Petri Hakala: Mandolin
Roger Tallroth: Guitar ( 1-6)
Siiri Virkkala: 1st Violin (1-3,5)
Esko Järvelä: 2nd Violin ( 1-3,5), fiddle (4,6)
Mauno Järvelä: Viola ( 1-3,5)
Marion Göbel: Cello ( 1-3,5 )
Timo Alakotila: Piano (4,6,7 )

Produced by Timo Alakotila
Recorded by Jyrki "Speedy" Saarinen at Finnvox Studios
Edited and mixed by Jyrki "Speedy" Saarinen at Mediagents studio
Mastered by Svante Forsbäck at Chartmakers
Cover design and photos by Jimmy Träskelin
Cover painting by Arttu Hakala

Mandolin built by Petri Hakala

All the tunes composed by Timo Alakotila

℗ & © 2022 Åkerö Records & Petri Hakala & Timo Alakotila.
NCB. All rights reserved.

Please contact for physical CD-copies !!!

VIDEO :
youtu.be/Jd0xxWN9VPo

youtu.be/8A_WtpqE6jo

The basis of this CD is the Mandolin Concerto in three movements, composed by Timo Alakotila and premiered in 2014. In addition to the wonderful string quartet of Siiri Virkkala, Esko and Mauno Järvelä and Marion Göbel we were extremely lucky to get the Swedish guitar maestro Roger Tallroth who also participated, with Siiri, in the in the premiere. The Concerto is a real challenge on mandolin with the combination of written fusion of chamber and folk music and improvisation.

Timo: Petri and I have played together for about thirty years so of course I was very pleased that he wanted to make this collaboration. The Concerto composition was inspired by Petri’s innovative and engaging playing style. Three movements: fast, slow, fast with melody lines based on folk music tradition.

Petri: When the chance to record the Concerto arose, it was a perfect opportunity to add a few of Timo’s tunes to make a complete album of Timo Alakotila music.

Eeden
Petri: Eeden is a triplet polska tune that I first heard while playing octave mandolin in the second incarnation of the band Luna Nova. Timo made a new arrangement in a different key and some solos were added.
Timo: This piece has a sort of ”singing” melody line. The quartet arrangement with Petri, Esko, Roger and me gives it a whole new character. Nice solos and inspired playing!

Polska from Concerto Grosso
Petri: This is played with the same line-up as the Mandolin Concerto. A new arrangement with pizzicato soloing in the middle.
Timo: This movement from my commissioned work Concerto Grosso has been popular with many chamber orchestras. The melody hints towards Finnish (and Swedish) polska. Petri’s and Roger’s amazing playing with the brilliant and swinging string quartet on this version makes this piece come alive again after the premiere fifteen years ago!

Green Score
Petri: This tune comes from the repertoire of Maria Kalaniemi & Aldargaz, a fine group of which I was a member in the 90s. I always liked this piece very much and felt that there was room for some solos, hence the new arrangement. Note the wonderful fiddle solo by Esko!
Timo: Similar lines as in ”Eeden”. This quartet version has lots of space and all the players have their beautiful moments!

Matka
Petri: Matka is another tune originally from Timo’s Concerto Grosso, played here as a mandolin- piano duet.
Timo: I wrote this piece for my father Toivo’s memory. He played violin and accordion with a nice lyrical touch.

We feel extremely lucky to have the opportunity to play and record this music. I hope you have as much fun listening as we had making it.

Petri Hakala, Timo Alakotila