Post by Dick Glasgow on Jun 19, 2007 21:48:30 GMT 1
Kantele - Finland:
Kanteleet
The Finnish Folk Music Association
Kanteleliitto (Finnish kantele society)
The Finnish Music Information Centre
The kantele (or kannel) and rune-singing both symbolise ancient Finnish culture. In the Kalevala, Elias Lönnrot had constructed an image of a mythic kantele, made of the jawbone of a pike, as the typically Finnish musical instrument of the epic hero Väinämöinen. In the final stages of the work, the kantele is an essential part of the power of Väinämöinen's song.
It was thus, through the Kalevala, that the kantele became, in the 19th century, the Finns' national instrument.
The kantele is the oldest Finnish folk instrument, and is classed as a cordophone, that is, an instrument whose sound arises from a string stretched between two fixed points.
The other Finnic tribes of the Baltic used similar instruments, as did a few Finno-Ugrian peoples, in addition to the Balts and the Russians.
The history of kantele stretches back a couple of thousand years.
There is no accurate information as to its age.
The older type of instrument was made by hollowing out the trunk of a pine, spruce or alder.
The strings, of which there were usually five, were attached at one end to tuning pegs and at the other to a metal shank.
The instrument was tuned to a diatonic scale between its bass and top notes which could , depending on the tuning of the central string, be either major or minor.
Finland's national instrument
It was thus, through the Kalevala, that the kantele became, in the 19th century, the Finns' national instrument.
The kantele is the oldest Finnish folk instrument, and is classed as a cordophone, that is, an instrument whose sound arises from a string stretched between two fixed points.
The other Finnic tribes of the Baltic used similar instruments, as did a few Finno-Ugrian peoples, in addition to the Balts and the Russians.
The history of kantele stretches back a couple of thousand years.
There is no accurate information as to its age.
The older type of instrument was made by hollowing out the trunk of a pine, spruce or alder.
The strings, of which there were usually five, were attached at one end to tuning pegs and at the other to a metal shank.
The instrument was tuned to a diatonic scale between its bass and top notes which could , depending on the tuning of the central string, be either major or minor.
Finland's national instrumentKantele is a traditional folk music instrument of Finnic people inhabiting Finland, North West region of Russia and some of the Baltic states.
The Kantele proper is a traditional instrument of Suomi, Karjala, Vadja, Isora, Vepsad, Lappi people.
Among Estonians similar type of instrument is called Kannel.
The same word is usually applied for traditional instrument of Setu people.
Among local group of Russians inhabiting areas closely related to Finnic cultural tradition similar instrument existed up to 19th century and was sometimes called Gusli.
Very close to this tradition are musical instruments of Baltic people.
Lithuanian Kañkles and Latvian Kuokle shear the similar construction and playing technique.
There are many different local names for this instrument.
Among Karelians it was sometimes called kantervo, or kandala, or kanteleh.
Lappians called it gan’del, but the instrument, its construction, playing technique and associated cultural tradition remained basically the same.
In general one may speak of a common cultural tradition where the same type of musical instruments is widespread.
This region covers Finland, North West of Russia and the Baltic States.
There is even a generic term to reflect the fact that instruments of this tradition have a lot in common.
This totality of musical instruments is often denoted by the term Baltic Psalterium, covering the whole variety of local types and names.
Zhoukov and Maraev
The Kantele proper is a traditional instrument of Suomi, Karjala, Vadja, Isora, Vepsad, Lappi people.
Among Estonians similar type of instrument is called Kannel.
The same word is usually applied for traditional instrument of Setu people.
Among local group of Russians inhabiting areas closely related to Finnic cultural tradition similar instrument existed up to 19th century and was sometimes called Gusli.
Very close to this tradition are musical instruments of Baltic people.
Lithuanian Kañkles and Latvian Kuokle shear the similar construction and playing technique.
There are many different local names for this instrument.
Among Karelians it was sometimes called kantervo, or kandala, or kanteleh.
Lappians called it gan’del, but the instrument, its construction, playing technique and associated cultural tradition remained basically the same.
In general one may speak of a common cultural tradition where the same type of musical instruments is widespread.
This region covers Finland, North West of Russia and the Baltic States.
There is even a generic term to reflect the fact that instruments of this tradition have a lot in common.
This totality of musical instruments is often denoted by the term Baltic Psalterium, covering the whole variety of local types and names.
Zhoukov and MaraevThe kantele is the Finnish version of an instrument known throughout the world as either a zither or lap harp.
The Finnish kantele is basically a triangular shaped sound box with strings running across the top of the instrument.
When the strings - usually tuned to a diatonic scale - are plucked, a kantele will produce ringing bell-like tones.
It is similar to a harp in some ways, but because of the way in which it is built and the way in which the strings are attached, a compelling and unique sound is produced as it is played.
The Kantele Shop
The Finnish kantele is basically a triangular shaped sound box with strings running across the top of the instrument.
When the strings - usually tuned to a diatonic scale - are plucked, a kantele will produce ringing bell-like tones.
It is similar to a harp in some ways, but because of the way in which it is built and the way in which the strings are attached, a compelling and unique sound is produced as it is played.
The Kantele ShopMore than Twenty years ago I began research for a doctoral dissertation on the Finnish kantele.
On this site I make that dissertation available.
For a more concise and scholarly approach, I refer the reader to my kantele and gusli articles published in the second edition of the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians.
Carl Rahkonen
On this site I make that dissertation available.
For a more concise and scholarly approach, I refer the reader to my kantele and gusli articles published in the second edition of the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians.
Carl RahkonenKantele's Page Content:
- The history of the kantele
- Where does the kantele come from and where it is played ?
- Kantele models
- Hollowed kanteles
- Box kanteles
- Mechanism (concert) kanteles
and kanteles today
- Kanteles of Laasanen family
- Kantele-makers of the Perho River Valley
- Tuning of kanteles
- 5-string
- 10-string
- 36-string (Perho River Valley)
- 36-string (diatonic)
- Mechanism kantele
- The woods and varnish of kanteles
- Playing the kantele
- Studying the kantele
Jussi Laasanen
- The history of the kantele
- Where does the kantele come from and where it is played ?
- Kantele models
- Hollowed kanteles
- Box kanteles
- Mechanism (concert) kanteles
and kanteles today
- Kanteles of Laasanen family
- Kantele-makers of the Perho River Valley
- Tuning of kanteles
- 5-string
- 10-string
- 36-string (Perho River Valley)
- 36-string (diatonic)
- Mechanism kantele
- The woods and varnish of kanteles
- Playing the kantele
- Studying the kantele
Jussi LaasanenMy new music book features the winning entries for the 2005 Pikebone Kantele Songwriting competition as well as 50 other original and traditional songs for five string kanteles.
All tunes can be played by changing just one string from F to F#.
There are tunes for beginners as well as for more advanced players.
To listen to some samples, click here.
kantelemusic.com
All tunes can be played by changing just one string from F to F#.
There are tunes for beginners as well as for more advanced players.
To listen to some samples, click here.
kantelemusic.comKOISTINEN kanteles are a concept in themselves.
Their unique sound is the outcome of a lifetime dedicated to their development by two master kantelists, Otto and Hannu Koistinen.
This matchless sound is now within reach of all, from complete beginners to professional musicians.
Koistinen Kanteles
Their unique sound is the outcome of a lifetime dedicated to their development by two master kantelists, Otto and Hannu Koistinen.
This matchless sound is now within reach of all, from complete beginners to professional musicians.
Koistinen KantelesBirth of the kantele
There are two poems in the "Kalevala", the Finnish national epic, telling of the birth of the kantele.
Väinämöinen, the sage and hero of the epic, created the first kantele out of fishbones and the jawbone of a giant pike, and the second out of birch wood.
For his strings he took the tail hairs of an animal or a maiden's tresses.
All tried to play the first kantele, but none could surpass the ancient Väinämöinen, who enchanted all creation with his plucking.
The Kantele - from epic to eclectism
There are two poems in the "Kalevala", the Finnish national epic, telling of the birth of the kantele.
Väinämöinen, the sage and hero of the epic, created the first kantele out of fishbones and the jawbone of a giant pike, and the second out of birch wood.
For his strings he took the tail hairs of an animal or a maiden's tresses.
All tried to play the first kantele, but none could surpass the ancient Väinämöinen, who enchanted all creation with his plucking.
The Kantele - from epic to eclectism Kanteleet The Finnish Folk Music Association Kanteleliitto (Finnish kantele society) The Finnish Music Information Centre