Welcome to the homepage of family ensemble Rantamäki

You are on the homepage of family ensemble Rantamäki. We come from Alajärvi in Ostrobothnia, Finland.

For many years we have appeared as a trio with mother Martta and father Otto on accordions and daughter Anna-Liisa as the singer. Sometimes daughters Margit and Merja have also taken part in performances.

On our newest record we also have a bass player, Matti Kuhalampi from Alajärvi, playing with us.

Records and Martta’s songs

Our newest CD “Ollaan suomalaisii” (“Let’s be Finnish”) is a brand new record with 20 songs from different situations in life, full of feeling and emotion.

All songs are homemade. The melodies and most of the lyrics are by Martta. Since the mid-1970s she has written over 300 songs.

Martta’s first work “Muistoja Alajoelta” (“Memories from Alajoki”) was included on the first record of daughter Merja, “Mä mistä löytäisin sen laulun” (“Where Should I Find That Song”, 1977). Since then there have been many songs written for Merja – in total eight LPs released.

On several LPs there are 1–3 songs by Martta, and one LP under the name “Parhaalle ystävälle” (“For the Best Friend”) also contains a song composed by her. Martta’s songs have received very good feedback; especially the words have touched the lives of many listeners.

The previous record (CD and tape) is “Sanoin ja sävelin” (“With Words and Melodies”) with duo Anna-Liisa and Merja on vocals and Martta & Otto as accordion duo. This record consists of 14 songs – melodies, lyrics and arrangements all by Martta.

Before that we recorded (CD and tape) “Joululauluja” (“Christmas Songs”) with ten Christmas songs. The melodies are by Martta and the lyrics are by Martta as well as Eila Pöntisenaho, Reetta Suo, Ulla Perälä and daughter Margit. On this record the trio is Anna-Liisa, Margit and Merja, with Martta & Otto on accordions.

The tape “Lauluja Elämälle” (“Songs for Life”) consists of 15 songs composed by Martta. The lyrics are written by Martta and by the same poets mentioned above. On this tape the girls sing solo, again accompanied by accordion duo Martta & Otto.

There is also a tape by Anna-Liisa, Margit and Merja: “Rakasta, kärsi ja unhoita – Rantamäen sisarukset” (“Love, Suffer and Forget – Sisters Rantamäki”). Here the sisters sing as a trio with the accompaniment of a studio orchestra. The tape contains 14 songs, 7 of them composed by Martta, arranged by the young musician Reino “Rene” Karppinen from Kajaani. His own song “Vanha mies” (“Old Man”) is also found on this tape.

Martta has also written songbooks “Sanoin ja sävelin I, II & III” (“Words and Notes”) with a total of 101 songs, and a small songbook for “Joululauluja” (“Christmas Songs”).

Single pieces of sheet music are also available for a reasonable fee. If you would like a special song of your own, it is possible to create one together with Martta.

Records

Songbooks & sheet music

Songbooks Sanoin ja sävelin I–III and the small Christmas songbook Joululauluja are available, as well as single pieces of sheet music.

Ask about sheet music

Just take a chance – and make the order!