A sort of zither, close to the latvian kokles, the kantele is a mainstay in Finnish music, a popular folk instrument par excellence. It appeared in the epic Kalevala, fallen in disuse at the beginning of the 20th century and then rediscovered by passionate musicians. This recording contains compositions by Martti Pokela, pioneer among the pioneers, inspired by Lapp traditional songs. The metallic sound, quite close to the harpsichord or the harp (horses’hairs were formely used for the cords) and the lonely solo playing give a kind similarity to the sound of musical boxes, with their melancholic tunes, as if this was funfair music from old times.
Pokela - Sariola - Kontilo
Finlandia Records - FACD 018