Tervakello (Finnish instrument)

Subject: Tervakello.
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 07:46 AM

Tervakello (crudely translated as tar bell. Tar bell is a wooden instrument which is played before lighting up a tar-burning pit. Also used as an alarm during the burning process of tar-burning pit) is an orchestra using mainly traditional instruments. The basic instruments are Udu-drums. With Udu-drums the Tervakello conjures up a shamanistic, constant sound scenery. Also the wind instruments have especial role in the music. Tervakello's music is based on improvisation and ambience.

Tervakello's first album was released in 7.5.2004. The album was recorded at Tytyri mine museum in Lohja, Finland on the 110 meter level.

Please visit http://www.tervakello.com to listen to some sound samples taken from the album.

Subject: RE: Tervakello.
From: greg stephens
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 07:50 AM

What, precisely, are these tar-burning pits for(OK for, tar-burning, stupid. But why?)

Subject: RE: Tervakello.
From: AKS
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 08:32 AM

Not exactly burning, but making tar; I'd put it simply 'tar pit' (original Finnish word being tervahauta 'tar grave' lit.), where the resinous/pitchy wood (here in F. only pine is usable) is piled in a cone-formed heap, then covered with soil, lighted from the edge, burned not in flames but slowly, to produce heat enough to the tar to be extracted. You get nice charcoal as side product.

'Tar burning' used to be one of the main export 'industries' of Finland during the sailing ships era, btw.

AKS

Subject: RE: Tervakello.
From: greg stephens
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 10:20 AM

Did that famous product Stockholm tar actually come from Finland and not Sweden, then?

Subject: RE: Tervakello (Finnish instrument)
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 06:56 PM

Thank you for posting the link. (You have to click on the first page to bring up a second, then pick a language.) I enjoyed hearing the music.

Subject: RE: Tervakello (Finnish instrument)
From: CarolC
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 07:05 PM

Very cool. Thanks for posting this.

Subject: RE: Tervakello (Finnish instrument)
From: AKS
Date: 28 Aug 04 - 05:01 PM

Yes, Greg, much of it did, especially before 1809, when Finland became part of Imperial Russia. 'Till then Stockholm - being the capital and times those of mercantilism - had pretty much like a monopoly of any trade in Sweden.

AKS