Kantele

Kantele is, I believe, an exclusively Finnish stringed instument. It is reminiscent of an autoharp, but more haunting I think. One evening last week we visited a woman who attends church in the summers because she doesn't drive in the winters. As we approached her door she was peeking out waiting for us. Then she left the door open and went inside and played "How Great Thou Art" as we arrived. She played several other hymns and songs for us and we sang as she played. She had at least 7 kanteles in her house. I think she said they were all hand-made. On the other hand, she could have said that they were all made out of hands or that they came from Japan--considering the primitive stage of my Finnish language development. The instruments were beautiful.

She was a very educated person and interested in learning. She frequently pulled out encyclopedias to demonstrate elucidate some point she was making. Her father had sung in a Joensuu men's chorus for many years and she showed us pictures of them singing in New York City. And of course, as is the custom, at the end of our visit she served pirakka, pulla, tea, fruit, etc. We have gone to eating only two meals or less a day so that we can accept everyone's hospitality without guilt.