Ilmapuu lävel: Estonian National
Music Festival (Eesti Laulu)
Imagine a nation who has sung their way to independence, world status & world recognition! That nation is Eesti known more widely as Estonia.
Estonia's nationwide Song Festival tradition began with the first Song Festival held in Tartu, June 18 - 20, 1869. This came about due to the growing hobby of singing and wind-instrument playing in the early 18th century (in Kanepi, Põlva, Laiuse, Torma, Põltsamaa as well as in other locations & communities of Estonia). Common singing days were held where choirs gathered to sing in Anseküla (1863), in Jõhvi (1865), in Uulu (1867) just to list a few venues. In the 19th century, Estonia was a province of a Russian Empire where German upper-class landlords ruled the Estonian lower-class, the peasants. Singing was a endeavor of amusement for both classes.
1860 commences the beginning of the period called "The National Awakening." A singing society led by Johann Voldemar Jannsen began then carried through the idea of an Estonian national Song Festival. 51 male choirs along with brass bands with 845 singers/musicians gathered in Tartu. It must be noted that only 2 songs of Estonian origin were on the festval program that year. They were "Mu isamaa on minu arm" and "Sind surmani", music written by Aleksander Kunileid with the lyrics by Lydia Koidula.Historically the first Song Festival was not only a musical but also a political event. It was where the foundations to the national awakening program were planned & forme. It can be said that the Estonians' sense of belonging and dreaming of a better future are closely connected from the beginning with the All-Estonian Song Festivals. The term "the singing nation" expresses well Estonian national identity that united the nation in their struggle for their national independence until 1918 and then again after World War-2 during the period of the Soviet Occupation, from 1941 until 1991.
During the period from 1879 to 1910, 6 national Song Festivals were held. All of these fetsivals played an important role in the Estonia's cultural and economical growth as wellas their national awakening. In the independent Estonian Republic the Song Festivals were held in every 5 years from 1923 to 1938. After World War-2, the Song Festival tradition was revived again in 1947. Since 1950 General Song Festivals were held in every 5 years again. 1969 was an exception though when 100th anniversary of the Song Festival was celebrated. The last XXIII Song Festival was held in Tallinn, July 3-4, 1999.
Foreign authorities have tried to use the Song Festivals in their own interests. During the reign of the Russian czar Estonians were forced to hold Song Festivals in order to thank the czar. Under the Soviet regime these festivals were always tied to the "Red (Communist) holidays". Foreign songs were sung so that there was a chance to preserve songs of Estonian origin. An excellent example is "Mu isamaa on minu arm", music by Gustav Ernesaks, lyrics by Lydia Koidula. It was during the occupation years that this song became an unofficial anthem for Estonia. It was also the song which, performed by joined choirs to the standing audience, ended every Song Festival. The singers, musicians, conductors & composers with Gustav Ernesaks at the lead, became, in a way, the "representatives" of the nation embodying Estonia's best attempts.
In 1988, with the Song Festival as a role model, began the so called "singing revolution" when 100's of 1000's of people gathered in the Song Festival Grounds to make political demands & began to sing patriarchal songs. In Estonia there were 2 beliefs in the Estonian national conscience about the Song Festivals. The first, says that in 1869 a nameless country folk sang themselves into a European nation. The second, confirms that Estonians sang themselves their independence. The I, II, IV & V Song Festivals took place in Tartu, the others all in Tallinn. The present Song Festival Grounds beheld the first festival (IX Song Festival) in 1928, on a specially erected stage. The present stage was built in 1960, when the XV Song Festival took place. The largest joined-choir, of 24,500 people, is the largest that has ever appeared ona stage. This was during the Song Festival Anniversary in 1969. The joined-choir is usually comprised of 18.000 people, the whole Song Festival team is made up of some 25.000 to 30.000 people.
Asthe Song Festival tradition of has developed, different types of choirs have become more numerous along the number of participants/singers/musicians has growing in number as well. Always there are more performers than actually can fit the stage. Now because of pre-festival competitions, only the very best choirs get a chance to perform at a Song Festival.
If you truly love music, want a unique experience as well as a visit to abeauitful nation peopled by wonderful & friendly people go to Estonia for the festival!
Sources:
Carolus M. Saare, Tallinn-Eesti
Anna Musso, Ann Arbor-Michigan
http://www.laulupidu.ee
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estonian_Song_Festival
http://www.culture.ee
Copyright © 2008 Donald R Houston, PhD. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.
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Comments: 5
What is "real music"? I'm sure it's somewhere in the United States.