Difference between revisions of "Kantele" - New World Encyclopedia

Revision as of 00:21, 14 March 2007

Rita... I set this up arbitrarily. please feel free to reorganize... D

Koistinen concert kantele with 38 strings

A kantele ([ˈkɑntele], from Finnish) or kannel ([ˈkɑnːel], Finnish variant or from Estonian) is a traditional plucked string instrument of the zither family. It is related to the Russian gusli, the Latvian kokle and the Lithuanian kanklės. Together these instruments make up the family known as Baltic Psalteries.

Description

The oldest forms of kantele have 5 or 6 horsehair strings and a hollowed out wooden body carved from a piece of alder, pine or spruce. Modern instruments have metal strings, tuning pegs and often a body made from several pieces of wood. Modern concert kanteles can have up to 39 strings. Modern instruments with less than 15 strings are generally more closely modelled on traditional shapes than the concert kantele, and form a separate category of instrument known as small kantele.

The playing positions of concert kantele and small kantele are reversed, ie to the player of a small kantele the longest low pitched strings are furthest away from his body, whilst to a concert kantele this side of the instrument is nearest, and the short high pitched strings furthest away. The instruments have different though related repertoires.

The Finnish kantele generally has a diatonic tuning though small kantele with between 5 and 15 strings are often tuned to a gapped mode missing a seventh and with the lowest pitched strings tuned to a fourth below the tonic as a drone. The Estonian Kannel has a variety of traditional tunings. Concert versions have a switch mechanism (similar to semitone levers on a modern folk harp) for making sharps and flats. Players hold the kantele in their laps or on a small table. There are two main techniques to play, either plucking the strings with their fingers or strumming unstopped strings.

History

No-one can accurately say how old an instrument the kantele is, its history goes back a few thousand years and is connected with rune singing.

Its mythical origins are described in Finland's national epic, Kalevala, where the magician Väinämöinen creates the first kantele from the jawbone of a giant pike and a few hairs from Hiisi's (Devil's) gelding. The music it makes draws all the forest creatures near to wonder at its beauty. The kantele has a distinctive bell-like sound. Later Väinämöinen makes a wooden kantele, strung with the hair of a willing maiden, and its magic proves equally profound. It is the gift the eternal sage leaves behind when he departs Kaleva at the advent of Christianity.

Recent Developments

There have been strong developments for the kantele in Finland lately. Education for playing the instrument starts in schools and music institutes up to conservatories and the Sibelius Academy, the only music university in Finland. Even some artistic doctoral studies are being made at the Academy with traditional, western classical and electronic music. A Finnish luthiery, Koistinen [[1]], has developed also an electric kantele [2], which employs pick-ups similar as those on electric guitars. It has gained popularity amongst Finnish heavy metal artists.

References
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External links

This Finnish folk storyteller uses a more traditional kantele

Credits

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 ==Description==
-The oldest forms of kantele have 5 or 6 horsehair strings and a hollowed out wooden body carved from a piece of alder, pine or spruce. Modern instruments have metal strings and often a body made from several pieces. Modern concert kanteles can have up to 39 strings. Modern instruments with less than 15 strings are generally more closely modelled on traditional shapes than the concert kantele, and form a separate category of instrument known as '''small kantele'''. The playing positions of concert kantele and small kantele are reversed, ie to the player of a small kantele the longest low pitched strings are furthest away from his body, whilst to a concert kantele this side of the instrument is nearest, and the short high pitched strings furthest away. The instruments have different though related repertoires.
+The oldest forms of kantele have 5 or 6 horsehair strings and a hollowed out wooden body carved from a piece of alder, pine or spruce. Modern instruments have metal strings, tuning pegs and often a body made from several pieces of wood. Modern concert kanteles can have up to 39 strings. Modern instruments with less than 15 strings are generally more closely modelled on traditional shapes than the concert kantele, and form a separate category of instrument known as '''small kantele'''.
-The Finnish kantele generally has a [[diatonic]] tuning though small kantele with between 5 and 15 strings are often tuned to a [[gapped mode]] missing a seventh and with the lowest pitched strings tuned to a fourth below the tonic as a drone. The Estonian Kannel has a variety of traditional tunings. Concert versions have a switch mechanism (similar to semitone levers on a modern [[folk harp]]) for making sharps and flats. Players hold the kantele in their laps or on a small table. There are two main techniques to play, either plucking the strings with their fingers or strumming unstopped [[strings (music)|strings]] (sometimes with a [[matchstick]]).
+The playing positions of concert kantele and small kantele are reversed, ie to the player of a small kantele the longest low pitched strings are furthest away from his body, whilst to a concert kantele this side of the instrument is nearest, and the short high pitched strings furthest away. The instruments have different though related repertoires.
+The Finnish kantele generally has a [[diatonic]] tuning though small kantele with between 5 and 15 strings are often tuned to a [[gapped mode]] missing a seventh and with the lowest pitched strings tuned to a fourth below the tonic as a drone. The Estonian Kannel has a variety of traditional tunings. Concert versions have a switch mechanism (similar to semitone levers on a modern [[folk harp]]) for making sharps and flats. Players hold the kantele in their laps or on a small table. There are two main techniques to play, either plucking the strings with their fingers or strumming unstopped [[strings (music)|strings]].
 ==History==
-In Finland's national epic, [[Kalevala]], the magician [[Väinämöinen]] creates the first kantele from the jawbone of a giant [[pike (fish)|pike]] and a few hairs from [[Hiisi]]'s (Devil's) [[gelding]]. The music it makes draws all the forest creatures near to wonder at its beauty.  The kantele has a distinctive bell-like sound. Later Väinämöinen makes a wooden kantele, strung with the hair of a willing maiden, and its magic proves equally profound.  It is the gift the eternal sage leaves behind when he departs Kaleva at the advent of Christianity.
+No-one can accurately say how old an instrument the kantele is, its history goes back a few thousand years and is connected with rune singing.
+Its mythical origins are described in Finland's national epic, [[Kalevala]], where the magician [[Väinämöinen]] creates the first kantele from the jawbone of a giant pike and a few hairs from Hiisi's (Devil's) gelding. The music it makes draws all the forest creatures near to wonder at its beauty.  The kantele has a distinctive bell-like sound. Later Väinämöinen makes a wooden kantele, strung with the hair of a willing maiden, and its magic proves equally profound.  It is the gift the eternal sage leaves behind when he departs Kaleva at the advent of Christianity.
 ==Recent Developments==