Sinikka is also very interested in norwegian folkhymns, She and organist Kåre Nordstoga are exploring the development of the old hymns in the norwegian folk song tradition as compared with J. S. Bach’s choral arrangements of the same songs. The work with J.S. Bach and Folkhymns has lead to cooperation with viola player Lars Anders Tomter. Together with Nordstoga and Tomter she now gives the concerts MARIA - Folkhymns J.S.Bach and MARIA MAGDALENA.

TRADITION
Sinikka Langeland’s songs often focus on the relationship between people and nature as it is expressed in traditional and modern poetry. She lives in Finnskogen, 120 km north of Oslo close to the border of Sweeden. Finnskogen the “Finnish forest” was populated by forestfinns in 1700 century and has today status as national minority in Norway.

SINGING STYLE
Sinikka’s singing style bears traces of both rune songs and kveding (traditional vocal technique), while she also has a sense of individualism that enables her to convey her own very personal idiom.

THE KANTELE
The kantele is a string instrument that is played in the areas where Finno-Ugric languages are spoken. Sinikka plays a concert kantele that has 39 strings. It is build by Hannu Koistinen and can be tuned in all keys and gives many possibilities with its 5 octaves. The oldest type of kantele has 5 strings and the five tone melodies is variated by improvisation. Sinikka is also experimenting with an electric kantele Her singing and kantele-playing complement each other, and she has often been described as singing through her instrument.

Inspired by the old impovisation-tradition on kantele Sinikka enjoys to work with jazzmusicians. In S T A R F L O W E R S she explore her compositions withArve Henriksen, trumpet,
Trygve Seim, saxophone, Anders Jormin, bass and Markku Ounaskari, drums.