As part of an International venture between New Zealand and Finland and the USA, a local craftsman in Finland has constructed the world’s first accordions made from the prized native New Zealand ‘Kauri’ tree.
The dream of New York resident Kevin Friedrich, born in Dargaville, New Zealand (near where the giant Kauri trees grow), and a regular visitor to Ikaalinen, Finland, the home to a rare accordion making school, where trainees are taught the art of constructing accordions in the traditional Finnish folk style, this project combines the rich and rare tradition of Finland’s accordion making culture with the stunning timber of the New Zealand Kauri tree.
Under the hands of master Finnish craftsman Aaro Luukinen, the dream of a Kauri instrument has now become a reality. Three magnificent instruments K1, K2 and K3, all to be officially named at a later date, have been crafted. The first of the instruments K1, will be housed at the Dargaville Museum, which already features extensive displays on the history of the Kauri trade in the Dargaville area. This instrument crafted from Kauri timber from Dargaville, will be used for performances in the region to showcase this unique and beautiful instrument, the world’s first made from the Kauri timber.
K2 will be housed in Ikaalinen, Finland and will be the showcase instrument of the craftsman and accordion making facility, while K3 will become the personal instrument for Kevin to keep in New York City and will be used for personal performances.
Each instrument while similar in design, is slightly unique, and profile the individual finishing touches of Aaro’s design. In addition, each instrument has a unique grill pattern designed by Aaro’s wife, Henriikka. The three patterns which were later hand carved by Aaro are titled ‘Birth’, ‘Growth’ and ‘Departure’.
The instruments were completed and officially unveiled on 30 January 2013 in Ikaalinen, Finland at an International Press Conference, with the debut performance scheduled for March 24th, 2013 in Dargaville, New Zealand at the 6th Annual Afternoon of Music featuring New York based accordionist Kevin Friedrich.
Craftsman Aaro Luukinen was born in Lapland in Northern Finland. His father Matti Luukinen had an accordion workshop and a small factory in the village Salla. The workshop specialised in diatonic accordions and was the only accordion manufacturer in Finland since the Kouvola factory stopped in 1995. Matti Luukinen worked for more than 30 years building accordions. Aaro grew up in this atmosphere of accordion building and got a lot of knowledge from his father. Both parents were professional with Aaro’s mother making more than 500 sets of accordion bellows by herself.
Aaro studied accordion building at the Ikaalinen Arts and Crafts School and graduated as an Artisan in 2003. He worked in his father’s factory in 2006-2008 and since then, he has operated his own accordion workshop and now serves as a teacher of accordion making at the Ikaalinen College of Crafts and Design.
For more information and pictures of the crafting process, please visit: www.accordions.com/kevin/n_kauriaccordion.htm
Picture of Instruments: K1, K3 and K2 (Birth, Departure and Growth) at the Press Conference and Presentation Ceremony 30 January 2013 – Ikaalinen, Finland
Picture of Group: Kauri Accordion Team: Kimmo Mattila (Project Manager in Finland), Kevin Friedrich, Aaro Luukinen (Artisian and teacher at IKATA), the late Jarmo Salin (Teacher of the IKATA Department of Design), Joni Liukkonen (Director of Ikaalinen College of Crafts and Design – IKATA) and Tapio Nysten (Head teacher of the IKATA accordion department)
