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The Academic Male Voice Choir of Helsinki (Swedish: Akademiska Sångföreningen, lit. 'The Academic Song Association', pronounced [ɑkɑˈděːmiskɑ ˈsǒŋfœrˌeːniŋen]), abbreviated AS, colloquially also known as Akademen[lower-alpha 1] (Finland Swedish: [ɑkɑˈdeːmen]), is a Finland-Swedish academic male-voice choir in Helsinki, Finland. The choir was founded in 1838 by Fredrik Pacius and is the oldest extant choir in Finland.[1] It is one of two male-voice choirs affiliated with the University of Helsinki, the other being the oldest extant Finnish-language choir, the YL Male Voice Choir (Finnish: Ylioppilaskunnan Laulajat). Furthermore, it is one of two Swedish-language choirs affiliated with the University of Helsinki, the other being the Academic Female Voice Choir Lyran (Swedish: Akademiska Damkören Lyran).

"Akademen" redirects here. For other uses, see Akademen (disambiguation).
The Academic Male Voice Choir of Helsinki
Akademiska Sångföreningen
Choir
Logotype
OriginHelsinki, Grand Duchy of Finland,  Russian Empire (today Helsinki,  Finland)
Founded1838; 184 years ago (1838)
FounderFredrik (Friedrich) Pacius
GenreMale-voice choral
MembersCa 60 active
Chief conductorElisa Huovinen
Choir admissionSemiannual auditions
HeadquartersHelsinki,  Finland
AffiliationUniversity of Helsinki
Associated groups
Websiteakademen.com

History



Overview


Drawing of the young Pacius by Mazér
Drawing of the young Pacius by Mazér

Akademiska Sångföreningen was founded no later than during the spring term of 1838 by Fredrik Pacius (né Friedrich Pacius), music lecturer at the Imperial Alexander University of Finland (today the University of Helsinki) and sometimes known as "the father of Finnish music", originally under the name Akademiska Sångsällskapet[lower-alpha 2], 'The Academic Song Society'.[2] The choir is thus the oldest extant one in Finland.[1] The name Akademiska Sångföreningen was introduced no later than in 1846.[3]

During the 19th century the choir became a symbol of national awakening in the emerging Finnish nation, at the time part of the Russian Empire as the Grand Duchy of Finland. On 13 May 1848,[4] Pacius' composition Vårt land, 'Our Land', set to the poem by Johan Ludvig Runeberg, was performed for the first time by the choir, conducted by Pacius, during the students' celebration of the Flora Day. The composition was to become the national anthem of the Finnish nation.

In the 1850s and 60s, elite triple quartets from within the choir's ranks (Swedish: "sångartolfvor", lit. 'singer twelves') participated in raising the funds necessary to build what is today known as the Old Student House in Helsinki (Swedish: Gamla studenthuset, Finnish: Vanha ylioppilastalo), by travelling the country performing.[5] The Old Student House was finished in 1870[6] and is still the location for the choir's weekly rehearsals.

During the second half of the 20th century, the choir, directed by modernist Erik Bergman, came to carve out new paths for the male-voice choir tradition in Finland, proving that this genre of music was able to exhibit superior musical qualities as well. After Bergman, jazz musician Henrik Otto Donner carried on this tradition.

At end of the 1970s and the beginning of the 80s the choir was engaged in lighter types of music. The Akademen à la carte concerts in Finlandia Hall were decidedly successful and, when necessary, members of the choir would compose pieces of music themselves.

During the 20th century the choir had several prominent conductors: Bengt Carlson, Nils-Eric Fougstedt, Erik Bergman, Henrik Otto Donner, Markus Westerlund, Eric-Olof Söderström, Tom Eklundh, John Schultz and Henrik Wikström all directed the choir.[7][8] The most recent chief conductor Dr Kari Turunen, Doctor of Music, was appointed 2008 and stepped down in 2019 after the spring term, having been appointed artistic director of the Vancouver Chamber Choir, beginning the autumn term 2019. In June 2019, Elisa Huovinen, Master of Music, was appointed his successor as chief conductor of Akademiska Sångföreningen.[9]


List of chief conductors


Fredrik Pacius (1809–1891), conductor 1838–1846
Fredrik Pacius (1809–1891), conductor 1838–1846
Martin Wegelius (1846–1906), conductor 1870–1871 and 1873–1876
Martin Wegelius (1846–1906), conductor 1870–1871 and 1873–1876
Nils-Eric Fougstedt (1910–1961), conductor 1946–1950
Nils-Eric Fougstedt (1910–1961), conductor 1946–1950
Erik Bergman (1911–2006), conductor 1950–1969
Erik Bergman (1911–2006), conductor 1950–1969
Henrik Otto Donner (1939–2013), conductor 1969–1976
Henrik Otto Donner (1939–2013), conductor 1969–1976

The chief conductor is the artistic director of the choir.

Chief conductors[7][8][10][11][9][12]
From (semester) To (semester) incl. Consecutive tenure Total tenure Name Notes
1838, spring1846, spring8+1⁄2 yrs8+1⁄2 yrsFredrik PaciusFounder
1846, autumn1850, spring4 yrs4 yrsAugust Lindelöf
Temporary conductors from the autumn semester of 1850 to the spring semester of 1857
1857, autumn1860, spring3 yrs3 yrsGustaf Magnus Cederhvarf
1860, autumn1864, spring4 yrs4 yrsHenrik Gustaf Borenius
1864, autumn1865, spring1 yr1 yrJohannes Edvard Pacius
1865, autumn1866, spring1 yr1 yrUno KurténAppointed Honorary Member in 1920
1866, autumn1868, spring2 yrs3 yrsLorentz Nikolai Achté
1868, autumn1869, autumn1+1⁄2 yrs1+1⁄2 yrsNils Peter Paldani
1870, spring1871, spring1+1⁄2 yrs4+1⁄2 yrsMartin Wegelius
1871, autumn1872, spring1 yr3 yrsLorentz Nikolai Achté
1872, autumn1873, spring1 yr1 yrDavid Hahl
1873, autumn1876, spring3 yrs4+1⁄2 yrsMartin Wegelius
1876, autumn1879, spring3 yrs6+1⁄2 yrsGösta SohlströmAppointed Honorary Member in 1915
1879, autumn1879, autumn2 yr2 yrOscar Mechelin
1880, spring1880, spring2 yr2 yrNils Kiljander
1880, autumn1880, autumn2 yr2 yrJarl Werner Holmberg
1881, spring1881, autumn1 yr1 yrEdvard Rindell
1882, spring1882, spring2 yr2 yrOscar W. Moberg
Interregnum from the autumn semester of 1882 to the spring semester of 1884
1884, autumn1884, autumn2 yr2 yrArtur Relander
1885, spring1892, autumn8 yrs11+1⁄2 yrsCarl von KnorringAppointed Honorary Conductor in 1900, Honorary Member in 1910
1893, spring1894, spring1+1⁄2 yrs2+1⁄2 yrsEmil Leander
1894, autumn1894, autumn2 yr11+1⁄2 yrsCarl von KnorringAppointed Honorary Conductor in 1900, Honorary Member in 1910
1895, spring1895, autumn1 yr1 yrUno Öller
1896, spring1899, spring3+1⁄2 yrs6+1⁄2 yrsGösta SohlströmAppointed Honorary Member in 1915
1899, autumn1902, spring3 yrs11+1⁄2 yrsCarl von KnorringAppointed Honorary Conductor in 1900, Honorary Member in 1910
1902, autumn1903, spring1 yr2 yrsLennart Hallman
1903, autumn1904, spring1 yr1 yrKurt Ångelin
1902, autumn1905, spring1 yr2 yrsLennart Hallman
Vacancy during the autumn semester of 1905
1906, spring1906, autumn1 yr1 yrGustaf Mattsson
Vacancy during the spring semester of 1907
1907, autumn1908, spring1 yr1 yrAlarik Uggla
1908, autumn1909, spring1 yr1 yrThure Sandelin
1909, autumn1911, spring2 yrs2 yrsGösta Enckell
1911, autumn1912, spring1 yr2+1⁄2 yrsEmil Leander
1912, autumn1915, spring3 yrs3 yrsRagnar Hollmérus
1915, autumn1920, spring5 yrs5 yrsOlof Wallin
1920, autumn1946, spring26 yrs26 yrsBengt CarlsonAppointed Honorary Conductor in 1932, Honorary Member in 1946
1946, autumn1950, spring4 yrs4 yrsNils-Eric Fougstedt
1950, autumn1969, spring19 yrs19 yrsErik BergmanAppointed Honorary Conductor in 1961, Honorary Member in 1969
1969, autumn1976, spring7 yrs7 yrsHenrik Otto Donner
1976, autumn1983, spring7 yrs7 yrsMarkus Westerlund
1983, autumn1985, spring2 yrs2 yrsEric-Olof Söderström
1985, autumn1990, spring5 yrs5 yrsTom Eklundh
1990, autumn1997, spring7 yrs7 yrsJohn SchultzJoint conductorship with Henrik Wikström
1997, autumn2008, spring11 yrs18 yrsHenrik WikströmTotal tenure inclusive of joint conductorship with John Schultz
2008, autumn2019, spring11 yrs11 yrsKari TurunenAppointed Honorary Conductor in 2019
2019, autumn2019, autumn1⁄2 yr1⁄2 yrRiku LaurikkaActing conductor
2019, autumnElisa HuovinenIncumbent, conductor de facto from 2020, spring

List of presidents


The president is the chairman of the committee.

Presidents[13][14]
From To Name Notes
No presidents proper before 1884
18841886Hjalmar Londén
No presidents proper from 1886 to 1895
18961896Ossian Schauman
No presidents proper from 1896 to 1902
19031905Konstantin Bergman
19051907Verner Hougberg
19081908Guy Topelius
19081911Bruno A. Norén
19111912Gösta Juslén
19121912Axel A. Mörne
19131913Evert EkrothActing
19131913Widar Granholm
19141915Gösta Schybergson
19161916Evert Ekroth
19161918Gunnar Pehrman
19191920Torsten Sievers
19201921Werner von Troil
19221923Gösta Charpentier
19231925Knut von Hertzen
19251926Erik G. Såltin
19261926Erik Vaenerberg
19271927Håkan Lindberg
19271928Randall Nybom
19281928Olof Leineberg
19291931Knut von Hertzen
19311932Runar Hernberg
19321934Öyvind Stadius
19341936Carl-Erik Creutz
19371937Gösta Th. Lindblad
19371940Carl-Erik Creutz
19401944Nils Westerholm
19451947Olof Rosenius
19471949Per Erik Floman
19491951Bengt-Olof Nordman
19511952Tor H. Krause
19521955Eduard Pacius
19551957Johan Lindberg
19571959Carl-Mikael Tengström
19591961Carl-Henrik von Hertzen
19611963Christian Reims
19631965Erik Kihlman
19651967Christer Lindberg
19671968Lars-Axel Lindberg
19681969Bengt Rosenquist
19691970Carl-Johan Lundström
19701972Magnus Bargum
19721974Marcus Borgström
19741975Thomas Thesleff
19751976Håkan Nylund
19761978Ulf Sjöblad
19781980Krister Blomqvist
19801982Staffan Kurtén
19821983Magnus Pousette
19831984Kim Sjöholm
19841988Johan AaltoAppointed Honorary Member in 2013
19881990Torkel Tallqvist
19901991Björn Nykvist
19911992René Söderman
19921993Dominicus Björkstam
19931994Martin Hartman
19941995Ulf Ginman
19951995Leif BergströmActing
19961997Mathias Nylund
19982000Dennis Holmlund
20012003Jonne Sandström
20042005Sebastian Perret
20062007Fredrik Welander
20082009Mathias Westermarck
20102011John Tallqvist
20122013Kasper Sundström
20142015Rasmus Kurtén
20162018Alexander Zilliacus
20192019Arthur Lindstedt
20202021Johan Nyman
2022Björn SchaumanIncumbent

Present activities


Erik Bergman conducting the choir on May Day 1968 in Helsinki
Erik Bergman conducting the choir on May Day 1968 in Helsinki
The Old Student House in Helsinki, where the choir rehearsed from inauguration in 1870 and throughout most of the 20th century, and as of 2016[update] rehearses every other semester
The Old Student House in Helsinki, where the choir rehearsed from inauguration in 1870 and throughout most of the 20th century, and as of 2016 rehearses every other semester
The Balder House in Helsinki, where the choir as of 2016[update] rehearses every other semester
The Balder House in Helsinki, where the choir as of 2016 rehearses every other semester

Being the oldest extant male voice choir in Finland, Akademiska Sångföreningen has always cared particularly for the classical Finnish male voice repertoire. Among the composers whose compositions form part of the choir's standard repertoire are honorary members[15] Jean Sibelius, Selim Palmgren and Erik Bergman, as well as fellow composers Toivo Kuula and Leevi Madetoja.[16] Furthermore, being a Finland-Swedish organization, the choir has always seen it as a natural and important task to champion the Swedish-speaking minority culture in Finland. Hence, the standard repertoire encompasses not only choral works of Finnish and Finland-Swedish origin, but also many works of Swedish origin, for example by honorary member Hugo Alfvén.[15][16]

As implied by its name, the choir is an academic or students' choir, and like its Helsinki sister choir the Academic Female Voice Choir Lyran (Swedish: Akademiska Damkören Lyran) an independent 'music corporation' (Swedish: musikkorporation, Finnish: musiikkikorporaatio) affiliated with the University of Helsinki. The choir presently comprises some 50 active singers, many of whom are university students. Concerts are given regularly in Finland, and the choir travels abroad frequently. In addition to most European countries, the choir has been on tour in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States,[17] Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Singapore.

Particularly in recent years, the choir has devoted itself to actively producing records, explicitly in order to document high quality male voice choir repertoire in Swedish. Apart from Swedish, the choir also sings in the parody language Transpiranto on the record Happi kvam pippi, which was released in 2006. A later album, Hymn to Finland, was produced by Swedish label BIS Records and documents works for male voice choir by founder Fredrik Pacius. The record was released on 19 March 2009, the 200th anniversary of Pacius' birth.

The choir maintains contacts with other similar choirs, in Finland in particular with male voice academic choirs Brahe Djäknar in Turku and the YL Male Voice Choir (Finnish: Ylioppilaskunnan Laulajat) in Helsinki, and in Sweden in particular with Orphei Drängar in Uppsala, Stockholm Academic Male Chorus (Swedish: Stockholms Studentsångare) in Stockholm, Linköping University Male Voice Choir (Swedish: Linköpings Studentsångare) in Linköping and Lund University Male Voice Choir (Swedish: Lunds Studentsångförening) in Lund.

Ever since 1954, the choir has collaborated extensively with the Academic Female Voice Choir Lyran (Swedish: Akademiska Damkören Lyran),[18][19] the only other Swedish-language University of Helsinki choir. The two choirs give several annually recurring concerts together.[10][12]


Discography


Studio, live and selections albums primarily featuring the choir
Year Title Translation Conductor(s) Label Format Notes
1964Akademiska Sångföreningen 1838–1963Erik BergmanThe Finnish Broadcasting CompanyLP125th anniversary concert repertoire
1967Bellman och serenader'Carl Michael Bellman and serenades'Erik BergmanThe Finnish Broadcasting CompanyEP
1975Studentsången i Kajsaniemi'The students' singing in Kaisaniemi Park'Henrik Otto DonnerAkademiska SångföreningenLP
1980EtudeMarkus WesterlundFinlandia RecordsLP
1983MagnificatMarkus WesterlundFinlandia RecordsLP
1988A la carteVariousAkademiska SångföreningenLPSelected live recordings from the Akademen à la carte concerts 1980–1987
1995Första maj'May Day'John SchultzAkademiska SångföreningenCD
1999Julstämning'Christmas spirit'Henrik Wikström, Kari TurunenAkademiska Damkören Lyran & Akademiska SångföreningenCDChristmas album; in collaboration with the Academic Female Voice Choir Lyran
2002Skaparegestalter'Creator figures'Henrik WikströmFugaCD
2005För ögonblicket'At the moment'Henrik WikströmFugaCD
2006Happi kvam pippiHenrik WikströmFugaCDTranslations into the parody language Transpiranto
2009Hymn to Finland: Fredrik Pacius: Works for Male-Voice ChoirHenrik WikströmBIS RecordsCD
2011Julen vi minns'The Christmas we remember'Kari Turunen, Jutta SeppinenAkademiska Damkören Lyran & Akademiska SångföreningenCDChristmas album; in collaboration with the Academic Female Voice Choir Lyran
2013Från tidevarv till tidevarv'From epoch unto epoch'VariousFugaTriple CDSelections album; released for the 175th anniversary
2013Solglitter'The sun's glistening'Kari TurunenFugaCD
2016I Dreamt: Beställningsverken 2007–2013'I Dreamt: Works commissioned 2007–2013'Kari TurunenFugaCD

Notes


  1. Construed Swedish definite form related to akademisk, 'academic', but without lexical meaning.
  2. Originally spelt Akademiska Sång-Sälskapet

Citations


  1. Korhonen 2007, p. 29.
  2. Dahlström 1988, p. 12.
  3. Dahlström 1988, p. 13.
  4. Theman & Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland n.d.
  5. Dahlström 1988, pp. 35, 46.
  6. Eerola n.d.
  7. Dahlström 1988, p. 283.
  8. Federley & Holmlund 2008, p. 217.
  9. Akademiska Sångföreningen rf 2019a.
  10. Akademiska Sångföreningen n.d.b.
  11. Akademiska Sångföreningen n.d.c.
  12. Akademiska Sångföreningen rf 2019b.
  13. Dahlström 1988, pp. 284–285.
  14. Federley & Holmlund 2008, pp. 221–223.
  15. Dahlström 1988, p. 284.
  16. Dahlström 1988, pp. 221–246.
  17. Federley & Holmlund 2008, pp. 64–73, 119–130.
  18. Ekström & Duncker 1963.
  19. Dahlström 1988, p. 146.

References



Further reading






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