This is indisputably the national instrument of Finland, and with so many new fans (both players and listeners) worldwide these days, I thought a page focusing on the instrument might be good. Be sure to also look in my catalog of Finnish music for more.

Sinikka Lille Rosa Medieval ballads and love songs from Østlandet, Norway, sung by one of the countries most repsected young singers, who accompanies herself on kantele. Listen!

Merja Soria Arctic Silence Finnish folk singer and kantele player presents traditional tunes. Listen!

Eeli Kivinen Vimpelin Väinämöinen An eccentric player of the kantele, used to accompany some of the wildest folk singing heard in the country.

Anna-Kaisa Liedes
Utua - 16.99
These songs have their roots deep in the Finnish-Karelian-Ingrian folk tradition. Liedes combines traditional verses with contemporary musical idioms, giving them a fresh and personal touch. Inspired by the eternal themes of traditional poetry - love, disappointment, passion and the complicated entwining of love and hatred, she paints her epic interpretations with subtle tones and expressive colors. The story is completed by an ensemble of musicians with backgrounds in folk and jazz: Ape Anttila on bass, Kristiina Ilmonen on percussion, flutes, Topi Korhonen on guitar and Vilma Timonen on kantele.

Suden Aika
Etsijä (Seeker) - 16.99
Liisa Matveinen and Tellu Turkka return for a seond set of wonderful vocal works, joined by Katarlina Alras and Nora Vauru. Austere, beautiful arrangements of 13 pieces for voice, some accompanied by moraharpa and kantele.

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Hannu Lehtoranta
Taivaallinen Kuu - 16.99
The first solo album of the former Tallari and Tuulenkantajat musician Hannu Lehtoranta brings a global influence to Finland's traditional pastoral landscapes, in much the way Andrew Cronshaw has done. Using various kanteles (modern and traditional), flutes and reeds (both Nordic and Asian), percussion and many others, he is joined by fine cast of musicians including Martti Pokelaa, Kimmo Pohjonen, Julio Sanonen, Arto Kakko, Aladin Abras, Tapani Varis in what he calls 'hippie visions of an ancient modernist.'

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Freija
Lempilauluja - 16.99
A rich folk/pop mix by the Finnish quartet of Maija Karhinen (voice, kantele, accordion, recorder), Arto Anttila (double bass, voice), Lassi Logrén (fiddle, key-harp, vocals) and Matti Laitinen (guitar, mandolin, vocals)

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Pauliina Lerche
Malanja - 17.99
The Finnish multi-instrumentalist (vocals, accordion, kantele, violin and deltar) creates original music, from the tradition, and combines her strong roots with a more modern, global approach on thios 2006 release. Besides accordions and acoustic guitars, instruments featured on the record include the vibraphone, kaval, low whistle, Estonian bagpipes, dobro, Carnatic violin and the recording debut of the deltar, a harp-like instrument designed by an Iraqi-born acoustics professor. Malanja is a strong follow-up to her wonderful Katrilli CD of 2004.

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The World Mankeri Orchestra
Inky Joy - 16.99
The Finnish etno-pojat returns with their 2004 release of edgy winds, subtle percussion, bass and strings. Heikki Syrjänen and Pekka Westerholm - winds (including lira and mänkeri) and kantele; Olli Penttilä - bass; Markku Penttilä - percussion and bass; and Petri Pentikainen, percussion and drums.

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Aarnio Sisarukset
Hameen Polkka - 17.99
The Aarnio family band, recorded in Finland in 1936, featured the typical pellimannimusiikki instrumentation of fiddles, kantele, clarinet and also ocarina on some songs

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Liisa Matveinen - Tellu Virkkala
Mateli - 17.99
Two great Finnish singers ( formerly of Niekku and Hedningarna) re-imagine the runic poems of Mateli Kuivalatar (1771-1846). New music and traditional tunes mingle together in this unique work of Finnish heritage. The singers are accompaned by by kanteles, nyckelharpa )(drone fiddle) and jouhikko (horse-hair fiddle).

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Pirnales
Aquas - 17.99
Sinikka Järvinen, Marianne Maans, Markku Lepistö, Pekka Pentikäinen, kanteles, jouhikko, fiddle, accordion, bass present music from the tradition and original music by band and guests Martti Pokela and Hannu Saha.

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Hannu Saha
Mahla - 17.99
One of Finland's most important musicians, Sha specializes in the kantele, the traditional zither of Finland. But he is a consistently moodern interpreter of the tradition, and often quite innovative. This recording was made with some of Finland's best artists, and produced by enthusiastic Finno-phile Andrew Cronshaw.

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Toivo Alaspää
Mestarikakisallit: kantele (KICD 70) - 17.99
From Ostrobothnia, this kantele player teaches at Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department . This recording includes tradional songs and and popular music from the 1940-50s. Other artists accompanying him include Timo Väänänen, Sinikka and Matti Kontio

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Aulis Kivinen
Isäni poika - 17.99
Music for kantele and vocals by one of the 'old masters' of the instrument. Includes Finnish traditional and popular songs, plus renditions of 'Love Me Tender and 'In The Mood.'

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Arto Jarvela
Far In! - 16.99
Arto Järvelä the one-man-band takes a contemporary look at tunes old and new and executes them multi-track style with guitar, mandolin, mandola, kantele, percussion, marimba and of course, fiddle. The adventure continues in 2005.

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Tone Hulbaekmo
Konkylie - 17.99
Tone Hulbækmo is considered to be one of Norways finest singers, and this 1995 recording is a prime example of her formidible vocal talent, a series of tradition-based original songs written by she and Hans Fredrik Jacobsen, performed in a contemporary, art-music style, accompanied by flutes, harp, bagpipes, kantele, percussion, accordion, guitar and ud.

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Young singers from latvia
Putnu Dziesmas / Bird Songs - 16.99
Latvian folk songs about birds, performed by young students of Ilga Reizniece, accompanied by traditional folk instruments.

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Sinikka Langeland
Langt innpa skoga - 17.99
On this 1994 recording Sinikka accompanies her voice with the kantele on a series of more traditional tunes, accompanied by accordion, fiddle, kanteles, acoustic bass and horns.

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Pekka Lehti and Outo Voima
Sohjo - 16.99
The latest from the Finnish bass player expands his last Outo Voima project by creating a more solid ensemble approach, a larger, deeper sound and an unabashed sense of playful energy and dark wit. Pekka Lehti - double bass; Marko Timonen - percussion; Jouko Kyhälä - harmonium, harmonicas, melodica, claviola, overtone singing and kantele

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Harpens Kraft
Silke - 15.99
Using nyckelharpa, violin, hardingfele, guitar, keyboards, church organ, bass kantele and other traditional instruments, from Denmark, Harpens Kraft revive the old ways without apology

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Sinikka Langeland
Lille Rosa (Kjaerlighetsballader) - 17.99
Singer and kantele player from Norway performs love songs and medieval ballads

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Hans Fredrik Jacobsen
Vind (Wind) - 17.99
Norwegian flute sax and kantele player and his ensemble alternate between jaunty folk tunes and electro-expermiments, always centered on the 'wind' of the title in Norwegian folk tunes, Celtic and new age inspirations and some downright southern American feel on a few tracks. Instuments include guitar, percussion, bagpipes, nyckleharpa, harp and synths provided by Annbjorg Lien, Knut Reiersrud, Tome Hulbaekmo and Frode Fjellheim.

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Gunvor Hegge
The Langeleik - 17.99
The langeleik is a box zither like the kantele, kokle and other similar Northern and Central Europen instruments. The langeleik uniwue in that it is fretted zithers. It has has one melody string, and a varying number of accompaniment or drone strings. The instrument's history has been charted in all regions of Norway up through the 19th century. Gunvor Hegge, from Valdres district, is one of the country's most respected langeleik players. Here she is accompanied by violins and a second zither.

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Niekku
3 - 16.99
Maria Kalaniemi (accordion, voice), Anna-Kaisa Liedes (kanteles, voice), Liisa Matveinen kanteles, voice), Anu Itäpelto (kanteles, voice), Leena Joutsenlahti (winds, voice) all produced music in this particular ensemble that even today is as adventurous as they have ever been. This recording was produced by Heikki Laitenen, who also contribues some compositions, and his avant garde stamp is to be found in every track.

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Pirnales
Folk music from Finland - 16.99
A classic 1989 recording by some respected musicians from Finland, Sinikka Järvinen, Marianne Maans, Markku Lepistö and Pekka Pentikäinen, play kanteles, jouhikko, fiddle, accordion, bass

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World Mankeri Orchestra
Thauma - 15.99
Unique avant garde folk music from Finland. 'The mänkeri is the perfect counterpoint to the liru; like Djivan's sublime duduk offsetting Pharoah's reedy rhaita or Don Byron's thoughtful clarinet vs. Bird's frenetic alto. It adds a warm, introspective side that contributes to what is overall an enjoyably challenging, remarkably consistent and utterly original recording.' - RootsWorld

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Eino Tulikari
Kantele - temp out of stock-17.99
Eino Tulikari (1905-1977) was a kantele player from the Perho River valley in Finland. He is recognized as one of theold masters, and in fact this recording was the first issued by the Finnish Folk Music Institute in Kaustinen, so his influence is obvious.

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Hyperborea
Semmosta - temp out of stock-17.99
Hyperborea has slowly but steadily evolved into one of Finland's best performers of traditional folk music. The quartet were named the official group of the year at Finland's Kaustinen Folk Music Festival 2006. Piia Kleemola (fiddle, viola, 15-string kantele, vocals), Antti Paalanen (one- and two-row accordion), Petri Prauda (cittern, mandolin, bagpipes, vocals), and Paula Susitaival ( fiddle, nyckelharpa, vocals). This is their second recording, made in 2006.

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Puuvärejä
Lauluja Tastsa Elamasta - temp out of stock-17.99
Led by singer and accordionist Merja Ikkelan, Puuvärejä offers an elegant new look at the Finnish tradition. The ensemble is stellar, with some of Finland's best musicians contributing their talents to this beautiful recording: Sanna Kurki-Suonio - vocals; Eva Alkula - kantele; Sara Puljula - bass; Marion Gobel - cello; Kari Kipelainen - guitar; Penti Lahti - huilat, saxophone; Emilia Lajunen - violin.

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Sinikka Langeland
Har du lyttet til elvene om natta? - temp out of stock-16.99
Sinikka Langeland (born 1961) is a kantele player, singer and composer from Finnskogen in eastern Norway. Her family, however is from Karelia, Finland, and this unique mix of musical cultures is the signature of her music.

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Sinikka Langeland
Runoja - temp out of stock-17.99
This album pushes Sinikka closer to modern jazz and the avant garde than her previous recordings. Using her voice and kantele, with her Norwegian and Finnish traditions as the starting point, she works with an ensemble of bass, percussion and trumpet to create a dynamic new sound for the runic songs that are at the heart of her work.

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Pauliina Lerche
Katrilli - temp out of stock-17.99
A new recording from one of Finland's up and coming young artists (accordion, kantele and vocals)takes a modern look at the 'katrilli' (quadrille) and other folk forms, with a decidedly contemporary attitude

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World Mankeri Orchestra
EkE! - temp out of stock-15.99
Music from Finland that defies categorization, focused on primitive folk instruments like the liru, mänkeri and kantele, but decidely avant garde and adventurous in content and attitude.

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Sanna Kurki-Suonio and Riitta Huttunen
Kainuu - temp out of stock-17.99
The Sanna Kurki-Suonio and Riitta Huttunen duo´s debut and also Sanna's first recording in six years on her own name. They have restored old Finnish traditional songs and hymns from Kainuu region with a sound that is very simple but beautiful, featuring only Sanna's voice and Riitta's kantele. The 'power of less' is revealed to once again be more.

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Hyperborea
Perinnearkku - temp out of stock-17.99
In Greek mythology, the Hyperboreans were a mythical people that lived to the far north of Greece. Their land, called Hyperborea (beyond the north wind), was a perfect place, the sun shining through day and night. The Finnish quartet of Piia Kleemola (fiddle, viola, 15-string kantele, vocals), Antti Paalanen (one- and two-row accordion), Petri Prauda (cittern, mandolin, bagpipes, vocals), and Paula Susitaival ( fiddle, nyckelharpa, vocals) takes that spirit and translates it into a modern acoustic music. This is their first recording, made in 2004.

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Philomela
Mieli - temp out of stock-17.99
Finnish women's folk choir from Helsinki, conducted by Marjukka Riihimaki, sings folk poetry of the town of Ilomantsi and the epic poem Kanteletar, modern poetry by Jukka Itkonen, Viljo Kojo and Unto Kupiainen and songs by contemporary writers including Anna-Mari Kahara and Liisa Matveinen.

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Kalenda Maya
Norske Middelalderballader - temp out of stock-19.99
Medieval Norse Ballads performed with a lot of skill and verve by this quintet of Norwegian musicians - Sidsel Brevig (fiddles), Tone Hulbakækmo (voice, harp, lyre), Hans Fredrik Jacobsen (Arab lutes, flutes, bagpipe, kantele, lyre), Sverre Jansen (psaltery, mandora, hurdy-gurdy, Norwegian dulcimer), Gilles Obermayer (percussion). Recorded in 1989.

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Liisa Matveinen
Ottilia - temp out of stock-15.99
Matveinen interpret the traditional songs of folk singer Ottilia Ilkka (1875-1963), from Sapsilampi in southern Ostrobothnia, Finland. The album features Matveinen's vocals and kantele, along with Maria Kalaniemi, Anna-Kaisa Liedes, Heikki Laitinen and members of the Tallari ensemble.

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Visit Gerry Henkel's Kantele.com

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