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][2][3][4]

Martti Pokela
Martti with his wife Marjatta in 1965
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

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][5] Their daughter, Eveliina Pokela, began performing with them in the 1960s.[1][2]

Pokela merged traditional Finnish folk music with contemporary sounds. The family's albums have also been released outside of Finland.[1]

Pokela taught kantele playing 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][2]

He is buried in the Hietaniemi Cemetery in Helsinki.[6]

Albums

• Keskiyön Auringon Lauluja (1969)
• Best of Kantele (1995)
• Sonata For Kantele (1996)
• Snow Kantele (1998)
• "Tuulikumpu" (2001)
• Improsette by Martti Pokela (2005)

See also

• Music of Finland

References

External links

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

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