhen kerran,

minä laulan kaksi kertaa,

jos sinä laulat kaksi kertaa,

minä laulan kolme kertaa,

jos sinä laulat kolme kertaa,

minä laulan neljä kertaa,

jos sinä laulat neljä kertaa,

minä laulan viisi kertaa,

jos sinä laulat viisi kertaa,

minä laulan kuusi kertaa.


VALKEAN YÖN JOIKU – YOIK OF A WHITE NIGHT

Music & lyrics by Emmi Kujanpää


The white maple trees and the birches were mourning on the night she died. Like a bird she flew over a white blooming forest. And the holy rowans and the bird cherry flowers were guarding her way.


Lintu lauloi

yölintu

valkeana yönä

lintu lensi ylle metsän valkoisen.


Valvoi, valvoi

linnun matkaa

pihlajat pyhät, tuomenkukat

saattoivat linnun matkaan tuoksullaan.


Itki puut, itki haat

itki valkeat vaahterat.


Valui, valui

vartta valkeata

koivun kyyneleet.