Martti Pokela

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

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

Life and career

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]

He is buried in the Hietaniemi Cemetery in Helsinki.[2]

Albums

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Finland's Kantele Master Martti Pokela Dies". YLE. 2007-08-23. Retrieved 2007-09-18.
  2. ↑ "Hietaniemen hautausmaa – merkittäviä vainajia" (PDF). Helsingin seurakuntayhtymä. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
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