A day of Lithuanian–Finnish cultural (and more) exchange in Helsinki
From a scientific seminar to a concert in a jazz club ... So, we started November 12th with a morning seminar “From Archives to Life: Lithuanian–Finnish Cultural Exchange Inspired by Professor Robert Aukusti Niemi”, which brought together Lithuanian and Finnish folklore researchers. Held at the headquarters of the Finnish Literature Society, the event honoured Finnish professor Robert Aukusti Niemi for his contribution to Lithuanian folklore studies and for strengthening cultural ties between the two countries.
During his visits to northeastern Lithuania and the Dzūkija region in 1911–1912, Professor Niemi recorded more than 300 Lithuanian folk songs on phonograph wax cylinders. These recordings are preserved in the archives of the Finnish Literature Society in Helsinki. Their special value lies in the fact that they contain the first authentic recordings of polyphonic sutartinės singing. Now, for the first time, this collection has been made publicly available in digital format, giving the wider public the opportunity to hear recordings that had been stored in archives for over a century.
The seminar was organized by the Finnish Literature Society, the Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore, and the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Finland.
In the afternoon, the Embassy of Lithuania in Helsinki hosted the annual meeting of Lithuanian diplomats with Lithuania’s Honorary Consuls in Finland. Ambassador Edvilas Raudonikis presented the embassy’s recent activities and future plans. Marijus Gudynas, Head of the European Bilateral and Regional Cooperation Group at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, discussed current issues in Lithuania’s foreign policy and bilateral relations. Joining remotely, Ignas Marcinkevičius, a specialist from Invest Lithuania, together with the embassy staff, presented Lithuania’s investment environment and current economic developments. The meeting concluded with a discussion of concrete measures to further strengthen Lithuanian–Finnish co-operation in business and culture.
The day ended with a concert at the GLivelab Helsinki jazz club, dedicated to the 35th anniversary of the Finland–Lithuania Donelaitis Friendship Association. A large audience of Lithuania’s friends gathered at the club to enjoy the folkloric music adventure “Pasikleketavimai”, featuring Skirmantas Sasnauskas (trombone, bagpipes), the sutartinės group Ūtara (Lilija Milašienė, Aušra Kriaučiūnė, Rūta Aladavičienė, Eglė Raudonikienė, Aušra Žičkienė), Agota Zdanavičiūtė (kanklės, vocals), and Adas Gecevičius (electronics). The performance intertwined Lithuanian sutartinės, folk melodies, traditional kanklės music, and vivid bird-song imitations with contemporary expression—improvisation, rhythm, and electronics.
This February, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kęstutis Budrys, awarded the Finland–Lithuania Donelaitis Friendship Association the Lithuanian Diplomacy Star for its long-standing work in developing social, cultural, historical, political, and educational ties between Lithuania and Finland.
