Recordings from the Estonian Folklore Archives 3

Jaan Rand

Jaan Rand, jew’s harp, accordion and psaltery player at a recording session in Tallinn in 1937. Photo by P. Parikas. ERA, Foto 789.

Jaan Rand (1878–1944) from the village of Kirbla in Kirbla Parish played the psaltery, jew’s harp and accordion. His playing was recorded by the National Radio in 1937. Jaan knew how to make psalteries as well as jew’s harps and in addition to farmwork he also cobbled, made saddles and cabinets. He had learned to play from his father and the other musicians in the vicinity. Jaan was a well-known and much sought after accordion player. He always carried the jew’s harp around with him in his pocket.