IN THE CHARTS
June 2025
#10 - Top 40 for Nordic & Baltic Influence
Perkolan Häät (The Wedding In Perkola) Performed By WAO (track)
May 2025
#19 - Top 40 for Nordic & Baltic Influence
Perkolan Häät (The Wedding In Perkola) Performed By WAO (track)
TRACKS
1 time in the Global Top 40
VIDEOS
PHOTOS
ABOUT
About Arto
In the lexicon of Finnish folk music, Arto Järvelä is one of the most important fiddlers of our time, with a body of work spanning over three decades. Beginning in the mid-seventies in the family band Isät ja Pojat (Fathers & Sons) and during his studies at the music college in Kaustinen, he formed Finland's top fiddle band JPP in 1982. Thereafter, Arto has played in most of the Finnish folk groups like Niekku, Tallari, Salamakannel, Ampron Prunni, Koinurit, Pinnin Pojat, Maria Kalaniemi & Aldargaz, The Helsinki Mandoliners, Erik Hokkanen & Lumisudet, you name it!
Arto Järvelä was born in 1964 in Hattula, southern Finland. In his family, fiddling goes back three generations of famous Kaustinen fiddlers. In 1982, Arto started his studies at the Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department and graduated in 1994 as a Master of Music. During his studies, he adopted new instruments like the nyckelharpa (keyed fiddle), mandolin, octave mandolin, kantele, and has been seen jamming even with the jouhikko (ancient Finnish bowed lyre), double bass, and brushes!
As one of Finland's most talented folk musicians, Arto has represented Finnish culture in more than 30 countries. Concert appearances have taken him as far afield as Cuba, Peru, Australia, Pakistan, Thailand, the USA, Canada, India, and most of Europe.
In 1980, Arto wrote his first composition, Tango a-mollissa (in A minor). Thereafter, he has composed over 100 tunes, and most of them appear on domestic albums, some of them recorded internationally like "Alice au pays d'Arto," which the Québécoise band La Bottine Souriante recorded on their album X-ième in 1998.
Arto has been active in the studio and recordings too. Over the years, he has recorded over 50 albums with his bands. He has been sought after for side-kicking on other albums too, both domestic and internationally, and appearances go over 70 albums.
In 1994, Arto was ready to do his first solo, Polska Differente (OArtCD1). There, Arto shows his skills as a fiddler, nyckelharper, mandolin player, composer, arranger, and writer. With more than 20 of his musical friends, he creates moods from the lowest grave to the highest sky. "Arto Järvelä plays fiddle" (OArtCD2) is a tip of the hat to all his old-time heroes, including 21 tracks of traditional Finnish fiddle tunes of the highest class. An accompanying book of transcriptions of the tunes is also available. "Arto Järvelä Far In!" (OArtCD3) is his newest solo. This one mixes old modes and modern musical thinking, not to mention all 20 or so instruments Arto plays by himself! In 2011, Arto released his 4th solo CD, 'Plays fiddle Vol. 2 cross-tuned' (OArtCD5), which includes traditional and original Finnish music with 9 different scordatura + 2 vocal tracks. In 2012, the series of Arto CDs grew with two albums: "Arto Järvelä Plays fiddle Vol. 3 - on the coast" (OArtCD6) (including traditional music from Finland's Swedish-speaking areas on the coast) and collaborating with the American Finnish duo Kaivama; "Arto Järvelä & Kaivama" (OArtCD7). A new duo with cousin Antti is a reality; the new CD 'Os fera liluli' by Arto & Antti Järvelä is available in September 2013. OArt recording (9th) is a trio CD 'Rauland Rambles' with Bruce Molsky (USA) and Ånon Egeland (Norway) and the newest (10th) a duet with his long-time musical pal Tapani Varis.
His latest cooperation is with classical music, Arto Järvelä & Duo Vitare has been giving concerts in Finland and Poland.
Teaching at the Sibelius Academy's Folk Music Dept has been one of his major duties since 1988. Bands like JPP, Ampron Prunni, Pinnin Pojat, Nordik Tree, Erik Hokkanen & Lumisudet, Trio Nor, Maria Kalaniemi & Vilda Rosor, and The Helsinki Mandoliners are alive and kicking. In 2019, Arto joined Tallari again and now works part-time in Kaustinen. And of course, Arto is working on new and interesting solo projects and swimming in an ice hole.
www.facebook.com/Arto.Jarvela.fanpage/
www.myspace.com/artojarvela
In the lexicon of Finnish folk music, Arto Järvelä is one of the most important fiddlers of our time, with a body of work spanning over three decades. Beginning in the mid-seventies in the family band Isät ja Pojat (Fathers & Sons) and during his studies at the music college in Kaustinen, he formed Finland's top fiddle band JPP in 1982. Thereafter, Arto has played in most of the Finnish folk groups like Niekku, Tallari, Salamakannel, Ampron Prunni, Koinurit, Pinnin Pojat, Maria Kalaniemi & Aldargaz, The Helsinki Mandoliners, Erik Hokkanen & Lumisudet, you name it!
Arto Järvelä was born in 1964 in Hattula, southern Finland. In his family, fiddling goes back three generations of famous Kaustinen fiddlers. In 1982, Arto started his studies at the Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department and graduated in 1994 as a Master of Music. During his studies, he adopted new instruments like the nyckelharpa (keyed fiddle), mandolin, octave mandolin, kantele, and has been seen jamming even with the jouhikko (ancient Finnish bowed lyre), double bass, and brushes!
As one of Finland's most talented folk musicians, Arto has represented Finnish culture in more than 30 countries. Concert appearances have taken him as far afield as Cuba, Peru, Australia, Pakistan, Thailand, the USA, Canada, India, and most of Europe.
In 1980, Arto wrote his first composition, Tango a-mollissa (in A minor). Thereafter, he has composed over 100 tunes, and most of them appear on domestic albums, some of them recorded internationally like "Alice au pays d'Arto," which the Québécoise band La Bottine Souriante recorded on their album X-ième in 1998.
Arto has been active in the studio and recordings too. Over the years, he has recorded over 50 albums with his bands. He has been sought after for side-kicking on other albums too, both domestic and internationally, and appearances go over 70 albums.
In 1994, Arto was ready to do his first solo, Polska Differente (OArtCD1). There, Arto shows his skills as a fiddler, nyckelharper, mandolin player, composer, arranger, and writer. With more than 20 of his musical friends, he creates moods from the lowest grave to the highest sky. "Arto Järvelä plays fiddle" (OArtCD2) is a tip of the hat to all his old-time heroes, including 21 tracks of traditional Finnish fiddle tunes of the highest class. An accompanying book of transcriptions of the tunes is also available. "Arto Järvelä Far In!" (OArtCD3) is his newest solo. This one mixes old modes and modern musical thinking, not to mention all 20 or so instruments Arto plays by himself! In 2011, Arto released his 4th solo CD, 'Plays fiddle Vol. 2 cross-tuned' (OArtCD5), which includes traditional and original Finnish music with 9 different scordatura + 2 vocal tracks. In 2012, the series of Arto CDs grew with two albums: "Arto Järvelä Plays fiddle Vol. 3 - on the coast" (OArtCD6) (including traditional music from Finland's Swedish-speaking areas on the coast) and collaborating with the American Finnish duo Kaivama; "Arto Järvelä & Kaivama" (OArtCD7). A new duo with cousin Antti is a reality; the new CD 'Os fera liluli' by Arto & Antti Järvelä is available in September 2013. OArt recording (9th) is a trio CD 'Rauland Rambles' with Bruce Molsky (USA) and Ånon Egeland (Norway) and the newest (10th) a duet with his long-time musical pal Tapani Varis.
His latest cooperation is with classical music, Arto Järvelä & Duo Vitare has been giving concerts in Finland and Poland.
Teaching at the Sibelius Academy's Folk Music Dept has been one of his major duties since 1988. Bands like JPP, Ampron Prunni, Pinnin Pojat, Nordik Tree, Erik Hokkanen & Lumisudet, Trio Nor, Maria Kalaniemi & Vilda Rosor, and The Helsinki Mandoliners are alive and kicking. In 2019, Arto joined Tallari again and now works part-time in Kaustinen. And of course, Arto is working on new and interesting solo projects and swimming in an ice hole.
www.facebook.com/Arto.Jarvela.fanpage/
www.myspace.com/artojarvela
OTHER LINKS
