Kantele is a traditional Finnish string instrument. The kantele has a distinctive bell-like sound. It is even featured in the Kalevala where the mage makes the very first kantele from bone.
Jenni Venäläinen is a versatile kantele player and singer and she plays different kinds of kanteles from 5 stringed kantele to 38 stringed concert kantele. She has specialized in Carelian kantele tradition and improvisation. In her project Melkutus Party the old dancing tunes played by kantele are transformed into modern dancing party tunes.
Jenni graduated as a Master in Music from Arts University Sibelius Academy in 2019 and she has performed in Finland, Nordic and Baltic countries and Russia. Her most active ensembles are Aoide and Tikkursby. Numerous possibilities, tones of sounds and playing techniques in kantele inspire her to create her own musical sound.
