Säkkijärven polkka
Encyclopedia
Säkkijärven polkka is a well-known folk tune from Finland, popular with Finnish accordion
ists to the extent that it can be called their national anthem. It was especially popularized by Viljo "Vili" Vesterinen
(1907–1961). The tune was first recorded in Säkkijärvi (now Kondratyevo in the Leningrad Oblast
, Russia
), and the words sometimes sung to the tune point out that Säkkijärvi itself might have been lost, but that Finns could at least keep the polka.
, the Finnish Army discovered that the retreating Soviets had scattered radio-controlled mines throughout the re-captured city of Viipuri. These mines were set off when a three-note chord was played on the frequency the radio was tuned to, causing three tuning forks (of which each mine had a unique combination) to vibrate at once. Once the Army and Yleisradio
experts discovered how the mines worked, a Yleisradio mobile transmitter was brought to Viipuri, and Vesterinen's polka was played on the same frequencies the mines used. This operation continued for over three months, until the batteries of the mines were drained.
An electronic version of the song, titled Hardcore of the North, appears in the music video game In The Groove, commercial multi player machine dance game IDance
and iDance2.
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
ists to the extent that it can be called their national anthem. It was especially popularized by Viljo "Vili" Vesterinen
Viljo Vesterinen
Viljo "Vili" Vesterinen was a Finnish accordionist and composer.Vesterinen studied piano and cello in Vyborg Music Institute, but as an accordionist he was self-taught. Vesterinen mainly played in different bands and theatres early in his career. Vesterinen made his first recordings in 1929...
(1907–1961). The tune was first recorded in Säkkijärvi (now Kondratyevo in the Leningrad Oblast
Leningrad Oblast
Leningrad Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . It was established on August 1, 1927, although it was not until 1946 that the oblast's borders had been mostly settled in their present position...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
), and the words sometimes sung to the tune point out that Säkkijärvi itself might have been lost, but that Finns could at least keep the polka.
Military use
During the Continuation WarContinuation War
The Continuation War was the second of two wars fought between Finland and the Soviet Union during World War II.At the time of the war, the Finnish side used the name to make clear its perceived relationship to the preceding Winter War...
, the Finnish Army discovered that the retreating Soviets had scattered radio-controlled mines throughout the re-captured city of Viipuri. These mines were set off when a three-note chord was played on the frequency the radio was tuned to, causing three tuning forks (of which each mine had a unique combination) to vibrate at once. Once the Army and Yleisradio
Yleisradio
The Finnish Broadcasting Company , abbreviated to YLE , is Finland's national broadcasting company, founded in 1926. YLE is a public-broadcasting organization which shares many of its characteristics with its British counterpart, the BBC, on which it was largely modelled...
experts discovered how the mines worked, a Yleisradio mobile transmitter was brought to Viipuri, and Vesterinen's polka was played on the same frequencies the mines used. This operation continued for over three months, until the batteries of the mines were drained.
Other
Säkkijärven polkka is also the title of the eponymous film directed by Viljo Salminen (1908–1992) in 1955.An electronic version of the song, titled Hardcore of the North, appears in the music video game In The Groove, commercial multi player machine dance game IDance
IDance
iDance is a music video game developed by Positive Gaming. It is a four-panel dance game, similar to Dance Dance Revolution and In The Groove...
and iDance2.