Säkkijärvi polka ( Fin. Säkkijärven polkka ) is a Finnish polka performed by Finnish accordionists . Initially, the song was composed of three folk tunes from the vicinity of the village of Säkkijärvi (now Kondratievo , Vyborg district ). The song was replicated for the first time in records by the Norwegian-American accordionist Willy Larsen in 1928, but is truly known for the records of Villo "Vili" Westerinen (1907-1961), Lasse Pihlayaamaa (1916-2007) and Boris Tikhonov (1919-1971). According to another version, the melody comes from the song “Sellainen ol Viipuri” ( Finnish. That was Vyborg ) [1] , which, in turn, is a translation of the German song “Abends in dem kleinen Städtchen” 1924 by composer Ralph Benatsky. [2]
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Polka Syakkijärvi during World War II
During the Soviet-Finnish war, the Polish Säkkijärvi was used as radio interference. On June 25, 1941, a state of war was declared between the USSR and Finland . The Soviet military, before the surrender of Vyborg, mined the city with radio-controlled hidden mines, which were supposed to undermine gradually, within a few months, when the Finns would occupy the city and settle in it. The mines had to be remotely driven by a radio signal at one frequency or another.
Mines were located in different parts of the city. Several mines were blown up. After some time, Finnish sappers found several more unexploded mines and were able to study them, thanks to the capture of several Soviet prisoners of war, who, during interrogations, informed the Finns of the mining site. To jam the radio signal to undermine, Finnish sappers launched a mobile radio station, which continuously broadcast fast music over a wide spectrum of frequencies for two months (until the batteries of the radio receivers in radio-controlled landmines were completely discharged) so that the disruptive radio signal could not reach the mines. It was precisely the Polish Sakkijärvi that the Finnish engineers chose because of the fast rhythm of the music.
As an information cover for the demining operation, Finnish propaganda launched a rumor that between the Finnish and Soviet front positions there was an included radio station, which was under continuous enemy fire, so it could not be turned off.
Mine clearance was successful, and many Vyborg buildings survived the war.
Postwar History
The famous Finnish poet and songwriter Reino Helismaa wrote the lyrics to the polka melody. The song on its text was performed by many singers - Jorma Ikyavalko , Esa Pakarinen and Esko Toivonen (duet), the ensemble Kipparikvartetti .
In the Soviet Union, the melody was known under the name "Karelian-Finnish Polish" and was widely performed in arrangements for button accordion and harmony. Helmi Ivanovna Malmi put the dance in the National Song and Dance Ensemble of Karelia “Kantele” on the melody of the Polish Syakkiyarvi.
In Culture
- In the full-length film on the anime Girls und Panzer, Polish Sakkijärvi is performed on a dumbbell by the Finnish team commander in the battle scene of the Finnish BT-42 with M26 tanks (tank) .
- Polka Syakkiyarvi was unofficially offered as a hymn of Vyborg . [2]
- Polka Syakkiyarvi was also performed in the film “ Leningrad Cowboys Going to America ” performed by Sleepy Sleepers and in the film “ White Dews ” performed by Nikolai Karachentsov .
- Along with Nokia Tune , Sakkijärvi's polka tune called Type 7 was one of the Nokia 2110 ringtones, which was the first of Nokia phones with a monaural ringtone.
Notes
See also
- Ievan Polkka (Polka Eve)