Kajto (pronounced /ˈkai̯to/) is a musical group from the Dutch province of Friesland performing acoustic folk music and balfolk in Esperanto drawing from the Frisian musical traditions of sea shanties, rounds and dances. Many of their songs are musical settings of Esperanto poetry, including works by Poul Thorsen, William Auld and Julio Baghy.[1]

Kajto
Kajto performing
From left to right: Ankie van der Meer, Marian Nesse, Marita Kruijswijk (not shown: Nanne Kalma)
Background information
Also known asKat yn 't Seil
OriginFriesland, Netherlands
GenresEsperanto folk music, maritime music, balfolk
Years active1988 (1988)–present
LabelsVinilkosmo
MembersNanne Kalma [fy]
Ankie van der Meer
Past membersMarita Kruijswijk
Marian Nesse

Kajto (meaning "kite" in Esperanto)[2] was the name adopted by the Frisian folk group Kat yn 't Seil in 1988 for their performances of Esperanto material. For most of their history Kat yn 't Seil and Kajto were identical ensembles performing different repertoires under different names.[1]

The group has performed extensively at Esperanto conventions and events, mostly in Europe, but also in North America and Australia, and released five albums on the label Vinilkosmo as a quartet and one as a duo.[1][3][4] They have been described as one of the best known pop-folk groups in the Esperanto-speaking community, or Esperantujo, and have been praised for their tight arrangements.[5][6][7] In 2004 the group was honored with the Franz Alois Meiners Culture Award (FAME Kulturpremio), which carries considerable prestige within the Esperanto community.[8][9]

Until about 2007, Kajto consisted of the following members:

  • Nanne Kalma [fy] (voice, guitar, mandolin, harmonica, violin)
  • Marita Kruijswijk (voice, shawm, recorder)
  • Ankie van der Meer (voice, guitar, banjo)
  • Marian Nesse (voice, accordion)

The group no longer performs as a quartet; however, Nanne Kalma and Ankie van der Meer continue to perform under the name Kajto as a duo.[1]

Former Kajto members Marita Kruijswijk and Marian Nesse have formed a new Esperanto folk group, Kapriol'! with Rutger Dijkstra and Ad Bos. Kapriol'! continues to perform some material from the repertoire of the original Kajto quartet.[10]

Discography

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  • Kajto (1989) "Kite"
  • Procesio Multkolora (1991) "Colorful Procession"
  • Tohuvabohuo (1993) "Tohu wa Bohu"
  • Masko (1999) "Mask"
  • Lokomotivo Rulu Nun! (2004) "Now, Locomotive, Run!"
  • Duopo (2011) "A Pair"

The song "Ansero – Vanelo" was included in the compilation Vinilkosmo kompil' 1 (1995).

The album Masko was included in Vinilkosmo's Kolekto 2000.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Kalma, Nanne; van der Meer, Ankie. "Kajto Esperanto" (in Dutch and Esperanto). Retrieved 14 Dec 2011.
  2. ^ The Esperanto word kajto is taken from the English word "kite" and pronounced approximately "kite-o".
  3. ^ Kruijswijk, Marita; Nesse, Marian. "Discography and Festivals" (in Dutch and English). Retrieved 17 Dec 2011.
  4. ^ Kalma, Nanne; van der Meer, Ankie. "De Catacomben" (in Dutch). Retrieved 17 Dec 2011.
  5. ^ Corsetti, Renato (27 July 1999), "Komuniko al la esperantistoj de EUROKKA kaj UEA", Nova Sento in Rete (in Esperanto), vol. 78, Itala Esperantista Junularo, retrieved 17 Dec 2011
  6. ^ Kunar, DJ, quoted in "Kaj Tiel Plu – Recenzoj" (in Esperanto). Associació Catalana d’Esperanto. originally published in Esperanto aktuell (Germana Esperanto-Asocio) (2/01), March 2001:

    Kvalite ilia muziko estas komparebla al tiu de la plej famaj Esperanto-muzikgrupoj Persone kaj Kajto.

    In its level of quality, [Kaj Tiel Plu's] music is comparable to that of the most famous Esperanto music groups, Persone and Kajto.

  7. ^ Gibbons, Danjelo (Dec 1999), "Kajto flugas denove", Monato (in Esperanto), vol. 23, Flandra Esperanto-Ligo, retrieved 17 Dec 2011:

    La etoso estas popola, sed la muziko ne ĉiam estas simpla. La kantoj estas zorge kaj strikte aranĝitaj, kaj ĉie evidentas la profesieco de la grupo. ... ĉu alia bando en Esperantujo kuraĝus tiel harmoniumi en rapidaj seppulsaj mezuroj?

    The vibe is folky, but the music is not always simple. The songs are carefully and tightly arranged, and everywhere the group's musicianship is evident. ... Would any other band in Esperanto-land have the guts to harmonize like that in fast seven-beat measures?

  8. ^ Kniivilä, Kalle (2004-04-27). "Kajto ricevis prestiĝan premion" (in Esperanto). Libera Folio. Retrieved 14 Dec 2011.
  9. ^ "Culture award of the city Aalen". FAME Foundation. Retrieved 14 Dec 2011.
  10. ^ Kruijswijk, Marita; Nesse, Marian. "Kapriol'!" (in Dutch and Esperanto). Retrieved 17 Dec 2011.
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