The Key to the Kalevala

The Key to the Kalevala
Author: Pekka Ervast
Publisher: Blue Dolphin Publishing
Total Pages: 312
Release: 1999
Genre: History
ISBN:

The Key to the Kalevala was originally published in Finland in 1916. Now this insightful and detailed exploration of the ancient origins of Finnish mythology is available in English. Students of the ancient traditions and mystical teachings will find no better introduction to the profound esoteric meaning of the Kalevala, the Finnish National Epic, than Ervast's book. This translation is authorized by Ervast's study-school in Finland, whose members have worked to preserve his insights into his culture's past and the spiritual evolution of humanity. We also have the good fortune of being able to use Eino Friberg's beautiful translation of Kalevala (1988) into the modern American idiom. The combined work of Ervast and Friberg results in a unique, insightful, and aesthetically pleasing offering.

Kalevala Mythology, Revised Edition

Kalevala Mythology, Revised Edition
Author: Juha Y. Pentikainen
Publisher: Indiana University Press
Total Pages: 322
Release: 1999-09-22
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 9780253213525

It was the Kalevala that initiated the process leading to the foundation of Finnish identity during the nineteenth century and was, therefore, one of the crucial factors in the formation of Finland as a new nation in the twentieth century.

The Kalevala

The Kalevala
Author: Elias Lönnrot
Publisher: Harvard University Press
Total Pages: 452
Release: 1963
Genre: Education
ISBN: 9780674500105

This prose translation of Finland's national folk epic vividly recounts the folkways of Kaeol-Finnish peasant life.

The Kalevala

The Kalevala
Author: George C. Schoolfield
Publisher: University of Illinois Press
Total Pages: 450
Release: 1988
Genre: Poetry
ISBN: 9789511101376

Tolkien and the Kalevala

Tolkien and the Kalevala
Author: Jyrki Korpua
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Total Pages: 129
Release: 2024-08-19
Genre: Literary Criticism
ISBN: 1040151612

This book explores J. R. R. Tolkien’s unique and warm relationship to the Kalevala, a poem usually hailed as the Finnish and Karelian national epic, compiled, edited and partly revisioned from older folk poetry by Finnish scholar Elias Lönnrot in the 19th century. J. R. R. Tolkien, an Oxford academic and the greatest author of the 20th-century fantasy, creator of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, was fascinated from early on by the Kalevala. Tolkien himself described the Kalevala as “a germ” of his fantasy fiction.

Ilmatar's Inspirations

Ilmatar's Inspirations
Author: Tina K. Ramnarine
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Total Pages: 285
Release: 2003-08
Genre: Music
ISBN: 0226704033

Ilmatar gave birth to the bard who sang the Finnish landscape into being in the Kalevala (the Finnish national epic). In Ilmatar's Inspirations, Tina K. Ramnarine explores creative processes and the critical role that music has played in Finnish nationalism by focusing on Finnish "new folk music" in the shifting spaces between the national imagination and the global marketplace. Through extensive interviews and observations of performances, Ramnarine reveals how new folk musicians think and talk about past and present folk music practices, the role of folk music in the representation of national identity, and the interactions of Finnish folk musicians with performers from around the globe. She focuses especially on two internationally successful groups—JPP, a group that plays fiddle dance music, and Värttinä, an ensemble that highlights women's vocal traditions. Analyzing the multilayered processes—musical, institutional, political, and commercial—that have shaped and are shaped by new folk music in Finland, Ramnarine gives us an entirely new understanding of the connections between music, place, and identity.

Finnish Magic

Finnish Magic
Author: Robert E. Nelson
Publisher: Llewellyn Publications
Total Pages: 0
Release: 1999
Genre: Finns
ISBN: 9781567184891

Shamanism is the oldest form of spirituality and magic on earth. In Finland, shamanism is the source of their system of magick. Now you can learn their system in Finnish Magic by Robert Nelson, Ph.D. In this book you will discover the ancient national epic of Finland known as the Kalevala. This book involves the search for magical power and is "the single greatest influence on the formation and definition of modern Finland" according to the author. Finnish Magic describes the ancient Finnish beliefs about deities and spirits. You'll learn about the primary Finnish deity, Jumala, and how the Finns also adopted some of the Norse deities. Also described is the notion that everything has a spirit, followed by a discussion of how those spirits are different from each other. Next, Finnish Magic goes into the methods of shamanism and Finnish magic. This is one of the best explanations of shamanic practices ever published. You will learn about the nature of the shamanic trance and the steps you need to follow: - How to go enter a trance - How to begin your shamanic trance journey - How to contact your guides - What to do when you contact your guides - What your guides will do and how to follow them - How to return from your journey - How to leave the trance All of these are guidelines. Dr. Nelson reveals that the key to Finnish magic is contained in three words: "Do what works." You will learn how to add spontaneity to your rituals. You will also learn about using drums, song, and dance to make your magic work. Other topics include shapeshifting, the runes, charms, talismans, amulets, the Finnish festivals of the year and how they are celebrated, how to honor ancestors, and much more. If you are interested in shamanism, in Finland, or just ways to enhance your magical abilities, this book must be one you study.

Jean Sibelius

Jean Sibelius
Author: Daniel M. Grimley
Publisher: Reaktion Books
Total Pages: 249
Release: 2025-03-15
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 1789144663

An illuminating investigation into the interdisciplinary impact of the beloved modern classical composer. Few composers have enjoyed such critical acclaim—or longevity—as Jean Sibelius, who died in 1957 aged ninety-one. Always more than simply a Finnish national figure, an “apparition from the woods” as he ironically described himself, Sibelius’s life spanned turbulent and tumultuous events, and his work is central to the story of late-nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century music. This book situates Sibelius within a rich interdisciplinary environment, paying attention to his relationship with architecture, literature, politics, and the visual arts. Drawing on the latest developments in Sibelius research, it is intended as an accessible and rewarding introduction for the general reader, and it also offers a fresh and provocative interpretation for those more familiar with his music.

The Keys of Middle-earth

The Keys of Middle-earth
Author: Stuart Lee
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 387
Release: 2016-04-30
Genre: Literary Criticism
ISBN: 1137454709

A comprehensive introduction to the medieval languages and texts that inspired Tolkien's Middle-earth. Using key episodes in The Silmarillion , The Hobbit , and The Lord of the Rings , medieval texts are presented in their original language with translations. Essential for those who wish to delve deeper into the background to Tolkien's mythology.