Sibbe Live!: Sointu-Seitsikko

Sointu-Seitsikko was founded in 1971 in Turku, when a group of university students from Åbo Akademi and the University of Turku wanted to continue playing music during the summer. The ensemble was assembled from various student orchestras, and the chosen repertoire consisted of traditional Finnish brass septet music. The group of seven musicians eventually formed a lineup in keeping with the classical Finnish brass septet tradition, and the activity continued actively even after summer through weekly rehearsals and performances.

The artistic level of the ensemble rose with the arrival of a new conductor, Juhani Listo. Sointu-Seitsikko began organizing its own concerts, making recordings, and enriching its repertoire with newer arrangements, including works by Erik Wikström. At the same time, the association Sointu ry was established, with the goal of promoting brass septet culture in Finland. The ensemble has performed prominently both in Finland and abroad, including in Canada and at the Lieksa Brass Week.

Sointu-Seitsikko has, from the very beginning, been like a family—playing at weddings as well as funerals. Naantali has been a particularly significant performance venue, and Turku remains the group’s home city. While the lineup has changed slightly over the years, the spirit and tradition have remained strong. New musicians have joined to continue this brass septet tradition that has lasted for over 50 years.

At the concert, you will hear arrangements in the spirit of the septet tradition, based on compositions by W.A. Mozart, Oskar Merikanto, Georg Malmstén, Jacob Gade, and Robert Stolz, as well as a Finnish folk song arrangement by Emil Pahlman. Additionally, works by Jean Sibelius, Armas Järnefelt, and Leevi Madetoja will also be performed.