When the past meets the present, and silence finds its voice. It is the echo of centuries — it is the kankles

 

Scope of Delivery

10-string kankles

Instrument case

Tuning key

Set of spare strings

Strap attachment loops

3 years warranty

Shipping included (within Europe / For delivery to third countries excl. Shipping; please contact by e-mail)

Technical Specifications

Material:

Body: Alder

Soundboard: Spruce

Other details: Redwood

Tuning pegs: Metal

 

Dimensions:

Length: 710 mm

Width: 180 mm

Weight: 0.95 kg

(Size, color, wood grain, and weight may vary slightly as instruments are handmade)

 

Tuning:

G#3 A#3 B3 C#4 D#4 E4 F#4 G#4 A#4 B4

 

String Diameters:

G#3 — 0.50 mm

A#3 — 0.45 mm

B3 — 0.45 mm

C#4 — 0.45 mm

D#4 — 0.40 mm

E4 — 0.35 mm

F#4 — 0.35 mm

G#4 — 0.30 mm

A#4 — 0.30 mm

B4 — 0.30 mm

Spare strings can be found here.

Tips & Tricks

You don’t need to read music or have experience playing other instruments to play the kankles! All you need is the instrument, tuning key, and a tuner.

How to Tune?

You will need the instrument, tuning key, and a tuner (either a physical device or a phone app like CarlTune on Google Play and App Store.).

Tune the first string to G#. Pluck the string and check the tuner. If the needle is flat (sound too low), slowly turn the tuning peg for the first string clockwise using the key. If the string is sharp (sound too high), turn the peg counterclockwise to loosen it. Once the needle points to G# and turns blue, it is in tune. Pay attention to the octave number next to the note name: it should be 3 (G#3).

The process is the same for the remaining strings:

2nd string → A#3

3rd string → B3

4th string → C#4

5th string → D#4

6th string → E4

7th string → F#4

8th string → G#4

9th string → A#4

10th string → B4

How to Hold?

Traditionally, the kankles is held vertically with the long side resting on the lap, or horizontally with the back plate on the lap. The strings face away from the player, with the wide side to the left. The right hand (fingers, fingernails, or a plectrum) plucks the strings, while the left hand mutes them.

Historical Information

Although the first written mention of the word “kanklės” appears in a 1580 Bible translation by Jonas Bretkūnas, the instrument’s history goes back thousands of years, as evidenced by related instruments: the Latvian kokle, Estonian kannel, Finnish kantele, and Slavic gusli.

Originally played in rural areas, the kankles gained popularity in urban communities in the early 20th century and became a symbol of Lithuanian national identity. Different ethnographic regions of Lithuania maintain their own distinct traditions of playing, differing in construction, technique, and repertoire.

Construction & Regional Features

Traditional kankles were carved from a single piece of wood, typically trapezoidal. Body woods include linden, alder, or maple; the soundboard is spruce or aspen. Strings are metal (steel or brass), though animal gut was used historically.

Three historical varieties exist:

• Northeastern Aukštaitija (4-5 strings): The most archaic type, used for solo performance of ancient polyphonic sutartinės songs.

• Northwestern Aukštaitija and Samogitia (9-12 strings): A more developed type for solo or ensemble playing.

• Suvalkija (11-12 strings): Characterized by a rounded, ornately decorated end.

Sacred Properties

In ancient times, the kankles played a crucial role in rituals and beliefs.

• Instrument of the Vaidilos (Priests): Legends say the Vaidilos accompanied themselves on the kankles while singing heroic deeds, making sacrifices, and performing sacred rites. Its sound was believed to ward off evil spirits and even death.

• Connection to Death: A belief held that the best wood came from a tree felled in a deep forest between someone’s death and funeral. If the deceased was deeply mourned, the instrument would have a “sorrowful, bitter voice.”

• Male Tradition: Crafting and playing the kankles was exclusively a male tradition for centuries, only shifting to women in the 20th century due to urbanization and the formation of kankles ensembles.