Timo Väänänen
Lahti, Central Finland, Finland | SELF
Music
Press
This band has no press
Discography
Sulavainen, Debut album of Suunta ensemble (2009, Maanite)
Ensiferum Heavy Metal Band: From Afar, guest musician, (2007, Spinefarm Records)
Kantele Continuum, featured musician in a compilation, (2008, Inkoon Musiikki)
De Fragilitate, medieval music from Finland, Zefiro Torna Ensemble, Timo Väänänen & Antwerp Cathedral Choir (2007, Klara)
Lelo – a Voyage to the Finno Ugric World, Finnish Mordvian Ensemble Lelo, (2007, Maanite)
Ensiferum Heavy Metal Band: Victory Songs, guest musician, (2007, Spinefarm Records)
Musiikkia, solo album with the electric kantele, (2005 Maanite)
Taith, Now & Then, Finnish Welsh trio (2005, Taith Records)
Simon Ho, featured musician, (2005, faze)
Chronicles of Narnia: Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe, featured musician and soloist in the movie soundtrack album and concert version in Denver with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, (2005–2007, Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Walt Disney Pictures & Walden Media)
Puinen Sydän – Wooden Heart, folk music trio: Toivo Alaspää, Matti Kontio & Timo Väänänen, (2006, Inkoon Musiikki)
Äänikuvia – Soundscapes, Anna-Kaisa Liedes (voc), Timo Väänänen (kantele) & Abdissa Assefa (perc), (2005, AKCD)
Utua, featured musician, (2003, Texicalli)
Viileri, solo album and multimedia, (1999, Warner Music, Finlandia Records, Innovator)
Matka – Voyage, solo album (2001, Ondine)
Sonata for Kantele, compositions by Martti Pokela, (1995, Warner Music, Finlandia Records)
Snow Kantele, compositions by Martti Pokela (1997, Warner Music, Finlandia Records, Innovator)
Beautiful Things, Loituma Ensemble (1995, Kansanmusiikki-instituutti, Finland / 1998 NorthSide, USA)
In the Moonshine, Loituma Ensemble (1998, Kansanmusiikki-instituutti, Finland / 1999 NorthSide, USA)
Toivo Alaspää: Mestari ja kisällit, featured musician, producer and recording engineer, (2000, Kansanmusiikki-instituutti, Finland)
Photos
Bio
Mr. Timo Väänänen plays various types of kantele, the Finnish national instrument. He plays both traditional and new music with his instruments. In recent years he has been making new music with the uniquely modern electric kantele which has a solid wooden body instead of a sound box. It incorporates a built-in microphone and is played on a matchingly futuristic table. His third solo CD 'Musiikkia' has been released in the end of 2005. Like the previous one, 'Matka - Voyage' from 2001, it is played with the electric kantele.
Among his many distinctions, Timo Väänänen was awarded first prize in the Finnish Kantele Society's national competition for kantele duos in 1993. In 1995 he won first prize in the same competition for soloists and in 1997 he was chosen the Young Artist of the Year by the Finland Festivals organisation. In addition to concerts in Finland he has performed abroad at least in Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Sweden, USA and Wales. In 2005, he played as a featured musician in the Disney film 'The tales of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.'
Väänänen is a member of Loituma, Matara, A' tre and Taith ensembles and a part time teacher at the Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department in Helsinki, where he is also studying for his artistic doctoral degree. In addition to other musicians, Timo often works with director and dancer Päivi Järvinen.
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