Kantele
Kantele
🌍 Finland
Finland's ancient folk zither — the instrument of heroes in the Kalevala epic
Amy says:
Moi! I'm Amy! The kantele is Finland's national instrument and one of the most ancient in Europe — a harp-like zither that appears in Finland's greatest epic, the Kalevala. The Finnish national hero Väinämöinen played the kantele so beautifully that all the animals of the forest gathered to listen — even fish swam to the surface of the lake. Modern kanteles have up to 39 strings and are played in folk music, classical concerts, and heavy metal bands alike!
Quick Facts
Strings
5 (traditional) to 39 (concert)
Type
Plucked box zither
Epic
Featured in the Kalevala (1835)
Origin
Finland / Baltic Finnic peoples
Discover the Kantele
According to the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala, the kantele was invented by the hero Väinämöinen — who carved the first one from the jawbone of a giant pike fish, then strung it with the hair of a young woman.
Instrument Type
String
Known As
Kantele
Where It's Played
📷 Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC licence)
For Educators
Music is a universal language! Use this page to spark classroom discussions about culture, history, and how music connects communities around the world.
Did You Know?
Finland's Sibelius Academy in Helsinki offers postgraduate degrees in kantele performance — the only music conservatoire in the world with a full kantele programme at the highest academic level.
The Estonian kannel, Latvian kokle, and Lithuanian kankles are all closely related to the Finnish kantele — all descending from an ancient Finno-Ugric zither tradition across the Baltic region.
The great kantele virtuoso Sinikka Langeland has taken the instrument into jazz improvisation, performing with Norwegian saxophonists and recording for the ECM label — bringing the kantele to international jazz audiences.
What Makes the Kantele Special?
Born in the Kalevala
Finland's national epic — the Kalevala — begins with the creation of the kantele. Its hero Väinämöinen plays it so transcendently that bears stop in the forest, birds land on branches to listen, and even the gods weep.
From Folk to Metal
The kantele has crossed into almost every music genre in Finland — traditional folk, classical, jazz, ambient, and Finnish folk metal. Bands like Apocalyptica and Amorphis have incorporated it alongside electric guitars.
The Sound of Finnish Silence
The kantele's gentle, resonant tone is described by Finns as capturing the feeling of their landscape — still lakes, deep forests, and the vast quiet of winter. It is the sonic equivalent of the Finnish concept of "sisu" (quiet inner strength).
Keep Exploring the World!
Music is the heartbeat of every culture. Discover more incredible instruments and the countries where they are played.