1929 Finnish Silent Movie classic

• 1.    The Finnish Language School Association (FLSA) will be screening the 1929 Finnish silent movie classic “Mustalaishurmaaja” (The Gypsy Charmer) at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Arlington VA with a live musical soundtrack accompaniment Friday, February 26, 2016 at 1930 (7:30 PM). Go to the main sanctuary.

• 2.    Don’t miss this rare look at the craft of Finnish movies of the silent era!  Watch as Teuvo Tulio, “Finland’s Rudolph Valentino,” navigates the trouble of multiple women suitors and a forced marriage, while dodging the Finnish police who are hot on his trail. The unique Finnish musical score to be performed live is crafted entirely from Finnish classical and folk music. 

• 3.    1929 B&W 65 minutes, with Finnish, Swedish & English intertitles – meaning in transition between acting scenes as was done during the silent movie era.
• 4.    The live music will be performed on the organ at Resurrection Lutheran Church by Kent "Aarne" Washburn.  Kent was born in Ithaca, NY where his mother Raili Kerttu Kaarina Tontti and father Carl Washburn were founding members of Ithaca’s Finger Lakes Finns heritage group.  Kent began playing piano at age 9 and organ at age 14.  He is currently the organist at Arlington Memorial Baptist Church.   Kent enjoys playing piano and organ at Finnish heritage events, and studies Finnish at Arlington’s Finnish Language School at Resurrection Lutheran Church.

• 5.    The  soundtrack is made up of selections of Finnish folk tunes, classical works, and even a recently recovered work by Hancock, Michigan’s Martti Nisonen, former professor of music at Finlandia University.   Selections include such evocative pieces as 

Mustalainen (the Gypsy)

Vanha Häämarssi (The Old Wedding March)

Savuke (The Cigarette)

Venemiehen Valssi (The Boatman Waltz)

Morsiamen Itkua (The Crying Bride)