Misplaced Pages

The Academic Male Voice Choir of Helsinki Akademiska Sångföreningen
Choir
Logotype
Origin	Helsinki, Grand Duchy of Finland,  Russian Empire (today Helsinki,  Finland)
Founded	1838; 186 years ago (1838)
Founder	Fredrik (Friedrich) Pacius
Genre	Male-voice choral
Members	Ca 60 active
Chief conductor	Elisa Huovinen
Choir admission	Semiannual auditions
Headquarters	Helsinki,  Finland
Affiliation	University of Helsinki
Associated groups	The Academic Female Voice Choir Lyran The YL Male Voice Choir The Helsinki University Symphony Orchestra
Website	akademen.com

The Academic Male Voice Choir of Helsinki (Swedish: Akademiska Sångföreningen, lit. 'The Academic Song Association', Finland Swedish: [ɑkɑˈdeːmiskɑ ˈsoŋfœrˌeːniŋen]), abbreviated AS, colloquially also known as Akademen (Finland Swedish: [ɑkɑˈdeːmen]), is a Finland-Swedish academic male-voice choir in Helsinki, Finland. The choir was founded in 1838 by Fredrik Pacius and is the oldest extant choir in Finland. It is one of two male-voice choirs affiliated with the University of Helsinki, the other being the oldest extant Finnish-language choir, the YL Male Voice Choir (Finnish: Ylioppilaskunnan Laulajat). Furthermore, it is one of two Swedish-language choirs affiliated with the University of Helsinki, the other being the Academic Female Voice Choir Lyran (Swedish: Akademiska Damkören Lyran).

History

Overview

Akademiska Sångföreningen was founded no later than during the spring term of 1838 by Fredrik Pacius (né Friedrich Pacius), music lecturer at the Imperial Alexander University of Finland (today the University of Helsinki) and sometimes known as "the father of Finnish music", originally under the name Akademiska Sångsällskapet, 'The Academic Song Society'. The choir is thus the oldest extant one in Finland. The name Akademiska Sångföreningen was introduced no later than in 1846.

During the 19th century the choir became a symbol of national awakening in the emerging Finnish nation, at the time part of the Russian Empire as the Grand Duchy of Finland. On 13 May 1848, Pacius' composition Vårt land, 'Our Land', set to the poem by Johan Ludvig Runeberg, was performed for the first time by the choir, conducted by Pacius, during the students' celebration of the Flora Day. The composition was to become the national anthem of the Finnish nation.

In the 1850s and 60s, elite triple quartets from within the choir's ranks (Swedish: "sångartolfvor", lit. 'singer twelves') participated in raising the funds necessary to build what is today known as the Old Student House in Helsinki (Swedish: Gamla studenthuset, Finnish: Vanha ylioppilastalo), by travelling the country performing. The Old Student House was finished in 1870 and is still the location for the choir's weekly rehearsals.

During the second half of the 20th century, the choir, directed by modernist Erik Bergman, came to carve out new paths for the male-voice choir tradition in Finland, proving that this genre of music was able to exhibit superior musical qualities as well. After Bergman, jazz musician Henrik Otto Donner carried on this tradition.

At end of the 1970s and the beginning of the 80s the choir was engaged in lighter types of music. The Akademen à la carte concerts in Finlandia Hall were decidedly successful and, when necessary, members of the choir would compose pieces of music themselves.

During the 20th century the choir had several prominent conductors: Bengt Carlson, Nils-Eric Fougstedt, Erik Bergman, Henrik Otto Donner, Markus Westerlund, Eric-Olof Söderström, Tom Eklundh, John Schultz and Henrik Wikström all directed the choir. The most recent chief conductor Dr Kari Turunen, Doctor of Music, was appointed 2008 and stepped down in 2019 after the spring term, having been appointed artistic director of the Vancouver Chamber Choir, beginning the autumn term 2019. In June 2019, Elisa Huovinen, Master of Music, was appointed his successor as chief conductor of Akademiska Sångföreningen.

List of chief conductors

The chief conductor is the artistic director of the choir.

List of presidents

The president is the chairman of the committee.

Present activities

Being the oldest extant male voice choir in Finland, Akademiska Sångföreningen has always cared particularly for the classical Finnish male voice repertoire. Among the composers whose compositions form part of the choir's standard repertoire are honorary members Jean Sibelius, Selim Palmgren and Erik Bergman, as well as fellow composers Toivo Kuula and Leevi Madetoja. Furthermore, being a Finland-Swedish organization, the choir has always seen it as a natural and important task to champion the Swedish-speaking minority culture in Finland. Hence, the standard repertoire encompasses not only choral works of Finnish and Finland-Swedish origin, but also many works of Swedish origin, for example by honorary member Hugo Alfvén.

As implied by its name, the choir is an academic or students' choir, and like its Helsinki sister choir the Academic Female Voice Choir Lyran (Swedish: Akademiska Damkören Lyran) an independent 'music corporation' (Swedish: musikkorporation, Finnish: musiikkikorporaatio) affiliated with the University of Helsinki. The choir presently comprises some 50 active singers, many of whom are university students. Concerts are given regularly in Finland, and the choir travels abroad frequently. In addition to most European countries, the choir has been on tour in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Singapore.

Particularly in recent years, the choir has devoted itself to actively producing records, explicitly in order to document high quality male voice choir repertoire in Swedish. Apart from Swedish, the choir also sings in the parody language Transpiranto on the record Happi kvam pippi, which was released in 2006. A later album, Hymn to Finland, was produced by Swedish label BIS Records and documents works for male voice choir by founder Fredrik Pacius. The record was released on 19 March 2009, the 200th anniversary of Pacius' birth.

The choir maintains contacts with other similar choirs, in Finland in particular with male voice academic choirs Brahe Djäknar in Turku and the YL Male Voice Choir (Finnish: Ylioppilaskunnan Laulajat) in Helsinki, and in Sweden in particular with Orphei Drängar in Uppsala, Stockholm Academic Male Chorus (Swedish: Stockholms Studentsångare) in Stockholm, Linköping University Male Voice Choir (Swedish: Linköpings Studentsångare) in Linköping and Lund University Male Voice Choir (Swedish: Lunds Studentsångförening) in Lund.

Ever since 1954, the choir has collaborated extensively with the Academic Female Voice Choir Lyran (Swedish: Akademiska Damkören Lyran), the only other Swedish-language University of Helsinki choir. The two choirs give several annually recurring concerts together.

Discography

Notes

1. Construed Swedish definite form related to akademisk, 'academic', but without lexical meaning.
2. Originally spelt Akademiska Sång-Sälskapet

Citations

1. ^ Korhonen 2007, p. 29.
2. Dahlström 1988, p. 12.
3. Dahlström 1988, p. 13.
4. Theman & Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland n.d.
5. Dahlström 1988, pp. 35, 46.
6. Eerola n.d.
7. ^ Dahlström 1988, p. 283.
8. ^ Federley & Holmlund 2008, p. 217.
9. ^ Akademiska Sångföreningen rf 2019a.
10. ^ Akademiska Sångföreningen n.d.b.
11. Akademiska Sångföreningen n.d.c.
12. ^ Akademiska Sångföreningen rf 2019b.
13. Dahlström 1988, pp. 284–285.
14. Federley & Holmlund 2008, pp. 221–223.
15. ^ Dahlström 1988, p. 284.
16. ^ Dahlström 1988, pp. 221–246.
17. Federley & Holmlund 2008, pp. 64–73, 119–130.
18. Ekström & Duncker 1963.
19. Dahlström 1988, p. 146.

References

• Anon., ed. (1920). Akademiska Sångföreningen 80 år [The Academic Male Voice Choir of Helsinki 80 years] (in Swedish). Helsinki: Holger Schildts.
• Akademiska Sångföreningen (n.d.a). "Boka oss" [Book us]. Akademen (Archived web page) (in Swedish). Helsinki. Archived from the original on 7 February 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
• Akademiska Sångföreningen (n.d.b). "English". Akademen (Archived web page). Helsinki. Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
• Akademiska Sångföreningen (n.d.c). "Dirigenten" [The conductor]. Akademen (Archived web page) (in Swedish). Helsinki. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
• Akademiska Sångföreningen (n.d.d). "Historia" [History]. Akademen (Archived web page) (in Swedish). Helsinki. Archived from the original on 7 February 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
• Akademiska Sångföreningen (n.d.e). "Kören" [The choir]. Akademen (Archived web page) (in Swedish). Helsinki. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
• Akademiska Sångföreningen (n.d.f). "Nyheter" [News]. Akademen (Archived web page) (in Swedish). Helsinki. Archived from the original on 30 October 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
• Akademiska Sångföreningen (n.d.g). "Sjung in" [Audition]. Akademen (Archived web page) (in Swedish). Helsinki. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
• Akademiska Sångföreningen (n.d.h). "Skivor" [Albums]. Akademen (Archived web page) (in Swedish). Helsinki. Archived from the original on 7 February 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
• Akademiska Sångföreningen (n.d.i). "Styrelsen" [The committee]. Akademen (Archived web page) (in Swedish). Helsinki. Archived from the original on 7 February 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
• Akademiska Sångföreningen rf (2019a). "Dirigent" [Conductor]. Akademiska Sångföreningen (Web page) (in Swedish). n.l. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
• Akademiska Sångföreningen rf (2019b). "In English". Akademiska Sångföreningen (Web page). n.l. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
• Akademiska Sångföreningen rf (2019c). "Kontakt" [Contact]. Akademiska Sångföreningen (Web page) (in Swedish). n.l. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
• Akademiska Sångföreningen rf (2019d). "Musik" [Music]. Akademiska Sångföreningen (Web page) (in Swedish). n.l. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
• Akademiska Sångföreningen rf (2019e). "Presentation" [Presentation]. Akademiska Sångföreningen (Web page) (in Swedish). n.l. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
• Akademiska Sångföreningen rf (2019f). "Sjung in!" [Audition!]. Akademiska Sångföreningen (Web page) (in Swedish). n.l. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
• Aho, Kalevi; Jalkanen, Pekka; Salmenhaari, Erkki & Virtamo, Keijo (1996). Finnish Music. Translated by Binham, Timothy & Binham, Philip. Helsinki: Otava. ISBN 951-1-14477-4.
• Andersson, Otto (1938). Den unge Pacius och musiklivet i Helsingfors på 1830-talet [The young Pacius and the musical life in Helsinki in the 1830s] (in Swedish). Helsinki: Holger Schildts.
• Bargum, Katja (7 February 2013). "Punchdoftande herrkotteri eller konstnärligt instrument?" [Punsch-smelling gentlemen's clique or artistic instrument?]. University of Helsinki (News article) (in Swedish). Retrieved 20 November 2016.
• Bränn, Michaela, ed. (2013). Manskörssång i tid och rum. Akademiska Sångföreningen 1838–2013. 175-årsjubileumsskrift [Male voice choir singing in time and space. The Academic Male Voice Choir of Helsinki 1838–2013. 175th anniversary publication] (in Swedish). Helsinki: Akademiska Sångföreningen. ISBN 978-952-93-1792-9.
• Collan-Beaurain, Maria (1921). Fredrik Pacius. Lefnadsteckning [Fredrik Pacius. Biography] (in Swedish). Helsinki: Söderström & C:o.
• Dahlström, Fabian (1988). Paulig, Torsten & Thulé, Gustav (eds.). Akademiska Sångföreningen 1838–1988. 150-årsjubileumsskrift med historik [The Academic Male Voice Choir of Helsinki 1838–1988. 150th anniversary publication with history] (in Swedish). Helsinki: Akademiska Sångföreningen. ISBN 951-99926-3-4.
• Dahlström, Fabian (2009) . "studentsång" [student singing]. In Ekberg, Henrik & Svenska folkskolans vänner (eds.). Uppslagsverket Finland (Printed and online encyclopedia) (in Swedish) (Online ed.). Helsinki: Svenska folkskolans vänner (Previous editions Schildts). Retrieved 20 November 2016.
• Duncker, Kaj, ed. (1948). Akademiska Sångföreningen 1938–1948. En krönika [The Academic Male Voice Choir of Helsinki 1938–1948. A chronicle] (in Swedish). Helsinki: Akademiska Sångföreningen.
• Eerola, Jari (n.d.). "History". Vanha Ylioppilastalo (Web page). Abridged. Helsinki: Royal Ravintolat. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
• Ekberg, Henrik & Svenska folkskolans vänner, eds. (2016) . "Akademiska Sångföreningen" [The Academic Male Voice Choir of Helsinki]. Uppslagsverket Finland (Printed and online encyclopedia) (in Swedish) (Online ed.). Helsinki: Svenska folkskolans vänner (Previous editions Schildts). Retrieved 20 November 2016.
• Ekström, Ralf & Duncker, Kaj, eds. (1963). Akademiska Sångföreningen 1938–1963 [The Academic Male Voice Choir of Helsinki 1938–1963] (in Swedish). Helsinki: Akademiska Sångföreningen.
• Federley, Stefan & Holmlund, Dennis, eds. (2008). Akademiska Sångföreningen 170 år. Sångarminnen 1988–2008 [The Academic Male Voice Choir of Helsinki 170 years. Singer memories 1988–2008] (in Swedish). Helsinki: Akademiska Sångföreningen. ISBN 978-952-92-3539-1.
• Finlands svenska manssångarförbund (n.d.). "Medlemskörer" [Member choirs]. Finlands svenska manssångarförbund (Web page) (in Swedish). Helsinki. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
• Floman, Per Erik (1999). Om sång och spel och gemenskap [Of song and play and fellowship] (in Swedish). Helsinki.{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
• Helsingfors sång- och musikförbund (n.d.). "Medlemmar" [Members]. Helsingfors sång- och musikförbund (Web page) (in Swedish). Helsinki. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
• Hirn, Julius (1910). Akademiska Sångföreningen 1840–1910. En återblick [The Academic Male Voice Choir of Helsinki 1840–1910. A retrospect] (in Swedish). Helsinki: Akademiska Sångföreningen.
• Holmqvist, Christian (2011). Sång ur vår själ. FSM 75. En bok om Finlands svenska manssångarförbund och finlandssvensk manssångskultur [Song from our soul. FSM 75. A book about the Finland-Swedish confederation of male voice singers and Finland-Swedish male voice singing culture] (in Swedish). Helsinki: Finlands svenska manssångarförbund. ISBN 978-952-92-9765-8.
• Jansson, Paul, ed. (1986). FSM 50. Finlands svenska manssångarförbund 1936–1986. Festskrift [FSM 50. The Finland-Swedish confederation of male voice singers 1936–1986. Anniversary publication] (in Swedish). Helsinki: Finlands svenska manssångarförbund.
• Korhonen, Kimmo (2007). Toivonen, Aarne (ed.). Inventing Finnish Music. Contemporary Composers from Medieval to Modern (PDF). Translated by Mäntyjärvi, Jaakko (2nd ed.). Helsinki: Finnish Music Information Centre. ISBN 978-952-5076-61-5.
• Kvist Dahlstedt, Barbro (2001). Suomis sång. Kollektiva identiteter i den finländska studentsången 1819–1917 [The song of Suomi. Collective identities in the Finnish student singing 1819–1917]. Studentsången i Norden (in Swedish). Vol. IV. University of Gothenburg. ISBN 91-85974-62-5.
• Lappalainen, Seija (2009) . "Pacius, Fredrik". In Knif, Henrik; Dahlberg, Julia; Forsén, Jeannette & Hertzberg, Fredrik (eds.). Biografiskt lexikon för Finland (Printed and online encyclopedia) (in Swedish). Vol. II (Online ed.). Helsinki: Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland (published 2014). ISBN 978-951-583-185-9. URN:NBN:fi:sls-4340-1416928956946.
• Liljeroos, Mats (18 October 2016). "Musikrecension: Sibeliansk bro från Åbo till Helsingfors" [Music review: A Sibelian bridge from Turku to Helsinki]. Hufvudstadsbladet (News article) (in Swedish). Helsinki. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
• Liljeroos, Mats (1 March 2016). "Osviklig känsla för manskör i klingande beställningsverk" [Unfailing feeling for male voice choir in resounding commissioned works]. Hufvudstadsbladet (News article) (in Swedish). Helsinki. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
• Mäkelä, Tomi (2009). Fredrik Pacius, kompositör i Finland [Fredrik Pacius, composer in Finland] (in Swedish). Helsinki: Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland. ISBN 978-951-583-192-7.
• Nymark-Björkstam, Julia; Colliander, Nina & Harms-Aalto, Martina, eds. (1996). Upp att söka framtiden. Akademiska Damkören Lyran 50 [Up to seek the future. The Academic Female Voice Choir Lyran 50] (in Swedish). Helsinki: Akademiska Damkören Lyran. ISBN 952-90-7310-0.
• Paulig, Torsten; Bergman, Roger; Duncker, Kaj & Thulé, Gustav, eds. (1978). 100 år med MM. 1878–1978 [100 years with the Merry Musicians. 1878–1978] (in Swedish). Helsinki: Sällskapet Muntra Musikanter. ISBN 951-99154-6-X.
• Rosas, John (1949). Fredrik Pacius som tonsättare [Fredrik Pacius as composer] (in Swedish). Turku: Åbo Akademi.
• Runn, Iris, ed. (2004a). Florakören vid Åbo Akademi r.f. 1944–2004. Historik [Florakören vid Åbo Akademi 1944–2004. History] (in Swedish). Vol. I. Turku: Eternellföreningen. ISBN 952-91-7233-8.
• Runn, Iris, ed. (2004b). Florakören vid Åbo Akademi r.f. 1944–2004. Historik [Florakören vid Åbo Akademi 1944–2004. History] (in Swedish). Vol. II. Turku: Eternellföreningen. ISBN 952-91-7283-4.
• Söderholm, Olle (1969). Manskörssången i Finland 1819–1969 [The male voice choir singing in Finland 1819–1969] (in Swedish). Helsinki: Finlands svenska manssångarförbund.
• Sohlström, Gösta (1913). Sångarminnen [Singer memories] (in Swedish). Helsinki.{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
• Sohlström, Gösta (1915). Några minnesblad ur Akademiska Sångföreningens historia 1840–1915 [Some notes from the history of the Academic Male Voice Choir of Helsinki 1840–1915] (in Swedish). Helsinki: Akademiska Sångföreningen.
• Sommerschield, Finn E., ed. (1938). Akademiska Sångföreningen 1838–1938 [The Academic Male Voice Choir of Helsinki 1838–1938] (in Swedish). Helsinki: Akademiska Sångföreningen.
• Student Union of the University of Helsinki (n.d.a). "Culture organisations". HYY (Web page). Helsinki. Retrieved 20 November 2016.{{citation}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
• Student Union of the University of Helsinki (n.d.b). "HYY's history". HYY (Web page). Helsinki. Retrieved 20 November 2016.{{citation}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
• Student Union of the University of Helsinki (n.d.c). "Student Houses". HYY (Web page). Helsinki. Archived from the original on 7 April 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2016.{{citation}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
• Svenska Nationer och Ämnesföreningar (n.d.). "Medlemmar" [Members]. SNÄf (Web page) (in Swedish). Helsinki. Retrieved 19 November 2016.{{citation}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
• Theman, Petra & Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, eds. (n.d.). "The Finnish National Anthem". thisisFINLAND (Web article). The Finland Promotion Board. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
• Thesleff, Thomas (1978). Akademen 1838–1978. Akademiska Sångföreningen. 140 år levande musik [Akademen 1838–1978. The Academic Male Voice Choir of Helsinki. 140 years of live music] (in Swedish). Helsinki: Akademiska Sångföreningen.
• Turunen, Kari (2008). A brief outline of Finnish Choral Music. Helsinki: Finnish Music Information Centre. ISBN 978-952-5076-67-7.
• Väresmaa, Livia, ed. (2006). Nya vägar. Akademiska Damkören Lyran 60 år [New roads. The Academic Female Voice Choir Lyran 60 years] (in Swedish). Helsinki: Akademiska Damkören Lyran. ISBN 952-92-0040-4.

Further reading

• Anderson, Martin (2008). "Choral music as an amateur activity". Finnish Music Quarterly. Vol. 2008, no. 2. Helsinki.
• Andersson, Otto (1922). Johan Josef Pippingsköld och musiklivet i Åbo 1808–1827 [Johan Josef Pippingsköld and the musical life in Turku 1808–1827] (in Swedish). Helsinki: Holger Schildts.
• Bonsdorff, Lena von (2001). Barfota i cylinderhatt. Nils-Eric Fougstedt. En levnadsteckning [Barefoot in top hat. Nils-Eric Fougstedt. A biography] (in Swedish). Helsinki: Söderströms.
• Grandell, Åke (2002). "'Har du visor, min vän?' The Finnish-Swedish songs". Finnish Music Quarterly. Vol. 2002, no. 2. Translated by Gräsbeck, Magnus. Helsinki.
• Kilpiö, Markku (1987). "The story of the Finnish choir. Social institution and human instrument". Finnish Music Quarterly. Vol. 1987, no. 2. Helsinki.
• Länsiö, Tapani (1997). "Choral Singing! For pleasure or for hire?". Finnish Music Quarterly. Vol. 1997, no. 1. Helsinki.
• Nordman, Anna-Maria, ed. (2004). Ekot av vår glada trall. Finlands svenska sång- och musikförbund 75 år [The echo of our happy tune. The Finland-Swedish confederation of singing and music 75 years] (in Swedish). Vaasa: Finlands svenska sång- och musikförbund. ISBN 951-97926-5-1.
• Stadius, Anneli; Bergman, Anne; Enholm, Henrik; Holmlund, Britta & Stenman, Hedvig, eds. (1997). Den sång är oss kär. Helsingfors sång- och musikförbund 80 år 1917–1997 [The song is dear to us. The Helsinki singing and music confederation 80 years 1917–1997] (in Swedish). Helsinki: Helsingfors sång- och musikförbund. ISBN 952-90-9175-3.
• Turunen, Kari (1992). "From pathos to professionalism. 20th century Finnish choral music". Finnish Music Quarterly. Vol. 1992, no. 4. Helsinki.
• Turunen, Kari (1995). "Helsinki, driving force in Finnish choral life". Finnish Music Quarterly. Vol. 1995, no. 1. Helsinki.

External links

• Official website (in Swedish)
• Official English webpage
• University of Helsinki
• Student Union of the University of Helsinki
• Arkivet: "Akademiska sångföreningen är Finlands äldsta kör" (in Swedish)

• University choirs
• Boys' and men's choirs
• Finnish choirs
• Musical groups established in 1838
• 1838 establishments in Finland
• 19th century in Helsinki