The one-woman orchestra, who has written about the Azores, returns to Pico to close the tenth edition of the Cordas Festival, at the Madalena Auditorium, and the following day she will perform at the Faialense Theater. Maija Kauhanen, winner of the 2023 Nordic Council Music Prize, the highest award for a musician in the Nordic countries, will present the kantele, the traditional Finnish plucked string instrument built by her own father.

A singer and multi-instrumentalist, as well as a talented composer and lyricist, Maija is known for her charisma and fascinating stage presence. As a solo artist, she plays her own music in a solo orchestra, simultaneously playing the kantele, percussion, and singing.

The kantele is a versatile instrument that adapts to the needs of different musical genres and musicians. The whole scene surrounding the kantele is innovative, with several luthiers developing the instrument and teachers always thinking of new ways to use this ancient instrument. The kantele is Finland’s national instrument and its roots go back at least 2000 years. There are many instruments similar to the kantele in the Baltic countries and elsewhere.

Maija’s favorite kantele model is the Saarijärven kantele, which has a rich, strong sound and is also easy to transport. Maija’s Saarijärven kantele has 23 strings: 16 melody strings and 7 bass strings.

During her first visit to the Cordas Festival in 2018, Maija wrote a song about her experience in the Azores, which she recorded on her second solo album, Raivopyörä, and now she is happy to be able to share it with the people of the islands.

The Cordas Festival takes place from October 1 to 11 in the municipality of Madalena do Pico. Maija Kauhanen has the honor of closing the festival on Saturday, October 11, at the Madalena Auditorium. Tickets are available at the Madalena Auditorium Library starting September 15. The following day, October 12, Maija will take the stage at the Faialense Theater, and tickets are already available at the Horta Market.

From MiratecArts Press Release.

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publications at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks the Luso-American Education Foundation for their support.