In Finnish folklore the old magician-singer Wäinämoinen created the first Kantele from the
jaw of a pike. While playing on it all animals of the forest gathered and listened; people
let go of their work and were fascinated by the beauty of the Lute music. Similar stories we
know from Orpheus in the Greek legends.
In its classical form the Kantele consists of a wooden resonating body in the shape of a
wing. The body is made from a specially crafted Birch trunk. Five strings from horse hair
tuned in pentatonic scale cover the body. Modern Kanteles can have up to 36 metal
strings and offer a system of hooks which allow the player to change the tone a half-note
higher or lower. That can be done even while playing. The instrument is plucked with the
fingers while lying on the lap or at a table, similar to a Zither.