Rainbow Choir members bring with them music from around the world
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By Marko Leppänen
The doors of the elevator of the International Cultural Centre Caisa in Helsinki’s Kaisaniemi district keep on opening. A group of around twenty women enters the room, laughing with familiarity among themselves. Their roots spread out to more than ten countries, but together they form the Rainbow Choir.
"Singing in a choir is a good way to integrate immigrants in Finland", choir conductor Veera Voima explains.
The choir members hail from a broad spectrum of countries: India, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Niger, Mexico, Turkey, Estonia... The group also has some Finnish members. The Kassandra Association, which specialises in multicultural art activities, can be found behind the choir.
Veera Voima, 30, graduated with a Master’s degree in folk music from the Sibelius Academy. She arranges the repertoire of the Rainbow Choir. Most of the songs have been brought to the North by the members themselves.
"The songs talk about love, of course", Voima laughs.
"Well, there are others as well. For example, an Indian song about the spring, a Brazilian lullaby, an Indonesian song that praises God, and even a few jazz pieces that were composed by the King of Thailand."
"For those who have moved here, to a foreign environment, it is an enormously big deal to get to teach their songs to others. The pride and joy in one’s own culture can be heard by the listeners", Voima stresses. "The song types are also wonderfully different in different cultures."
The aim is not to mix politics with music. This was the lesson that was learned when two Turkish women resigned from the choir. One could not approve of the leftist song introduced by the other.
The interview is momentarily interrupted when a new eager member, a young Finnish Roma girl, is introduced to the choir director. Voima has heard her sing before, and immediately agrees to her membership.
"Excellent, we did not have any domestic minorities represented before", a pleased Voima remarks.
The Rainbow Choir is one of Voima’s many pet projects. Folk music group Hytkyt, also conducted by Voima, is currently preparing for a concert tour in Hungary in October.
The project that is closest to her heart is the trio Suo, which combines pop and the tradition of singing runes, which is present in the Finnish national epic Kalevala. In the group, Voima sings and plays the kantele (the zither-like Finnish "national instrument"), a shaman's drum, and a type of flute.
"The Kalevala-esque rune singing, old myths, and especially incantations are the biggest thing in the world for me. They represent the oldest culture that has been preserved in Finland. A definite roots thing", says the musician, a proudly proclaimed pagan.
Voima’s great moment came when during a trip to the Russian side of Karelia, she was able to record an ancient bear incantation performed by a descendant in a line of inheritance that has continued to pass on its traditions. Next year, Suo will tour the new Eastern EU member states performing Finnish incantations.
"It is crazy, but in Central Europe the audience receives Finnish folk music much more excitedly than in Finland", Voima speaks from experience.
Back at home, the demand has been greater for 1960s-style girl pop group Kaipuun kukkatarha, where Veera performs under the name Kielo.
"We sing songs by Laila Kinnunen and that genre. We have fancy 1960s make-up, fake eyelashes, high heels, and many second-hand dresses", Voima explains.
The women in the Caisa hall begin to warm up their vocal chords as a singing and clapping circle. Soon Voima is dancing around in the middle of the circle.
Dole, a song brought to the group by Indian-born Peali Mitra, rings out. The choir is ready to explore the rainbow of music from one end to the other.
The Rainbow Choir will perform in a Thailand theme evening at the Sibelius Academy on October 1st.
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 23.9.2005
Helsingin Sanomat
