Unto Mononen
Encyclopedia
Unto Mononen was Finnish
songwriter and musician. He is known of his numerous tango
compositions including the most well known Finnish tango song, "Satumaa
". His first name was originally Uuno.
Usually Somero is mentioned as Mononen's town of origin but actually he was from Muolaa and did not arrive to Somero until the Second World War was over and Muolaa was conquered by Soviet Union
. Mononen studied church music
in the University of Turku
. He quitted these studies since he felt he did not learn anything important. As a composer he was self-taught. Mononen began his musical career by singing with local dance groups while he was under 20. A failed adenoids operation damaged his voice and after that Mononen started to make his first compositions.
In 1950 Mononen succeed selling his songs for a record company for the first time. The first recorded song was "Pieni laulu" ("a small song") which was a waltz
sung by Pentti Halme. In 1955 Henry Theel recorded the famous "Satumaa" which was already then a small scale success, but it took still seven more years until Reijo Taipale recorded it in 1962. This recording cemented song's status.
Other famous tango songs by Mononen include "Tähdet meren yllä" ("Stars above the Sea"), "Lapin Tango ("The Tango of Lappland
"), "Erottamattomat" ("Inseparables"), "Kangastus" ("The Mirage"), "Kaipuuni Tango" ("The Tango of my Longing"), "Kohtalon Tango" ("The Tango of Destiny") and "Yön Hiljaisuudessa" ("In the Silence of Night"). Last two mentioned have become known from recordings of another famous musician from Somero, singer Rauli "Badding" Somerjoki
. Another notable singer who recorded Mononen's songs was Esko Rahkonen who worked with the composer in the 1960s.
One of the most well known figures in the Finnish popular culture, provocative entertainer M. A. Numminen
had played drums on Mononen's band. Later Numminen asked Mononen to compose a humorous tango for his lyrics. Mononen had answered that for you I would make a tango even to the words of telephone book and thus the song "Naiseni kanssa eduskuntatalon puistossa" ("With my Woman at the Park of the Parliament House") was born.
It has been said that Mononen's songs were notable of their self-reflexive nature. He wrote lyrics from his experiences.
During his latter years Mononen suffered of alcoholism
and eventually he shot himself with a pistol
in June 28, 1968. He was 37 years old.
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...
songwriter and musician. He is known of his numerous tango
Tango music
Tango is a style of ballroom dance music in 2/4 or 4/4 time that originated among European immigrant populations of Argentina and Uruguay . It is traditionally played by a sextet, known as the orquesta típica, which includes two violins, piano, double bass, and two bandoneons...
compositions including the most well known Finnish tango song, "Satumaa
Satumaa
"Satumaa" is the quintessential Finnish tango. It was written by Unto Mononen, and published in 1955. The most famous recording is probably the one made by Reijo Taipale in 1962. The lyrics tell a story of a distant land beyond the sea — a happy paradise — however, the narrator can...
". His first name was originally Uuno.
Usually Somero is mentioned as Mononen's town of origin but actually he was from Muolaa and did not arrive to Somero until the Second World War was over and Muolaa was conquered by Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. Mononen studied church music
Church music
Church music may be defined as music written for performance in church, or any musical setting of ecclestiacal liturgy, or music set to words expressing propositions of a sacred nature, such as a hymn. This article covers music in the Judaeo-Christian tradition. For sacred music outside this...
in the University of Turku
University of Turku
The University of Turku , located in Turku in southwestern Finland, is the second largest university in the country as measured by student enrollment, after University of Helsinki. It was established in 1920 and also has faculties at Rauma, Pori and Salo...
. He quitted these studies since he felt he did not learn anything important. As a composer he was self-taught. Mononen began his musical career by singing with local dance groups while he was under 20. A failed adenoids operation damaged his voice and after that Mononen started to make his first compositions.
In 1950 Mononen succeed selling his songs for a record company for the first time. The first recorded song was "Pieni laulu" ("a small song") which was a waltz
Waltz
The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim...
sung by Pentti Halme. In 1955 Henry Theel recorded the famous "Satumaa" which was already then a small scale success, but it took still seven more years until Reijo Taipale recorded it in 1962. This recording cemented song's status.
Other famous tango songs by Mononen include "Tähdet meren yllä" ("Stars above the Sea"), "Lapin Tango ("The Tango of Lappland
Lappland
Lappland can refer to:*Lapland, geographic region in Northern Fennoscandia* Lappland, Sweden* Lapland, FinlandUnlike the English word "Lapland", the Swedish word is not used to indicate the area specifically inhabited by the Sami people. An old Swedish word for the Sami area under Swedish control...
"), "Erottamattomat" ("Inseparables"), "Kangastus" ("The Mirage"), "Kaipuuni Tango" ("The Tango of my Longing"), "Kohtalon Tango" ("The Tango of Destiny") and "Yön Hiljaisuudessa" ("In the Silence of Night"). Last two mentioned have become known from recordings of another famous musician from Somero, singer Rauli "Badding" Somerjoki
Rauli Somerjoki
Rauli "Badding" Somerjoki was a Finnish rock singer. His records were published on such labels as Love Records...
. Another notable singer who recorded Mononen's songs was Esko Rahkonen who worked with the composer in the 1960s.
One of the most well known figures in the Finnish popular culture, provocative entertainer M. A. Numminen
M. A. Numminen
Mauri Antero Numminen is a Finnish artist, who has worked in several different fields of music and culture.In the 1960s M.A...
had played drums on Mononen's band. Later Numminen asked Mononen to compose a humorous tango for his lyrics. Mononen had answered that for you I would make a tango even to the words of telephone book and thus the song "Naiseni kanssa eduskuntatalon puistossa" ("With my Woman at the Park of the Parliament House") was born.
It has been said that Mononen's songs were notable of their self-reflexive nature. He wrote lyrics from his experiences.
During his latter years Mononen suffered of alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
and eventually he shot himself with a pistol
Pistol
When distinguished as a subset of handguns, a pistol is a handgun with a chamber that is integral with the barrel, as opposed to a revolver, wherein the chamber is separate from the barrel as a revolving cylinder. Typically, pistols have an effective range of about 100 feet.-History:The pistol...
in June 28, 1968. He was 37 years old.