Arthur Kylander
Encyclopedia
Arthur Arkadius Kylander (February 16, 1892-1968) was a Finnish American
folk musician, singer, song-writer, mandolinist and member of the Industrial Workers of the World
.
, Finland
, Kylander moved to the United States
at the age of 22 in 1914, where he became a migrant worker as a carpenter and in the logging industry. In 1925 he met his wife Julia Varila, a pianist
and accordionist, and the two began performing together and touring.
, the Kylanders moved to Hollywood, California where Arthur worked as a butler and chauffeur. In 1943 they bought a 240 acre (0.9712464 km²) parcel of forested property where Arthur grew and sold Christmas trees. In 1964, Kylander was named the Outstanding Conservation Farmer of the Year.
Kylander's most notable songs include Kulkuri (Hobo Waltz), Muistojen Valssi (Memories Waltz), and Suomalainen ja Sauna (The Finn and the Sauna). Many of Kylander's songs deal with the hardships of the immigrant worker but have a strong sense of wit and humour. Some, like Kulkurin Valssi, are unique for the time period in that they openly discuss inter-racial relationships in a positive way. Similar to Hiski Salomaa
, Kylander's songs are sung in a mix of Finnish
and Finglish
.
Finnish American
Finnish Americans are Americans of Finnish descent, who currently number about 700,000.-History:Some Finns, like the ancestors of John Morton, came to the Swedish colony of New Sweden, that existed in mid-17th century....
folk musician, singer, song-writer, mandolinist and member of the Industrial Workers of the World
Industrial Workers of the World
The Industrial Workers of the World is an international union. At its peak in 1923, the organization claimed some 100,000 members in good standing, and could marshal the support of perhaps 300,000 workers. Its membership declined dramatically after a 1924 split brought on by internal conflict...
.
Background
Born in LietoLieto
Lieto is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Finland Proper region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, Kylander moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at the age of 22 in 1914, where he became a migrant worker as a carpenter and in the logging industry. In 1925 he met his wife Julia Varila, a pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
and accordionist, and the two began performing together and touring.
Career
Kylander did recordings for Victor Records between 1927 and 1929 and published two song books called Comic Songs. After the DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, the Kylanders moved to Hollywood, California where Arthur worked as a butler and chauffeur. In 1943 they bought a 240 acre (0.9712464 km²) parcel of forested property where Arthur grew and sold Christmas trees. In 1964, Kylander was named the Outstanding Conservation Farmer of the Year.
Kylander's most notable songs include Kulkuri (Hobo Waltz), Muistojen Valssi (Memories Waltz), and Suomalainen ja Sauna (The Finn and the Sauna). Many of Kylander's songs deal with the hardships of the immigrant worker but have a strong sense of wit and humour. Some, like Kulkurin Valssi, are unique for the time period in that they openly discuss inter-racial relationships in a positive way. Similar to Hiski Salomaa
Hiski Salomaa
Hiski Salomaa, born Hiskias Möttö was a Finnish American folk singer and song writer. Born in Kangasniemi, Finland, Salomaa moved to the Upper Peninsula, Michigan, in 1908 after the death of his mother. There, he made his living as a tailor...
, Kylander's songs are sung in a mix of Finnish
Finnish language
Finnish is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland Primarily for use by restaurant menus and by ethnic Finns outside Finland. It is one of the two official languages of Finland and an official minority language in Sweden. In Sweden, both standard Finnish and Meänkieli, a...
and Finglish
Finglish
The term Finglish was introduced by professor Martti Nisonen in 1920s in Hancock, Michigan to describe a linguistic phenomenon he encountered in America. As the term describes, Finglish is a mixture of English and Finnish. In Finglish the English lexical items are nativized and inserted into the...
.