Acoustic music from Karelia, in northwestern Russia next to Finland
Coming from the land of the Kalevala, an ancient land of forests, lakes, small villages and epic songs, the Karelian Folk Music Ensemble is a trio from Petrozavodsk, in the Russian Republic of Karelia. Karelia is a region that encompasses both sides of the Finnish/Russian border and the ensemble's music is an exciting and interesting mix of Finnish, Russian and Karelian cultures. Their music ranges from the ancient epic songs accompanied by Finnish harps to a capella Russian village songs, from old shepherd melodies on wooden flutes and trumpet to Finnish dances on accordions, and from scythe accompaniment to church bells.
The trio are Igor Arkhipoff, Alexander Bykadoroff, and Arto Rinne.
The Karelian Folk Music Ensemble first came to the US in 1992 as a part of the Petrozavodsk State University group, "TOIVE." From the university group, this trio emerged. From 1993 - 1999, and again in 2005-2007, the KFME trio was an integral part of the Christmas Revels Northlands show, performing in cities all around the US. The Northlands Revels is a theatrical show based on traditional songs, music and dances from Scandinavia and Karelia. Since 1999, the Karelian Folk Music Ensemble has been performing concert tours, with performances in cultural centers, clubs, museums and libraries.
Instruments played by the trio include 5,10, and 32-string kanteles (finnish-karelian harp), jouhikko (karelian bowed lyre), wooden wind instruments (diatonic flutes, overtone flutes, goat's horn, birch barked trumpet, and Estonian bag-pipes), Russian and German button accordions, mandolin, bass, scythe and horse bells, plus three strong voices accompanied by instruments or sung acapella. They sing in Finnish, Karelian and Russian and even Finnglish!
It's the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend, and if you're not on the road travelling home, this is the place to be (and bring your leftover guests)!
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Folklore Society of Greater Washington
