Koivu ja tuomi – The Birch and the Bird-Cherry

Описание: This video is a combined memory from the year 2004 and this year. The lead vocals and the electric piano were recorded live in my second doctoral concert in Helsinki 21 years ago, and I don't know why, but I haven't performed this song since. I have thought about releasing the live version for very many years, but only now I got this idea finished. I wrote the additional vocals and the soprano sax this year. I'm so honoured that Pekka Kuusisto and Elias Frigård made this with me. And of course I'm very grateful also to the video crew! Now it's out there, as an audio and a video version. I hope you like it!

MUSIC CREDITS
Composed by Hanni Autere
Lyrics: Kanteletar (A collection of traditional Finnish poems)
Arranged by Hanni Autere (vocals and saxophone) and Pekka Kuusisto (electric piano)

Musicians: Hanni Autere (all the vocals, live in 2004 and 2025), Pekka Kuusisto (electric piano, live in 2004) and Elias Frigård (saxophone, 2025)

Original Recording (2004) by Mika Autere
Additional Recordings and Editing (2025) by Hanni Autere
Mixing by Hanni Autere and Mika Autere
Mastering by Mika Autere

VIDEO PRODUCTION
In co-operation with Kellis Productions Oy
Written by Hanni Autere
Directed by Hanni Autere and Aarne Kempas
A Camera Operator: Alex Laakkonen
Edit by Alex Laakkonen, who contributed to this project through his work experiment.

Cast: Hanni Autere, Miida Immonen and Lilja Kilpeläinen
Costumes: Hanni Autere


LYRICS (translation by Jordi Storm)

I was but a branch on a leafy tree
A lowly birch reared in hardship
on a poor and barren land
on a land where no strawberries grow

There another grew — a bird-cherry fair
its proud trunk rising from the earth
on moist, moss-laden ground
on a meadow soft with clover bloom

I was but a branch on a leafy tree
on a poor and barren land
And there I stayed, still standing
with the little fortune that I had

With its noble sweeping branches
With its wide and luscious leaves
The bird-cherry veiled the sun from shining;
Eclipsed the moon from casting light

All who passed would gaze upon it
People paused in marvelled awe
at the blossoms of the beautiful bird-cherry;
at the graceful growth of the proud tree

I was but a branch on a leafy tree
on a poor and barren land
And there I stayed, still standing
with the little fortune that I had

No one would ever look upon me
No one cared for little me
For the birch-tree’s unremarkable daughter
For the child of a feeble tree

Yet still I grew a little more
With the little joy that I had
As a caterpillar burrowed through the cherry;
Its lovely blossoms laid to waste

There the cherry felt its sorrow
Sensed the weight of sudden care
But there I stayed, still standing
with the little fortune that I had

I was but a branch on a leafy tree
on a poor and barren land
And there I stayed, still standing
with the little fortune that I had


© 2025 Hanni Autere & Kellis Productions Oy