Ancestors of Sara Pajunen and Teija Niku lived within hours of each other in western Finland – speaking the same language, playing the same music, living the same culture. In the late 19th-century, Pajunen’s ancestors emigrated to northern Minnesota; Niku’s family remained in Finland. Today, they explore a common heritage in Finnish folk music, even as they create new music that reflects their contemporary cultures. Pajunen is a violinist and Niku is an accordionist; their lithe instrumentals and beautiful vocal harmonies in Finnish and English demonstrate how gracefully traditional and modern folk music can speak together. “Extra elusive appeal, its lightness of touch and melodiousness of repertoire matching the skill of the musicians,” says folk and roots magazine fRoots of the duo.
Friday, September 16: Lotus Friday Evening Showcase
Saturday, September 17: Lotus Saturday Evening Showcase
Click for full schedule details. Schedule subject to change.
Presented in partnership with the IU Institute for European Studies , IU Inner Asian & Uralic National Resource Center, and Friends of Old Time and Celtic Music.