NATIONAL9 [IN FOCUS (Spotlight Weelky)]

Bond Of Friendship

Two Finnish musicians perform their tradional music

By A CORRESPONDENT

Economically, Finland is one of the richest countries of the world and Nepal is one of the poorest. Despite such disparities, Nepal and Finland have many similiarites in other areas.

Like Nepal, traditional forms of Finnish music has its own peculiar character in Europe like Nepalese music in South Asia.

Rhythm and sound of tradional Finnish music is regarded as one of the best in Europe. This is the reason Finnish muscians are always able to leave their impression wherver they visit.

To celebrate the Independence Day of Finland, two Finnish muscians were recently in town and performed in different parts of the country.

Musician Jouko Paakkonen, a conductor of folk Ensemble, plays music for Rimpparenmmi Orchestra in Finland.

"I am very happy to perform in Nepal along with the Nepalese musician," said Musician Paakonen who has got his Master of Arts Degree from Sibelius Academy in 1997.

23-year-old Paakkonen has already performed the folk Ensemble in different parts of the world but this is his first visit to this Himalayan Kingdom.

He performed different types of Finnish music on the national day celebrations last week together with the artistes from Royal Nepal Academy.

"This trip gave me an oppurtunity to learn Nepalese folk music and see what similarities are there in Nepalese and Finnish music," said Paakkonen.

Although she is yonger than her colleague, Mona-Lisa Mavalehto has also some typical ways to perform the Finnish music. 17-year-old student in Ounasvaara Sport High School, Mavalehto has her own way of learning and doing.

A student in Music College of Lappland in Accordeon Class, Mavalehto had bagged second prize in Kingenthal Accodeon competition in 1997.

Through her music, Malvaletho was able to win hearts of the large number of crowd gathered at the National Day ceremony of Finland at Hotel Yak and Yeti.

Two human rights activists, President of Human Rights and Peace Society Krishna Pahadi and treasurer Suresh Chandra Pokhrel called off their four-day long fast-unto-death strike on Sunday. They had decided to stage the strike demanding formation of the National Human Rights Commission as per the Human Rights Commission Act passed by the Parliament three years ago. They called off their strike after the Prime Minister convened the meeting of the Recommendation Committee to constitute the Commission and said that he would expedite the process of forming the Commission soon.