Martti Pokela

Martti Pokela
Born	Martti Eliel Pokela 23 January 1924(1924-01-23) Haapavesi, Finland
Died	23 August 2007(2007-08-23) (aged 83) Helsinki, Finland
Occupation	musician

Martti Eliel Pokela (23 January 1924, Haapavesi – 23 August 2007, Helsinki) was a Finnish folk musician and composer.^[1] Pokela was an expert with the kantele, Finland's national musical instrument.^[1]

Pokela and his wife, Marjatta Pokela, were widely credited with ushering in a revival in interest in Finnish folk music beginning in the 1950s.^[1] Their daughter, Eveliina Pokela, began performing with them in the 1960s.^[1]

Pokela merged traditional Finnish folk music with contemporary sounds. He and his family's albums have been released outside of Finland.^[1]

Pokela taught the kantele at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and Kuopio until 1987.^[1] He was the founder of the academy's folk music department, where he was named a full professor in 1980.^[1]

Albums

• Best of Kantele (1995)
• Sonata For Kantele (1996)
• Snow Kantele (1998)
• "Tuulikumpu" (2001)
• Improsette by Martti Pokela (2005)

See also

• Music of Finland

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} "Finland's Kantele Master Martti Pokela Dies". YLE. 2007-08-23. http://www.yle.fi/news/id68083.html. Retrieved 2007-09-18. 

External links

• YLE News: "Finland's Kantele Master Martti Pokela Dies"
• Finnish Music Centre: "Martti Pokela dies at 83"

Persondata
Name	Pokela, Martti
Alternative names
Short description	Finnish musician
Date of birth	23 January 1924
Place of birth	Haapavesi, Finland
Date of death	23 August 2007
Place of death	Helsinki, Finland