Verses and spiritual songs are a central part of Finnish culture and the landscape of the soul. Our country's leading poets and composers have indeed left their unforgettable handprints on the pages of our hymn book, such as Johan Ludvig Runeberg (1804–1877), Hilja Haahti (1874–1966), Uuno Kailas (1901–1935), Jean Sibelius (1865–1957), Toivo Kuula (1883 –1918) and Leevi Madetoja (1887–1947). The melodies and texts of hymns and spiritual songs have spoken to listeners from generation to generation, and their words of instruction, advice, rebuke and consolation have not been silenced even in our time.
Thematically, the recording consists of five topics, which are just like the path of the soul of a human being – Longing for Heaven, forgiveness, safe, gratitude for the Fatherland and the good Shepherd. All these themes are connected by gratitude for life and trust in the Creator's grace even in challenging times. From individual hymns and songs, we have built a whole, where orchestral arrangements illustrate and color the moods and contents of the texts. In the orchestra, the birds chirp, inner fear and wonder vibrate in the fast tremolos of the strings, longing is expressed in patterns that rotate in place, and the sky opens in the upward opening lines of the high strings.
The journey starts from Taivasikävä, where the first song in Taivaa, ratti tivausna, hymn 618 is just like an inexorable procession towards the beauty of heaven. The song Tuonne tuonne kaipaan describes a burning longing for bliss.
The Swedish folk song "My home in heaven is wonderful" comfortingly describes the journey towards the goal and encourages you to walk with faith and hope through the trials of life towards the glory of heaven.
In Martin Luther's (1483–1546) theology and belief, the core of the gospel, or good news, is in the preaching of forgiveness, or absolution.
Zion's song number 144 Lord Jesus paid my sin debt with his blood describes this concept most clearly.
Song of Zion 292 Sins gone, bliss oh is just like a statement under the sermon of forgiveness of its influence and power.
A good conscience strengthens the confidence that you can live in good security.
Hymn number 468 Gently close your lap lulls its listeners into the Savior's arms like a lullaby.
In Matthew chapter 6 verse 26, Jesus says: “Look at the birds of the sky. they neither sow, nor reap, nor gather into storehouses, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are worth much more than birds". Zion's song 297 Oh, I watch the bird on the branch of the tree to comfort us under everyday sorrows, referring to that part of the Bible.
Virren 928 Now fear away in the text the word fear is pronounced three times. We are told three times that fear away, or don't be afraid. Don't be afraid even when you can't see, or doubt life in the storms, yet you will eventually sail to the harbor of hope.
Song number 91 of the Old Zion song collection That glassy sea of mercy describes the mirror calm "bottomless sea of mercy", where buried sins are not remembered or dug up. That sea neither roars nor roars, but with its endless calm preaches complete and unconditional forgiveness.
After all this good and beautiful, the mind is filled with gratitude towards the Creator and one's own Motherland.
The title track of our album 326 Thank you, Father, in the words of the earth and the sky: "My Father, always by your grace you drove me away from the trouble of danger" we ask for protection and guidance for ourselves, our country, but ultimately also for the whole world.
Hymn 577 The hand of the Lord powerfully takes thoughts to the stages of our country's history. Virre's Finnish translator Väinö Havas himself fell on the front while defending his beloved country.
The hymn 584 Bless and protect us, composed by Taneli Kuusisto, is closely related to the moments of our country's destiny. Five days after the first public performance, the Winter War began. Correspondingly, the same hymn was heard on the radio after the Moscow Peace Declaration, which ended the Winter War, was announced to the people.
It is good to end the journey of our album under the care of the Good Shepherd.
Vesa Erkkilä's (1957–) song "There's love" based on the text of the Bible frees its listeners from the burden of their own efforts. "That's love, that He loved us".
An old hymn from the ranches of Taalainmaa is a familiar tune for church services and blessing ceremonies for the deceased. Its comforting message "The Lord is my shepherd, now I lack nothing" has carried its listeners even in the midst of sadness and grief. Armolaulu, borrowed from Kari Tika's (1946–2022) Luther opera (2000), tells about Luther's central doctrine of salvation, which can be summed up in the sentence; By faith alone, by grace alone, by Christ's merit alone.
As the closing track on our album, you can hear hymn number 954 Lahjalaulu composed and written by Jaakko Löyty (1955–). The song teaches us to be grateful for all the temporal and spiritual good that we have received as a gift. It also tells about how all the gifts here in time are just "borrowed goods". According to the Gospel of Matthew: "You have received a gift, a gift otherwise please give".
All these themes are connected by gratitude for life and trust in the Creator's grace even in challenging times. I have built a whole from individual hymns and songs, where the orchestral arrangements illustrate and color the moods and contents of the texts. In the orchestra, the birds chirp, inner fear and wonder vibrate in the fast tremolo of the strings, longing is expressed in patterns rotating in place, and the sky opens in the upward opening lines of the high strings.
In the arrangements, I have utilized the timbres of the string orchestra and enriched the harmonic structures. Knowing how many of the songs in our concert are familiar and important to our listeners, I have wanted to maintain fidelity to the original music in the arrangements, and I have not set out to heavily modernize or renew the tunes.
– Markus Vaara
