Melvin Kangas: Kantele Man

(2019) 55 minutes DVD

In a fairy-tale cottage in the forest of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Melvin Kangas performs enchanting music on a traditional Finnish harp known as the kantele. Cultural sociologist Michael Loukinen details Melvin’s journey to Finland in the 1960s to learn to play kantele, Finland’s national instrument, with master artist Ulla Katajavuori. Since returning to his home community he has become a master performer in his own right. Today Melvin is widely recognized both by his community and by scholars and folklorists for developing a cadre of kantele performers who keep the tradition alive.

-Written by folklorist, Hilary-Joy Virtanen, PhD