Eino Tulikari - Kantele

Eino Tulikari (1905-1977) was born in the village Halsua in the Pohjanmaa region. He was the most accomplished player of our national instrument, the kantele, in his time. He started studying it when he was five or six, and took part in a competition when he was ten. Before the competition, the jury announced that the winner shall play for the dances that were to be held later in the evening. Eino would have won the competition, but since he wasn't old enough to be allowed to lead the dances, his big brother Oskari, who also took part in the competition, was declared winner.



Tulikari's home region, the Perhonjoki valley, was a flourishing music center. In addition to Eino and his three brothers , the kantele was also mastered by neighbours Matti and Ilmari Karvonen, and Vesteri Tuominiemi played the violin.



Eino Tulikari studied in the Helsinki Music Institute, but after a year he decided to find a more secure way of making a living, so he moved to Jyväskylä and became a teacher in 1931.



As a teacher, Tulikari kept playing as his hobby, and in 1975, two years before his death, he cut an album for the National Music Institute. Here's that album remastered for CD, with four 1956 recordings for national broadcasting company YLE added.



1. Kantelemarssi (Kantele March)

2. Valssi Halsualta (Waltz From Halsua)

3. Pirunpolkka (Devil's Polka)

4. Niemen-Kallen jenkka (Kalle Niemi's Jenka)

5. Oskarin valssi (Oskari's Waltz)

6. Masurkka (Mazurka)

7. Tulikarin sottiisi

8. Kulkurin valssi (Vagabond's Waltz)

9. Hevosmiesten marssi (March of the Horsemen)

10. Voi jos ilta joutuisi (Oh, If the Evening Would Come Soon)

11. Alotusmarssi (Starting March)

12. Hääpolska (Wedding Polska)

13. Koko maailman valssi (Waltz of the Whole World)

14. Polkka

15. Syyskuun ilta (September Evening)

16. Polkkasikermä (Polka Medley)

17. Tofferin Viljamin marssi

18. Polkansiruja (Shards of Polka)

19. Purppurimarssi

20. Valssi Purpurista

21. Vanha marssi n:o 1 (Old March Nr. 1)

22. Vanha valssi (Old Waltz)

23. Niemen Kallen jenkka



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