Poulsbo Sons reel in Russian/Finnish folk trio

The Karelian Folk Music Ensemble brings 15 instruments, three voices to Poulsbo, Nov. 16.

The Karelian Folk Music Ensemble is a lively trio from the Russian Republic of Karelia, coming from an ancient land of forests, lakes, small villages and epic songs.

Karelia is a region north of St. Petersburg, Russia that includes both sides of the Russian/Finnish border — a convergence zone for eastern and western traditions with a rich cultural heritage including being the birthplace of the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala.

Costumed, with 15 instruments and three voices, the Karelian trio’s performances include Russian and Finnish folk music.

They will be performing in Poulsbo at 7 p.m., Nov. 16, at the Sons of Norway Lodge on Front Street. The Karelian Ensemble concert will be preceded by a Finnish dance workshop at 4:30 p.m. and a potluck at 6 p.m. that day and followed by a traditional gammeldans.

All ages are welcome for a suggested $5 donation.

Karelian Folk Music Ensemble concerts include both vocal and instrumental music, ranging from the silly to the sublime. Instruments include Finnish harps, accordions, mandolin, wooden flutes, bagpipes, goat horn, scythe and church bells while vocals include three-part traditional a capella Russian and Finnish folk.

The ensemble has toured the United States, including performances at the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Centre, the Finnish Embassy in Washington, D.C. and the Nordic Heritage Museum in Seattle.

They come to Poulsbo on the heels of the Sons annual lutefisk dinner which is slated for noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 15, featuring the Norwegian delicacy along with other traditional dishes and performances by the Leikarringen dancers throughout the day.

For more info on the Karelian Ensemble, go to www.krme.onego.ru.

For more on the Poulsbo Sons and their annual lutefisk dinner, visit www.poulsbosonsofnorway.com or call (360) 779-5209.

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