Fancy something other than the piano, violin and guitar? The singularly unique Kantele, which originates from Finland, is sure to offer a breath of fresh air. With a long history of at least 1,000 years, it has five to a few dozen strings, together producing a sound by turns crisp, clean and lingering. Its body light and handy, this musical instrument has been widely played by the Finns as early as in preschools and is now learned by some in Hong Kong, too. Today, apart from performing folk and classical, the Kantele has also made its crossing to jazz and rock.

Maija Kauhanen, a renowned Finnish musician, is bringing the Kantele to Hong Kong at “World Cultures Festival 2019 – The Nordics”. Having made “the best artistic breakthrough or comparable achievement for a young artist” in 2017 as recognised by the Finnish Critics Association, she has revived the old and rare technique of using a tiny wooden stick as plectrum. This time, Kauhanen is sharing the stage with her longtime collaborator Okra Playground, an experimental electro nu-folk band, for some lush soundscapes that showcase Finnish music both old and new.