Blatentsaine Ruska kantelar 2011-10-23 | http://www.facebook.com/kantelar Blatentsaine is a folk music ensemble formed by four young women. Concert kantele, recorders, violin and accordions create a sound world that's unique. The highly original style is further re-enforced by the musicians' original compositions, based on traditional Finnish and Scandinavian pelimanni music. Although the name Blatentsaine -- picked by the ensemble from a Karelian lullaby -- literally means "newborn", this band shares a long history of making music. The members had been playing together in various duos and trios even before their new group, Blatentsaine, was born in 2004 as a student ensemble at the Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department. Academic year 2004-2005 saw Blatentsaine concentrating on a polska performance entitled Palo. The group composed the music for this full-length dance production, parts of which were seen and heard at the Tanssin Taigaa evening at Kulttuuriareena Gloria. Blatentsaine has been increasingly busy recently, playing gigs at Finland's biggest folk music festivals, as well as at clubs and private functions. Their versatile repertoire also has enabled visits to schools, where they have introduced children to the world of folk music. On the 2007 Folklandia Cruise, Blatentsaine was named the Kantele Ensemble of the Year by the Finnish Kantele Association (Kanteleliitto). The debyte album of Blatentsaine, called "Juurihoitoa/Root treatment", was launched May 25th 2007. The CD contains music based on traditional finnish pelimanni music and composed by band members. Juurihoitoa/Root treatment was chosen as the kantele album of the year 2007 by Finnish Kantele Association.
Mirja Mäkelä Valoisa kantelar 2011-10-18 | http://www.facebook.com/kantelar She has released 3 albums consisting of her own music. In addition to her own bands Mirja has sung as a guest soloist in various small and big bands, and she has performed at numerous festivals and clubs especially in Finland, but also in Sweden, Estonia, Poland, Germany, Morocco, USA, Mexico and Japan. Mirja is also a member of Muumilauluja-bändi, an a cappella group JimJamMurMur, The Helsinki Koto Ensemble, and she is a regular guest soloist with the Swedish trio BergerKnutssonSpering. Mirja has obtained a Master's degree in music from the Sibelius Academy jazz department in 1999.
Karoliina Kantelinen Karon joiku kantelar 2011-10-16 | http://www.facebook.com/kantelar Karoliina Kantelinen is a singer and an ethnomusicologist from Helsinki who specializes in different ethnic singing styles. Her doctoral dissertation is on the old yoik tradition from Russian Karelia, formerly a Finnish territory. She currently teaches folk music at the department of musicology in the University of Helsinki and Pop-Jazz Concervatory. From spring 2009 Karoliina has made the artistic doctoral studies at the Department of Folk Music in Sibelius-Academy.
