Matsriisi

Matsriisi is a Finnish musical form that emerged in the late 19th century as a popular entertainment for rural communities. The style is characterized by its brief length – typically one to two minutes – and its humorous or satirical lyrical content. Matsriisien are usually sung to the accompaniment of simple acoustic instruments such as the violin, accordion or guitar, and often feature a call‑and‑response structure that invites audience participation.

The term “matsriisi” is a blend of “matti,” meaning “simple” or “common,” and “riisi,” a colloquial word for “song.” It was originally associated with the tavern culture of the small towns in the Päijänne and Kymenlaakso regions, where local musicians would improvise verses that reflected everyday life, local gossip or political events. The songs were typically written in the Karelian dialect, which gave them a distinct rhythmic texture and a sense of regional identity.

In the 1920s and 1930s matsriisien were recorded for the first time by Finnish broadcasting services, bringing the format to a national audience. Although the style has largely been eclipsed by modern pop and folk revivals, matsriisi remains an important part of Finland’s cultural heritage and is still performed by traditional ensembles during folk festivals and historical reenactments. Scholars study matsriisien as a source of insight into early 20th‑century Finnish popular music, social attitudes and language use.