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Richard Koski Performs for the
Scandinavian Society of Western Pennsylvania
(text from
Scandinavian Society Newsletter)
On October 8th, 2005, the Finlandia Foundation Performer of Year,
Richard Koski, performed for the Scandinavian Society of Western
Pennsylvania at its annual Nordic Night Dinner held at the
Westinghouse Lodge in the Forest Hills
 section
of Pittsburgh. Some fifty Scandinavians, including Swedes, Norwegians,
Danes, and Finns gathered to this cozy lodge to enjoy a meal featuring
crab cake or roast beef. The lodge was adorned with round tables
covered with pink table clothes and decorated with vases of pink
roses. There was a colorful flag stand at the back, and a warm burning
fireplace in front, creating a real Nordic atmosphere.
Richard Koski presented a program of Finnish and Finnish-American folk
tunes on two row and one-row button accordions, and on harmonica.
Mostly he played traditional polkas, jenkkas (schottisches) and
waltzes that he had learned directly from his father. On one number he
played the harmonica with one hand, and accompanied with the other
hand on the bass side of his accordion. He also played a medley of the
Ellin and Säkkijärven polkas using two harmonicas.
In addition to playing traditional tunes, Koski has composed many of
his own tunes in traditional style. During the second half of his
performance Carl Rahkonen, a member of the SSWP and Finnish fiddler
accompanied Richard. Among other tunes they played an original tune of
Koski’s, Swamp College Schottische, which is like a Finnish jenkka
with a Cajun accent. They also played Willow Creek Waltz, another
original Koski tune, which is fine A-minor waltz in the
Finnish-American style.
The performance was very entertaining and informative about the music
and the instruments he used. The audience was overjoyed and the
applause given to Richard Koski proved that the memory of this evening
will stay long in the minds of the listeners.
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