The ancient sound of a jouhikko bowed lyre moves through both Renaissance palaces and Karelian huts, where the old religion still reigns, when jouhikko player Ilkka Heinonen combines ancient Karelian dance melodies and old music aesthetics with live electronics. The bowed lyre played by Heinonen toes the border between holy and earthly, with both rough and delicate sounds.

Ilkka Heinonen is a musician and composer from Helsinki who specialises in folk music and world music. His instruments are the jouhikko, double bass, violone and viola da gamba – and his passion is old music.

As one of the trailblazers of jouhikko bowed lyre playing, Heinonen has strived to expand the horizons of this instrument, drawing inspiration from sources such as European jazz, Renaissance music and Karelian jouhikko music.

In addition to bands inspired by European folk music cultures, Heinonen has also been a vocalist and an orchestra member in various concerts and projects of both contemporary and traditional music.

Ilkka Heinonen – jouhikko bowed lyres, live electronics, vocals