In English

Cantus Mercurialis is a choir originating from the student union of Turku School of Economics. The rehearsals take place Mondays 7 pm at the grand piano in Mercatori. If you are interested in singing (and to have fun) you are sincerely welcome to join us.

Contact: Ville Hannikainen, cantus.mercurialis@tse.fi

The choir in a Nutshell

The Student Union’s choir at the Turku School of Economics was founded in 1982 as the first student choir in Turku. In the honour of its tenth anniversary the choir was renamed Cantus Mercurialis a.k.a Commercial Song in May 1992. Today, Cantus Mercurialis or CM consists of approximately 35 vocalists - both male and female and is heading strongly towards its’ next quarter of a century.

The majority of the singers are students at the Turku School of Economics but members from other universities in Turku and even abroad have also been welcomed to the CM’s ranks. The choir has enriched events of the Student Union as well as the various academic events of the university and many see it at the essence of any self respecting university. The choir rehearses weekly and organizes choral seminars twice a year. In addition, there are voice lessons arranged regularly for the singers.

Hannu Wuorela, M.A., Principal of the Turku Conservatory of Music, has been the musical director of the choir from the very beginning. In addition to his university studies in Finland, he has also acquired further education in Sweden, Norway, Great Britain and France.

Discography – from lighter music to rare medieval masterpieces

The choir’s first record, which consisted of light music with piano accompaniment and traditional drinking songs, was produced in 1986. In 1989, the choir recorded a compilation of Finnish maritime songs together with Lasse Mårtenson. During the 10th anniversary year 1992, a CD comprising a compilation of original and newer Piae Cantiones -songs was released. The next recording containing Finnish and Scandinavian folksongs was published at the 15th anniversary gala in December 1997. The newest release containing German drinking songs by Johann Hermann Schein from his compilations Venuskränzlein (1609) and Studentenschmaus (1626) was released in 2002 when the choir celebrated its 20th anniversary. Concerts in Finland – maintaining traditions and creating new ones

CM has traditionally held concerts every year in Turku and its surroundings. In its early years the choir was invited to sing in the 350th anniversary of the Finnish university institution in the medieval castle of Turku in 1990. In 1992, the choir celebrated its 10th anniversary through several concerts: The anniversary festivities included also a swing concert together with the Antti Sarpila Swing Orchestra, one of the leading swing bands in Finland. Lately concerts with other student choirs in Turku and trips to Åland to sing Christmas songs have become to be expected from CM. The latest addition to the long chain of traditions is the combined sailing and concert trips to the archipelago in August. In 2005 CM held a concert in Houtskär and in 2006 in Nauvo.

The choir has so far made several successful tours abroad.

Travel log:

  • 1988 Scandinavian tour: Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo
  • 1991 Germany tour 1: Hamburg, Cologne, Bonn and Göttingen
  • 1993 Nordic University Choir festival in Trondheim, Norway
  • 1994 London, England
  • 1995 Tartu and Tallinn, Estonia
  • 1997 Germany tour 2: Rostock, Saarbrücken, Cologne and Herten
  • 1998 France tour: Caen, Paris
  • 2001 Germany tour 3 incl. Belgium: Hamburg, Brussels and Cologne
  • 2003 International Advent and Christmas Song Festival in Budapest, Hungary.
  • 2004 Gulf of Finland tour: St. Petersburg, Russia and Tallinn, Estonia.

In 2006 CM made so far its longest choir trip to the other side of the Atlantic: Lake Worth in Florida, USA.

In addition to official concerts, the choir is prone to perform in a free and relaxed form wherever it goes: For example “A midnight concert” at the Town Hall stairs in Tartu, the traditional “Piae Cantiones -moment” in the Dom of Cologne and a pool-side concert in Florida…

If You wish to know more about our choir or our current activities, please, don’t hesitate to contact us at any time!