The Louhi Band was the pride of Monessen. It was a world class musical group organized among the Finnish community on February 14, 1900, two years after Monessen was founded. That first band consisted of twelve men under the direction of Axel Ruuti.
By 1915, the conductor was
George E. Wahlstrom. Mr. Wahlstrom developed the band into a first class
orchestra, playing classical music in concerts at the High School, the
Sixth Street Park Band Stand, and later at the City Park. By this time
the band had nearly fifty members and contained a library of 1500 compositions.
They rehearsed outdoors every Sunday morning at their home at 532 Fourth
Street in the Finnish Temperance Hall. Rehearsals became social events
as members of the community would gather around the band or sit on their
porches and listen to the music. A single
female, Ksenia Tanttari Palomaki, played in the band for many years. In
1918, they performed at the All-Nations Liberty Bond Parade in New York
City. While there they cut their first record. On the Victor Label, the
first side was Maamme Laula and the flip was Pois Rannoilta Suomen.
In 1920, they toured Finland giving concerts throughout the country. Newspaper
reports indicate that the famous composer Sibelius was one of their audience
members.
During the tenure of Mr. Wahlstrom, the
Sibelius Club was formed. Its purpose was the promotion and publication
of Finnish music in America. This club also received national recognition
as the printers, publishers, and distributors of sheet music for groups
all over the United States. Wahlstrom's tenure at the Louhi Band ended
in 1921.
Louis Koski was the conductor of the Louhi Band in the early 30s. Koski was a composer. During this time the Louhi Band made a second recording, this time for the New York Phonograph Recording Company. The first side featured E Pluribus Unum, an original composition by Koski. The flip side was Kesapaiva Kangsalla.
Walt Wiita, the band's best coronet player became the conductor after Koski. Wiita was the person responsible for keeping all the music. He had the scores, the compositions, and everything related to the music. All through these years musicians were trained in Monessen through the various band organizations. Almost every nationality had its own band. The Louhi Band had a Youth Band and many of its players were also in the Monessen schools where they participated in various band activities. Good music existed in Monessen and all valley towns at that time.
Paul Passoja was the last conductor of the Louhi Band. Passoja was a native Monessenite, whose immigrant parents Charles and Wilhemina immigrated from Finland. Charles played the trombone in the Louhi Band and all of his children played a musical instrument: Elma played the piano. Ernest played the trombone (Played with the Louhi Band and later with the NBC radio staff orchestra in Chicago). Edwin played the trombone too. Everett played the cornet. All the Passoja boys played in the Louhi Band. They were all taught music by George Wahlstrom.
Paul played the tuba. Upon
graduating from Monessen High School, he went to the Ernest Williams Conservatory
of Music in New York City. Everett A. Niemela in his book Paul Passoja:
The Last Conductor of the Louhi Band, tells us that for his audition,
Paul played the Carnival of Venice, usually a cornet solo, but he
played it on his tuba. After New York Mr. Passoja studied music at West
Virginia Wesleyan University in Buchanan. He then taught music at Mannington,
West Virginia and West Virginia Wesleyan before he came back to Monessen
as conductor of the Monessen High School Band and the Louhi Band. While
working in Monessen, Passoja attended Duquesne University for a Master's
Degree in Music.
Passoja's leadership took the Louhi Band to new heights. In 1938, the band was part of the celebration honoring Finnish immigrants to America in 1638. They came to the New Sweden Colony in Chester, Pennsylvania, where a monument was being dedicated in their honor. In June, 1940, the band performed in the Finland Day program at the Finnish Pavilion of the New York World's Fair. They had two performances, the first an afternoon Finland Day program at the Court of Peace where the guest conductor was Tauno Hannikainen, the conductor of the Boston Symphony. The second performance was a Bonfire Program in the evening, also at the Court of Peace. They played one of the most difficult musical pieces every written: Korsholima, at the Court of Peace on June 23. Another world tour to Finland was planned, but World War II brought those dreams to an end.
The war also ended the Louhi Band. The Finnish community was declining in Monessen. Many had worked at the tin mill and it shut down for good in the 30s. The war also dispersed families. Passoja keep the band going by recruiting players from all nationalities. They came from several communities in the Mon Valley. Despite earnest efforts to keep up the band, too many valley men were in the army and the band ceased to exist. Passoja remained in Monessen, playing for the Shriners Band in Pittsburgh. He died on June 5, 1963.
It is believed that the Louhi Band won every competition it entered.
Written by Cassandra Vivian
The directors included: Axel Ruuti, John Kleimola, John Pasvola,? Ernest Paananen, Vaino Stenberg, Isak Kauppinen, J. P. Liimstainen, Waldemar Eklund, A. Malia, George E. Wahlstrom, John R. Kultti, Victor Taaipale, M. S. Roccerito (Italian), Louis Koski, Walter Wiita, Paul Passoja.
In the 30s the following people were members of the band:
By the 1940s, non-Finns joined the band. They included:
Mrs. Ksenia E. Palomaki:
Louhi Band was organized in
early 1900s.
1. They played at concerts at the High School,
Finnish Festivals in PA, OH, & WV. They played in NY where they recorded
"Finlandia" and played Finnish National songs at funerals. They were also
a marching band. In 1920 the band toured in Europe and gave concerts all
over Finland.
2. Instruments: Reeds & Woodwind: oboe, English
horn E flat, B flat, and brass; piccolo, flute, bassoon.
Brass: trumpet, E Flat, B flat, Horns, Altos,
French horn, trombones (valve and slide), sousaphone, bass, tuba, baritone.
All percussion instruments, snare drums, bass, timpani, xylophone, etc.
3. Conductors: Axel Ruuti, Waldemar Ecklund,
George Wahlstrom, Roccereto, Stenberg, E. Paananen, J. B. Liimatainen,
Malin, J. E. Kultti, Paul Passoja, Lauri Koski.
4. Repertoire: Heavy classical music: Valse Triste, Finlandia, Poet & Peasant, La Traviata, Il Trovatore, Martha Ov., Raymond Ov., Semiramira, March Slav, La Boheme, etc.
5. Supported by: Concerts, coffee socials, plays, dances, banquets.
6. Members: steel mill workers, bankers, mostly
hardworking people. First all were Finns, later years it was a mixed group,
anybody good could join. Each bought their own instrument. Some became
excellent musicians. Jean Silbelius gave them a high rating when they toured
in Finland.
The band was originally a
small group (about 15). But in later years the band had 37 to 40 men, and
(me) a young girl who played in the band for a number of years.