Traditional / folk music of Finland
Finland is one of Scandinavian countries with rich genres of folk music. The language and history of Finland is closer to Hungary rather than its Scandinavian sisters. Finland had a long history of conflict with its closest neighbor Russia, and until recently were never particularly cordial to their Scandinavian neighbors (or the rest of the world for that matter). But in the last decades no longer it is the outcasts of Scandinavia. It has become one of the most stable society in the world with a strong economy. It is the role model of a healthy nation in the new millennium for many in the world. Today Finland is a nation with passion about its culture including folk music.
The folk music of Finland is mostly under the influence of Karelian traditional tunes and lyrics. Karelia is the land of Larelian people which today is separated between Finland, Russia and Sweden. Finish Karelia is a historical province in Finland. Karelian myths ans stories are the purest expression of Finnic myths and beliefs and it is separated into two form of Germanic and Slavic influences.
In the west part of Finland Nordic folk music is common. Nordic music is the folk music which is common between north European countries, specially Scandinavians. Balto-Finnic music is one of Nordic music which exists in Finland. Balto-Finnic people are people who lives in Finland, Russia and Estonia. Runolaulu (runo-song) is a kind of folk song found throughout this area. The tunes have a narrow range, usually using just the first five notes of a scale, a time signature of 4/4 or 5/4, and alliterative line-ends. Rekilaulu is another type of folk songs which developed by evolution of runolaulu in seventeenth century. It is a kind of rhymed stanzaic folk song.
Kilpalaulanta is another type of Finnish folk music which is like a duel and match of Kalevala poetry spells. Kalevala is a 19th-century work of epic poetry compiled by Elias Lönnrot from Karelian and Finnish oral folklore and mythology.It is regarded as the national epic of Karelia and Finland and is one of the most significant works of Finnish literature.
Pelimanni music is the Finnish version of the Nordic folk dance music, and it is tonal music. The word means “folk musician” and it also applies to musicians who play with folk dance. Traditionally it is played with fiddle, clarinet, accordion or harmonium. Common dances in Finland are polka, mazurka, schottische, quadrille, waltz, and minuet. Strangely, tango from Argentina is also popular in the traditional music of Finland. It came to Finland in 1920s and found its way into pelimanni bands.
The national musical instrument of Finland is kantele.It is a plucked string instrument of the dulcimer and zither family. Ulla Katajavuori and Martti Pokela were two important kantele player. They maintained and developed kantele playing while it was not very common in Finland.
Some other traditional music instruments in Finland are jouhikko(which is a bowed lyre), säkkipilli (Finnish bagpipe), trumpets, horns and whistle.
Today lots of musicians plays traditional music in Finland, and also they try to put fresh and new elements into their folk music.
Sami music
This type of folk music refers to the music of Sami people. Sami people are an indigenous people living in Arctic. The Sami are the only indigenous people of Scandinavia recognized and protected under the international conventions of indigenous peoples. They are separated between Nordic countries. The most important aspect of Sami music is joik. Joik is one of several traditional form of song and singing between Sami people. Joik is a monotonous chant. And usually it is accompanied by the shaman's drum. Joik usually does not have epic form and lyrics. Sometimes it is with short lyrics. It depicts a person or a phenomenon by means of single words and short sentences. It is very symbolic.
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Traditional / folk songs for Finland
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