Nixie out of the water

In 2021 Ruth Andrews was challenged to come up with an art piece about water and Finland. Ruth’s investigations quickly led to the Kalevala, the epic poem of Finland. She was delighted and immediately began working on a script. The cadence and poetry of the written word cried out for music, so she enlisted her friend and frequent collaborator Bev Smith. Ruth wanted to write a quest story inspired by the Kalevala and Beethoven’s Heroicas. Bev agreed, and expanded the music to include variations and interpretations of multiple works by Beethoven. In the fall of 2022, a 20-minute version, Näkki Out of the Water was performed to an enthusiastic audience at Acting Ensemble in Mishawaka, IN. 

The generosity of the Finlandia Foundation allowed Ruth and Bev to expand their vision. They sought a Finnish cultural expert and were soon connected with Dr. Hilary-Joy Virtanen. Hilary offered guidance in interpreting the Kalevala, the ethics of re-imagining mythology, language use, names, pronunciation and more. The plot of the Quest Story expanded, a character was added, and new songs were written, including one based on Sibelius, Finland’s best-known composer. Hilary developed cultural resources so that an immersive experience is available to audiences. 

The script, score and resources may be downloaded.  

Nixie Out of the Water © 2022 by Ruth Andrews and Bev Smith is licensed under CC BY 4.0 

Those wishing to perform Nixie or use the provided resources are required to acknowledge playwright Ruth Andrews, composer Bev Smith, educator Dr. Hilary-Joy Virtanen, and the generosity of the Finlandia Foundation. Please email us about your production/use of these resources.  See Guide below.

Beethoven’s Heroica was the initial inspiration because of its dramatic narrative quality – perfect for a Quest. From there, composer Bev Smith was drawn into other work by Beethoven. Her playfulness and fidelity to the meter of the Kalevala makes for a delightful score. 

The many sources of this music will be evident as one experiences it.  The pieces are written with vocal ranges that are easily covered.  Difficulty level is targeted for College or well-trained High School singers, but should have ample attraction for singers with more experience.