with Ansis Jansons, who chats to us about the Latvian folk instrument and some modern innovations. Find us on facebook: / thestringdom Recorded: Riga, May 2017.
What a delightful instrument! I see he's using the fingers of his left hand to mute certain strings, which reminds me of the way an autoharp makes chords. The tangents to shorten the strings on demand are so simple yet so clever.
4:13 dude REALLY didn't want to say swastikas. i feel kinda bad for him because like...tons of cultures all over the world had been using swastika designs before the nazis made them Their Thing (i've seen some at a Buddhist temple in China of all places), but now everyone just thinks of nazis.
To be fair I'm not sure they call it a swastika in Latvia. I could be wrong though. But anyways, he did seem nervous about it. Honestly I don't think cultures should have their symbols taken like that, they should reclaim it as their own.
That was awesome! When I first saw it, I thought there was no way it could do so much, but it surprised me. The diatonic nature of this instrument reminds me of one of my favorite non-string instruments, the diatonic button accordion. Great video; keep them coming!
Entertaining series very well done. Do you know why the widely different number of views occurred on two of your videos? I'd love to see you do a video of cigar box guitars and also ukuleles.
Thanks Al! Not sure about the difference in the numbers of views, I guess the algorithms mean that some videos get suggested more frequently? As for upcoming interviews, you're in luck! I just left Hawaii where I interviewed a great ukulele player on Maui, and I'm currently setting up a cigar box interview, so keep watching!
Latvia is in Northern Europe, and similar instruments are mostly used by Baltic and Finnic people. Of course, it's possible that some Slavic nations like Russia have something similar as well.
Akku Ankka yes they are related I believe, under the umbrella term of "Baltic zither". I did an interview with a kantele player as well and she had some old 5-string instruments which looked similar.
Yes... but not really. The instrument in Liv is in theory called kāndla, but out of all the kokles in museums none are from this region (except Rīga, but it's the capital). Seriously, I've never seen one (though I'd love to). The Latgales kokle (the big one with the wing) originates from Latgale region that's closer to Russia (important because they also had the wing, one might have influenced the other) and the smaller one (with the thundercross) is a Kurzemes kokle (without a wing) from the Kurzeme region (kurši were the latvian vikings).
"Most instruments from this region are not decorated. This one is...well...just covered in swastikas. Yeah, wow it's just...slathered with them. Like...look at all the swastikas. Looks like a black sun here on the round bit...yep...just a ton of swastikas. Also I can play it in D major." - - - wow all the swastikas took me out of this one, I admit.
What a delightful instrument! I see he's using the fingers of his left hand to mute certain strings, which reminds me of the way an autoharp makes chords. The tangents to shorten the strings on demand are so simple yet so clever.
That said, good LORD this thing sounds beautiful. The fact that it was made from a piano soundboard ABSOLUTELY shows.
I had never heard of this instrument. It’s like a cross between an Autoharp and a Psaltry. Thanks! Happy holidays! 🌞🎅🏻🎉🎉🎉🎉
4:13 dude REALLY didn't want to say swastikas. i feel kinda bad for him because like...tons of cultures all over the world had been using swastika designs before the nazis made them Their Thing (i've seen some at a Buddhist temple in China of all places), but now everyone just thinks of nazis.
That's true! Just shows you how powerful symbolism can be!
To be fair I'm not sure they call it a swastika in Latvia. I could be wrong though. But anyways, he did seem nervous about it. Honestly I don't think cultures should have their symbols taken like that, they should reclaim it as their own.
@@hailbaphomet it's the Fire Cross or Thunder Cross, but foreigners call it swastika sooo 🤷
@@CherryLipstick6x3 Yeah, I know foreigners call it a swastika. That's what I'm responding to. I'm saying I don't think they call it that in Latvia.
@@hailbaphomet yes, and I told you what it's called in Latvia :D
That was awesome! When I first saw it, I thought there was no way it could do so much, but it surprised me. The diatonic nature of this instrument reminds me of one of my favorite non-string instruments, the diatonic button accordion. Great video; keep them coming!
Nice improvising at the end!
Always amazed at how these musicians can speak really good English.
Especially in Latvia! The education system there must be on point! However there were a few interviews where I translated them.
Awesomely beautiful!!
Cool song at the start!
Entertaining series very well done. Do you know why the widely different number of views occurred on two of your videos? I'd love to see you do a video of cigar box guitars and also ukuleles.
Thanks Al! Not sure about the difference in the numbers of views, I guess the algorithms mean that some videos get suggested more frequently? As for upcoming interviews, you're in luck! I just left Hawaii where I interviewed a great ukulele player on Maui, and I'm currently setting up a cigar box interview, so keep watching!
Loved it
Latvians can flex with this music instrument 😎
Great video :) Would be interesting to see a video about nyckelharpa :D
Thank you! Yes it's on the list!! 😁
@@TheStringdom Awesome :) I really enjoy all your videos! :D
@@jonathanlindell6209 well thank you for watching! :)
I am sure many people have noticed that it seems every eastern european country and Russia have a version of this type of harp.
Latvia is in Northern Europe, and similar instruments are mostly used by Baltic and Finnic people. Of course, it's possible that some Slavic nations like Russia have something similar as well.
Beautiful!!
Looks very similar to some Kanteles I've seen.
Akku Ankka yes they are related I believe, under the umbrella term of "Baltic zither". I did an interview with a kantele player as well and she had some old 5-string instruments which looked similar.
*Baltic psaltery
The Baltic psalteries are, in fact, zithers.
Wow, it’s like a guitar but better (in my opinion)
Exploring with Tomek yeah and when I was chatting to him he was working on a recording project which amplified it!
The Stringdom, cool
The traditional music piece sounds like the US folk song "Polly-Wolly-Doodle-All-The-Day".
Autoharp sound...I like it.
Where can I find thoose halfton leavers ?
Great Stuff. Is like to know more about the tuning devices for pitching up a half tone. Where could I get some of these?
Cool kantele
Is this difficult to play for a total beginner and approximate cost for a decent made one? I don't have experience playing any instruments.
No, not difficult at all. You touch a string, you hear a tone. Coordination of the fingers and hands comes naturally after some time m
It looks a bit like kanun.
What is the name of the tune at 8:33?
Pūt vējiņi
Pēteris Zvirgzdiņš Thank you, random citizen!
Sounds like a mountain dulcimer.
It originates from the indigenous people of the Riga bay, Livonians.
Yes... but not really.
The instrument in Liv is in theory called kāndla, but out of all the kokles in museums none are from this region (except Rīga, but it's the capital). Seriously, I've never seen one (though I'd love to).
The Latgales kokle (the big one with the wing) originates from Latgale region that's closer to Russia (important because they also had the wing, one might have influenced the other) and the smaller one (with the thundercross) is a Kurzemes kokle (without a wing) from the Kurzeme region (kurši were the latvian vikings).
The guy bending over his instrument is going to have skeletal issues if he doesn’t correct his posture
that's the correct way to play kokle. many instruments, especially older ones will give you posture problems later in life, it's just how they are
Sounds like a less annoying/ prettier autoharp.
"Most instruments from this region are not decorated. This one is...well...just covered in swastikas. Yeah, wow it's just...slathered with them. Like...look at all the swastikas. Looks like a black sun here on the round bit...yep...just a ton of swastikas. Also I can play it in D major." - - - wow all the swastikas took me out of this one, I admit.
No it goes in the other direction. A very old symbol.
Not a swastika. It is a "thunder cross". An ancient symbol used for protection way before nazis perverted it.
thats cause you snowflake
Славянский инструмент
lol
Да , LV - kokle , kūkle , kāndla ; LT - kankle , EE - kāndlu ; FI - kantele ; кривичи. - гусли !
Заманали уже везде со своим славянством и русизмом пихаться. Поскромнее будте и постарайтесь вникать прежде чем пукать
@@konradkurland5090 ua-cam.com/video/QhGrGtMidAw/v-deo.html
Not only. Finnic and Baltic people have used it for ages to.