{"id":54,"date":"2026-05-14T16:14:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T23:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blessleyinstruments.com\/?page_id=54"},"modified":"2026-07-27T20:13:48","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T03:13:48","slug":"finnish-kanteles","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blessleyinstruments.com\/?page_id=54","title":{"rendered":"Finnish Kanteles"},"content":{"rendered":"

Blessley Instruments\u2019 Finnish Kanteles!<\/span><\/h3>\r\n

First described in the Kalevala epic, the kantele is the Finnish national instrument, and has <\/span>been played for centuries.\u00a0 It is a terrific instrument for a beginning musician, and is\u00a0<\/span>easy to learn to play, as the tradition is improvisation!
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Basic playing instructions, a tuning key and a small tune book are include<\/span>d with each instrument.\u00a0 Online lessons (Zoom) are available with Valerie.\u00a0 Sharping levers can be added for an extra fee.\u00a0 Talk to Dr. Blessley about your sharping lever options.\u00a0 (360-910-1112) <\/span><\/p>\r\n

We recommend Coon Hollow Canvas for kantele cases.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span>www.coonhollowcanvas.com<\/a><\/p>\r\n

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Blessley Instruments is happy to offer five different models:<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\r\n

The 5 string, the 10 string<\/span>, the 11 string, t<\/span>he 11+4<\/span> (with a bass chord), and t<\/span>he Virsikantele<\/span>\u00a0(hymn kantele).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Kanteles can be made from the following woods:\u00a0 Alder, Maple, Cherry, and Black Walnut.<\/p>\r\n

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Our new 11 string Kantele in Alder with (5) levers installed.\u00a0 Price as of July 2026:\u00a0 $575.00 without levers. Cases not included.\u00a0 We recommend Coon Hollow Canvas in Montana. \u00a0\u00a0www.coonhollowcanvas.com<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n

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The original 10 string Kantele in Alder Price as of July 2026:\u00a0 $500.00\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

Cases not included.\u00a0 We recommend Coon Hollow Canvas in Montana. \u00a0www.coonhollowcanvas.com<\/a><\/p>\r\n

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The original 11 & 4 and the 10 string – note – both models will now have the curved ponsi and the shape of the 11 string Kantele pictured above.<\/p>\r\n

Price as of July 2026: 11+4 kantele $1000.00, 10 string kantele $500.00.\u00a0 Cases not included.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

We recommend Coon Hollow Canvas in Montana. \u00a0www.coonhollowcanvas.com<\/a><\/p>\r\n

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The Virsikantele in Alder with a horse hair bow.\u00a0 Price as of July 2026: $1200.00\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

Cases not included.\u00a0 We recommend Coon Hollow Canvas in Montana.\u00a0 www.coonhollowcanvas.com<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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Valerie and Mark Blessley – with (3) 5 string kanteles, Cherry, Walnut and Alder – all with a sharping level on the F string\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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In the “Tori”, at the Naselle Finnish-American Folk Festival. Nordic Inspired pottery by SAVI Clayworks, Valerie’s clay studio.<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Blessley Instruments\u2019 Finnish Kanteles! First described in the Kalevala epic, the kantele is the Finnish national instrument, and has been played for centuries.\u00a0 It is a terrific instrument for a beginning musician, and is\u00a0easy to learn to play, as the tradition is improvisation! Basic playing instructions, a tuning key and a small tune book are […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-54","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blessleyinstruments.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/54","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blessleyinstruments.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blessleyinstruments.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blessleyinstruments.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blessleyinstruments.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=54"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/blessleyinstruments.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/54\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":147,"href":"https:\/\/blessleyinstruments.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/54\/revisions\/147"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blessleyinstruments.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=54"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}