Pasi & Petri Raukola CD

Viola Turpeinen's 100th birthday was celebrated at the Herajoki Workers' House in Riihimäki on November 14, 2009. Pasi and Petri Raukola were the main performers of the evening and Pasi had written notes from Viola's records for this occasion, which were not otherwise available. A dozen or so old accordions had been brought into the ballroom, which were also used. As masters of the old style and playing with old instruments, the brothers got into the same mood as Viola Turpeinen in her Finnish-American attire back in the day. During the party, the idea arose that this music should also be released on record. Thanks to Pasi and Petri, this has now become a reality.

Viola, Pasi and Petri

Viola Turpeinen (1909-1958) is one of the most outstanding figures in Finnish-American popular music. Viola Turpeinen was probably the first female accordionist in the world who recorded accordion solos. Her style was unique. Although she played modern accordion, her style was influenced by traditional semitone accordion playing. All of her 78 rpm recordings have been reissued in four CDs by Artie Music and the Finnish Folk Music Institute.
The Finnish Expatriate Cultural Society celebrated the 100th anniversary of Viola Turpeinen in 2009 in Riihimäki, Finland. For that occasion Pasi and Petri Raukola arranged some of Viola's best-known tunes for two accordions, and in this CD you can hear the best of their performances. Pasi and Petri Raukola play old accordions made in Kouvola and Viipuri, Finland in the 1930's. At that time Finland was a notable country of accordion manufactures. These accordions are still today well-known for their beautiful sound and luxurious decoration.
Enjoy Pasi and Petri playing Viola's tunes!