Kokle

with Ansis Jansons, who chats to us about the Latvian folk instrument and some modern innovations.

Recorded: Riga, May 2017.

[alexhauptmann]

That said, good LORD this thing sounds beautiful. The fact that it was made from a piano soundboard ABSOLUTELY shows.

[mandolinic]

What a delightful instrument!  I see he's using the fingers of his left hand to mute certain strings, which reminds me of the way an autoharp makes chords. The tangents to shorten the strings on demand are so simple yet so clever.

[bveracka]

That was awesome! When I first saw it, I thought there was no way it could do so much, but it surprised me. The diatonic nature of this instrument reminds me of one of my favorite non-string instruments, the diatonic button accordion. Great video; keep them coming!

[mccypr]

I had never heard of this instrument. It’s like a cross between an Autoharp and a Psaltry. Thanks! Happy holidays! 🌞🎅🏻🎉🎉🎉🎉

[alexhauptmann]

4:13 dude REALLY didn't want to say swastikas. i feel kinda bad for him because like...tons of cultures all over the world had been using swastika designs before the nazis made them Their Thing (i've seen some at a Buddhist temple in China of all places), but now everyone just thinks of nazis.

[alsmith]

Entertaining series very well done. Do you know why the widely different number of views occurred on two of your videos? I'd love to see you do a video of cigar box guitars and also ukuleles.

[the_Tigro]

Latvians can flex with this music instrument 😎

[ulricus]

Where can I find thoose halfton leavers ?

[michaelvolkel]

Great Stuff. Is like to know more about the tuning devices for pitching up a half tone. Where could I get some of these?

[StopFear]

I am sure many people have noticed that it seems every eastern european country and Russia have a version of this type of harp.

[mikethebloodthirsty]

Always amazed at how these musicians can speak really good English.

[suzannelawson]

Is this difficult to play for a total beginner and approximate cost for a decent made one? I don't have experience playing any instruments.

[jonathanlindell]

Great video :) Would be interesting to see a video about nyckelharpa :D

[tervaaku]

Looks very similar to some Kanteles I've seen.

[elyzsabethahne]

The traditional music piece sounds like the US folk song

[tomek]

Wow, it’s like a guitar but better (in my opinion)

[guidemeChrist]

It originates from the indigenous people of the Riga bay, Livonians.

[MsCellobass]

The guy bending over his instrument is going to have skeletal issues if he doesn’t correct his posture

[gxtmfa]

Sounds like a less annoying/ prettier autoharp.

[Wenamun]

"Most instruments from this region are not decorated. This one is...well...just covered in swastikas. Yeah, wow it's just...slathered with them. Like...look at all the swastikas. Looks like a black sun here on the round bit...yep...just a ton of swastikas. Also I can play it in D major." - - - wow all the swastikas took me out of this one, I admit.