Tuomas Rounakari is an internationally acclaimed violinist, composer and ethnomusicologist from Finland. He is a one-man-band blending violin, vocals and stomping with ankle-bells. In his performance he enters various trance-states.
He is inspired by different forms of dialogue; man and nature, the seen and the unseen world, ancient and future. His first solo album Shamanviolin was a result of ethnomusicological studies of the earliest 20th century wax-cylinder recordings from Siberia. These studies have also led to many collaborations with indigenous artists. He is one of the few artists who have actually returned their art to native communities for evaluation and development.
Bear Awakener
The name Bear Awakener comes from specific songs sung in order to awaken the bear. This album dives deep into the bear myths and is designed to re-awaken or cherish anyones connection with this mythical entity.
The myth of a bear’s origin is identical among the Finns and the indigenous Khanty and Mansi people. Both cultures run ceremonial Bear feasts that last several days. Many songs, dances and plays are performed in honor of the bear. Tuomas Rounakari has studied the bear feast songs of all of these cultures. There are thousands of verses containing bear related myths in the vast archives of Finland and the tradition is now returning among the Khanty and Mansi.
It was a pleasure and great honor to have the legend on the Interview to talk about the search of mankind, man’s relationship with nature. Check out the awesome interview with Tuomas on the below YouTube video.
Bear Awakener was out on April 14, 2022.
“Bear Awakener” tracklisting:
1. First Morning
2. In the Land of the Bear
3. Man with a Bear’s Snout
4. Second Morning
5. Song of a Small Goose
6. Origin of the Bear
7. Third Morning
8. Bear Clan Girl
9. Man-observing-the-world
10. Roopeska’s Bear Hunt
11. Last Morning – Departure
Music Videos
