Recordings from the Estonian Folklore Archives 3

Oskar Visnapuu

Oskar Visnapuu with chord psaltery in 1965. Photo by R. Hansen. ERA, Foto 7520.

Oskar Visnapuu (1907–1972), a musician from Krootuse village, Kanepi parish, was visited during field expeditions in the region in autumn 1965, carried out for the purpose of preparing this anthology. Oskar was also known in the area for his instrument-making skills and as a recounter of tall tales. He himself accompanied the pieces he played on the leaf instrument and on a chord psaltery. Oskar had made himself a leaf instrument from some birch bark so he could play it in the winter as well. When he was young the usual material for making leaf instruments were aspen leaves.