You may have heard modern examples of the kannel at the most recent Estonian Music Week, and the festival edition before that as well, played by Tuulikki Bartosik and Mari Kalkun respectively. Similarly, you might have seen folk duo Puuluup, Estonian Music Week veterans and Eurovision contestants, playing the talharpa, a bowed lyre. Estonian folk instruments have been experiencing a steady revival, perhaps based on their use by these major artists.
While investigating the kannel (among a number of zithers) played by Tuulikki Bartosik in particular, it came up that these folk instruments were created by an instrument maker by the name of Mihkel Soon, based in Võru County.
