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Written in Folk Roots issue 139/140, 1995

SINIKKA LANGELAND
Langt Innpå Skoga
Grappa GRCD 4074 (1994)

Songs and instrumentals drawing on the traditions of the Solør and Finnskog areas of eastern Norway, with musicians including fiddler Mari Eggen and led by Langeland's Finnish concert kantele, an instrument which in its earlier forms was possibly played in this part of Norway by Finnish immigrants in the 17th century; no instruments survive, but it's mentioned in written sources and some local songs and tunes, including one here with brief lyrics in Finnish, Rollota, Rollota, indicate influences from Kalevala tradition. Sinikka Langeland has considerable technique, (as does 5-string kantele player Ove Berg, who gets a solo); the songs, part traditional and part settings of texts from the region, she delivers with sort of control and dramatic expression which in Britain at least we associate with classical music.


© 1994 Andrew Cronshaw
 

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