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Written in Folk Roots issue 154, 1996

LOITUMA
Loituma
Kansanmusiikki-instituutti KICD 36 (1995)

Timo Väänänen and Sari Kauranen are leading kantele players, but central to the sound of Loituma are voices, mingling with rippling kanteles and Hanni-Mari Verdecia’s violin or whistles.
      Opening with two settings of songs from Elias Lönnrot’s Kanteletar collection, followed by an ingenious acapella polkka and a song in the reki form, all involving the vocals of all four and particularly featuring Anita Lehtola’s distinctive tight enunciation and silky, caressing tone, it’s accessible music, precisely-arranged.
      Kauranen and Väänänen often work with the pioneering Martti Pokela, and here play his dark, chiming Suo (Marshland) and duet on 10-string and concert kanteles in Valamon Kirkonkellot, one of the pieces inspired by church bells which are a feature of the instrument’s traditional repertoire.
      The whole thing has the clarity and poised charm of a minuet (and there’s one here, track 5).


© 1995 Andrew Cronshaw
 

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