The Kalevala, Finland's national epic, was compiled by Elias Lönnrot from oral poetry that he collected in the early 19th century. While many written translations of the Kalevala are available, listening to the Kalevala is a great way to experience this collection of folklore, which was traditionally spoken. On this disc, Professor Börje Vähämäki first recites and then sings the prologue in Finnish, giving you an authentic feel for the flow and rhythms of the original language. He then reads runos 1-3 of Eino Friberg's celebrated English translation of the Kalevala. Whether you're an audiobook fan or just wondering how to pronounce those Finnish names, this disc is a great way to experience this important Finnish work!
Runos 1-3:
1. The Prologue in Finnish
2. The Prologue Sung in Finnish
3. The Creation
4. The Sowing
5. The Contention
Further verse of the Kalevala are available on The Kalevala, Runos 4-9, 2 Audio CD set.