Sonic dialogue is created by violinist / composer Pia Siirala who will perform her own compositions alongside field recordings of the indigenous Chukchi people.

Pia Siirala’s compositions are based and inspired by the so-called Personal Song tradition of the indigenous Tundra Chukchi in north-eastern Siberia. The personal song is an integral part of the personal identity of Arctic indigenous people. Given at birth to every child, the personal song becomes as fundamental to the person’s being as their name. During the concert the singing of the nomadic reindeer herders from her field recordings and live music enter into dialogue.

Programme

Sound answers voice

Pia Siirala, violin

Indigenous Chukchi singers from the field recordings from Chukotka Tevljantonau (b. 1934) Tinatval (b. 1922) Raughtitival (b. 1927) Jaatival (b. 1950) Ian (b.1942)

Three clarinets

Lucy Abrams-Husso, Bass, E-flat and A-clarinets

Indigenous Chukchi singers from the field recordings from Chukotka Neshkarultin (b. 1945) Raughtit (b. 1945) Koravye (b. 1935) Vonne (b. 1940)

Pia Siirala is currently completing her doctoral studies at the Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts, Helsinki, Finland. Her artistic research, “Aspects of Hearing”, concentrates on the music of the indigenous people, particularly the Chukchi people in north-eastern Siberia, where the ancient musical tradition is still a living tradition. Inspired by this indigenous music, Siirala has created several compositions. Pia Siirala studied at the Sibelius Academy, the Budapest Liszt Academy and at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory. She is the concert master of Ensemble XXI. For more on Pia’s work, visit the Ensemble XXI website.