We are fortunate to have in Toronto one of the world’s foremost traditional Estonian psaltery (rahvakannel) players. His name is Alfred Kuus, and at the age of 80 he is still playing and teaching his beloved kandle music. In Japan people with mastery of traditional cultural skills are designated as “living treasures”. Alfred Kuus should certainly be counted as such. He is well respected as a master musician in Estonia and the other Baltic states, receiving a standing ovation at his last concert in Latvia.
Unfortunately, he is not nearly as well known in Canada, and while his name is recognized within the Estonian community, very little is known about his life and musical skills, except by those who have been lucky enough to hear him play in concert. There is an urgent need to record his life and music to make this outstanding musician’s life work available to the broader community.
Many of the current generation of kannel players have been his students and/or played together with him. They have expressed concern that very little is known of his life and history. Tiit Kao, on behalf of these kannel players approached Reet Mae (also one of Alfred’s students) to ask if she would consider making a videotape of Alfred Kuus’ accomplishments.
Reet approached her brother, Tom Mae, of Mae productions, to ask for his help. Reet, Tom and Tiit worked together to develop the idea for a Kannel Project, which would begin with a videotape of Alfred Kuus’ life, and then a concert videotape/CD set, to record his music for posterity. Together, they approached the Estonian Ethnographic Society of Canada (EERK) to ask for their support and collaboration in bringing this project into being. Now, thanks to the “seed” funding support of the Eesti Sihtkapital Kanadas (National Estonian Foundation of Canada) the first part of this project, the videotape of Alfred Kuus’ life, is underway.
It is hoped that enough support will come forward to enable both the videotape of his life to be completed and to also make a tape and CD of his playing. This will enable future kannel players to observe his technique as well as make his music available in a professional format.
At the same time, it is hoped that people who have known and/or played with Alfred and might have pictures, videos, or films of his playing might come forward so that the project will have as complete a picture as possible of his life. We know that he played for folk dance groups in England, and even toured with them, as well as playing for folk dance groups in Canada. Apparently, two records of his playing were made in Sweden quite some time ago. If anyone has materials abot his work in Estonia or abroad, or would like to be interviewed, or allow their material to be included in the video, please contact Reet Mae at or by telephone at (416) 694-2709.
If you would like to support the project financially it is possible to send donations to the Sihtkapital and designate them for use on the kannel project. This will ensure that your charitable, tax-deductible donations will enable the project to be completed. Following this, the Kannel Project plans to record the life and work of current Estonian folk musicians such as Tiit Kao, who is teaching 6 string kannel as part of the EERK programs this winter. it is to be hoped that the Estonian community will find the Kannel Project worthwhile and throw its support behind it.
In addition to the start of the video project a recently discovered historical reel-to-reel tape of Alfred Kuus playing the kannel is being digitally remastered and should be available soon on CD. This means that a second Canadian produced CD of Estonian folk music will soon be available, in addition to Tiit Kaso’s “Ennem oli”, a recording of “Balto-Finnic” music combining kannel, oboe, fiddle, and whistles, with vocals. The Kuus remastered tape was produced in ngland in the 1950’s with Toomas Metsala, for use in teaching folk dance classes. Those interested in obtaining these CDs may contact Reet Mae at the numbers listed above, or Tiit Kao directly at kao@goldennet
Those working on the Kannel Project would like to extend their thanks to the Board of Directors of both the Eesti Sihtkapital Kanadas and the EERK for having the vision and enthusiasm to support the making of the first videotape, which we hope to continue as a series that will record for posterity the history and beauty of Estonian folk music, and of those who are playing it. We hope that others in the Estonian community will share this enthusiasm and look forward to being able to compete the entire series as support and funding allows.
Alfred Kuus: Bringing Canada’s hidden treasure to light
Archived Articles | 18 Mar 2003 | EL (Estonian Life)EWR
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