kansanmusiikki

Kansanmusiikki, meaning "folk music" in Finnish, refers to music rooted in traditional Finnish and Finnish-speaking communities. It includes the traditional vocal and instrumental repertoire passed down through generations, as well as modern compositions and performances that draw on those idioms.

Historically, Finnish folk music developed from oral and communal singing traditions, including runonlaulanta (rune singing) and regional instrumental styles. The kantele, a plucked zither, and the jouhikko, a bowed lyre, are among the most characteristic instruments. Regional styles vary across Karelia, Ostrobothnia, and other areas, reflecting contact with neighboring cultures.

From the late 19th and early 20th centuries, interest in traditional music grew as part of national romanticism and later folk revival movements. In the postwar era, folk ensembles and education helped revive and reinterpret the repertoire. The term kansanmusiikki increasingly covers both ancient tunes and new works composed in a folk idiom.

In Finland today, kansanmusiikki is performed in concert halls, festivals, and schools and is linked with international Nordic and Baltic folk scenes. Notable Finnish acts include Värttinä and other groups that blend traditional singing with modern arrangements. The Kaustinen Folk Music Festival is one of the largest events devoted to the genre in the Nordic countries.