The new video, “Kantervo kalan evästä”, previews the upcoming album

August 03, 2023

The video “Kantervo kalan evästä” released on August 2, 2023, is a collaboration with percussionist Oskari Lehtonen. The song will be part of the new album planned for release in November. The album will include new music made with copies of the museum kanteles.

The title of the song, “Kantervo kalan evästä”, is adapted from epic runosogs collected by Elias Lönnrot in Viena Karelia in 1832, 1834 and 1835. The songs include the theme of the mythical origin of the kantele, and the word “kantervo” is used as a synonym for “kantele”.

In 1834, Martiska Karjalaińi sang for Lönnrot in Vuokkiniemi:

—
Soiton tuosta seppo saisi,
Saisi soiton sorsan luisen,
Kantervon kalan eväsen
—
(SKVR I1, 647)

The verses say that a blacksmith could make a musical instrument made out of duck bones and fish fins.