Unusual Instruments

[Lazarus Short]

I happen to be in love with Finnish folk music...

 

[Kalevalatar]

I happen to be in love with Finnish folk music...

That's quite unusual, since Finnish folk music is so marginal. Do you have a Finnish connection, perhaps, distant relatives, friends...?

 

[Lazarus Short]

That's quite unusual, since Finnish folk music is so marginal. Do you have a Finnish connection, perhaps, distant relatives, friends...?

Nothing like that - I found a blurb about a CD by Varttina in a record club catalog, and since I was beginning to explore "world music" at the time, I sent for it. On hearing it, I was in love with the music, and began to acquire CD's by other bands from Finland and neighboring countries. I also attended the Nordic Roots festival in Minneapolis a couple of times, where I got to hear a lot of those bands live.

 

[Kalevalatar]

Nothing like that - I found a blurb about a CD by Varttina in a record club catalog, and since I was beginning to explore "world music" at the time, I sent for it. On hearing it, I was in love with the music, and began to acquire CD's by other bands from Finland and neighboring countries. I also attended the Nordic Roots festival in Minneapolis a couple of times, where I got to hear a lot of those bands live.

You obviously have an admirably advanced omnivorous music taste! Värttinä was certainly a good introduction to Finnish-Karelian folk music.

I'm a great fan of Sámi joik, especially Mari Boine from neighbouring Norway as well as Angelin tytöt (Angelit) from Inari. The Finnish folk metal band Korpiklaani was formerly known as Shaman and has some lovely yoik metal songs using shamanic drums together with another traditional Finnish music style humppa. None of the band members are native Sámi, but songwriter Jonne Järvelä lived in Lappi, spoke Northern Sámi and was married to Sámi singer Maaren Aikio, the other half of Shamaani Duo and contributor to Shaman, so I think that largely absolves the issue of cultural appropriation, selling "exotism" for exotism's sake.

 

[Lazarus Short]

You obviously have an admirably advanced omnivorous music taste! Värttinä was certainly a good introduction to Finnish-Karelian folk music.

I'm a great fan of Sámi joik, especially Mari Boine from neighbouring Norway as well as Angelin tytöt (Angelit) from Inari. The Finnish folk metal band Korpiklaani was formerly known as Shaman and has some lovely yoik metal songs using shamanic drums together with another traditional Finnish music style humppa. None of the band members are native Sámi, but songwriter Jonne Järvelä lived in Lappi, spoke Northern Sámi and was married to Sámi singer Maaren Aikio, the other half of Shamaani Duo and contributor to Shaman, so I think that largely absolves the issue of cultural appropriation, selling "exotism" for exotism's sake.

I've heard of most of those folks.

 

[Lazarus Short]

I came across a mention of the langeleik in the notes of the CD "The Sweet Sunny North."

 

[Lazarus Short]

I love the music, but WHAT is that thing in the middle that looks like the offspring of a zither and a piano?

 

[Lazarus Short]

Another instrument not heard from often, the Bandura.

 

[Lazarus Short]

 

[Sunshinee777]

I can’t stop listening this. So amazing and looks so nice.

 

[Sunshinee777]

What is that instrument at 1:34?

 

[iluvatar5150]

What is that instrument at 1:34?

Glass harmonica
Glass harmonica - Wikipedia