Workshop: Estonian kannel tunes, with transfer to other instruments

Kaisa Nõges is a musician from Estonia. She has studied traditional music at the University of Tartu Viljandi Culture Academy, specialising in Estonian diatonic zithers (kannel). She has taken harp lessons from Kai Visnapuu (classical music, pedal harp), Lilian Langsepp (12th-16th century music, arpa doppia, Bohemian harp), Lily Neill and Lisa Canny (Celtic music). Kaisa is fond of playing traditional and early music. She also finds it interesting to create improvisational and meditative music. On the meditation CD „Tänu” (by Svetlana Nikolajeva, 2014) part of the musical background was created by Kaisa.

In 2011-2014 she was a member of Estonian Folk Orchestra that played at the following festivals: Viru Folk (Estonia, 2013), Umefolk (Sweden, 2013), Viljandi pärimusmuusika festival (Estonia, 2012), Jazzkaar (Estonia, 2012). The orchestra released the CD „Imemaa/Wonderland” (2014) where Kaisa played kannel (small zither) and Bohemian lever harp.

Currently Kaisa plays in the ensemble Harfihaldjad.

At the Nordic Harp Meeting 2018 in Lund, Kaisa gave a lecture on traditional Estonian instruments and she also gave a workshop in Estonian folk dance tunes together with Triin Hio. Their original workshop description:

At the workshop we learn to play some folk tunes for dancing. These folk dances were popular in Estonian villages at the beginning of 20th century and are still danced at Estonian folk festivals and at “Tantsuklubi” (folk dance evenings). We will also learn to dance the way it might have been at Estonian village parties a hundred years ago. All instruments are welcome to join the workshop. The tunes are taught by ear  (and are easy to follow for the intermediate students).

Click here to read what Kaisa was teaching at the Nordic harp meeting 2017 in Viljandi.