From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
A kantele is a traditional Finnish plucked string instrument. The conventional kantele has five strings (pentatonic scale) and a wooden body. Modern concert kanteles can have up to 36 strings and can be tuned on the fly. The kantele players hold the kantele in their laps or on a small table, plucking the strings with their fingers. One can also play chords, traditionally with a matchstick.
In The Kalevala (Finland's national epic), the magician Väinämöinen invents the first kantele with the jawbone of a giant pike and a few hairs from Hiisi'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. Around the Baltic, its near relatives are the Kankle (Lithuania), Kannel (Estonia) and Gusli (Russia).
