Jonathan Rundman’s ‘Lost Songs of the Finland Synod’: many firsts
If you are of Finnish descent – or interested in music – Minneapolis-based folk/rock singer/songwriter Jonathan Rundman offers you a treat in his self-published new book “Lost Songs of the Finnish Synod”, which contains many “firsts”.
The Synod of Finland is a Lutheran religion that Rundman says faded away in 1962 and the only people who remember it personally are 80 and older. His 10-year-old book is a musical and theological memoir about his Lutheran ancestors who moved from Finland to America at the beginning of the 20th century. It contains arrangements and translations of 28 songs from the Nordic immigrant community that settled in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Rundman includes songs in English for the first time (“O God, We Love to Praise Your Name”), songs appearing in Finnish translations for the first time (“For Sucha Time As This”), songs released in North America for the first time (“Psalmi 100”) and new music composed for traditional texts (“Paavo talonpoika”). There are also pictures of people and places important to the Synod’s traditions.
Rundman was born in Hancock, Michigan, the historic headquarters of the Synod of Finland, which later merged with the Lutheran Church in America. While traveling from coast to coast as a touring musician, he searched for music in antique stores, church basements, Lutheran seminaries and Finlandia University’s historical archives.
“When word got out on Facebook that I was doing this research, American Finns all over the country started sending me old sheet music, school yearbooks, newspapers and hymnals,” he recalls.
“Lost Songs” is praised by scholars of ethnomusicology, church history and Scandinavia in Finland and the United States
Mark Sedio, cantor at Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, writes, “Growing up in another Minnesota immigrant community with a strong hymnody tradition, I longed for a resource like this. Jonathan has provided current and future generations of Finns, Finnish-Americans, and everyone else with a direct bridge to songs from a heritage that not only served worshiping communities, but also nurtured faith. By no means a collection of historical musical artifacts, he has made a book of usable texts and tunes so far.”
Rundman will launch his book with a free concert/lecture and book signing at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 21, at Luther Seminary, 2481 Como Ave., St. Paul. For more information, please visit: jonathanrundman.com/suomisynod.