http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KalevalaThe Kalevala is an epic poem which Elias Lönnrot in the 19th century said that he had compiled from Finnish folk sources. It is commonly called the Finnish national epic and is one of the most significant works of Finnish-language literature. The Kalevala is credited with inspiring the nationalism that ultimately led to Finnish independence from Russia in 1917. The name means "land of Kaleva". The text of the Kalevala consists of 22,795 verses, divided into 50 poems or chapters (finnish runot, singular runo, from Germanic rune).
The Kalevala is a Finnish epic poem that was compiled and written by Elias Lönnrot in the 19th century. It is considered one of the most significant works of Finnish literature and is based on oral folklore and mythology.
The Kalevala was originally recited by traditional Finnish singers known as "runo singers" or "kantele players". Today, there are only a few people alive who have the ability to recite the entire poem from memory.
Reciting the Kalevala requires a vast amount of knowledge and skill, as the poem consists of over 22,000 verses. It also demonstrates a deep connection to Finnish culture and tradition.
The Kalevala was passed down through generations of oral tradition, with runo singers memorizing and reciting the poem in its entirety. It was not until Lönnrot wrote it down that it became widely known and accessible.
Yes, there are recordings of the Kalevala being recited by modern runo singers. However, these are rare and not widely available. The best way to experience the poem is through live performances by skilled reciters.