Folk music repertoire
Opening song
Arrangement by the creative team of the 2025 Folk Music Celebration. Soloists: Cätlin Mägi, Evelin Leima, Helin Pihlap, Kadri Lepasson, Kert Krüsban, Liisa Koemets, Raul Markus Vaiksoo, Regina Mänd, Tanel Sakrits & Tuule Pihlap
This arrangement interweaves seven foot-tapping tunes from all over Estonia.
‘The Tale of the Bagpipe’ was written between 1921 and 1923 based on a song sung by Joosep Tuust (1908-1976) on the island of Muhu.
The second number was played on violins by Otto Hiiop (1865-1950) and Kristjan Joakit (1863-1942) from Urvaste parish in a 1936 archive recording.
‘The Game’ was recorded in 1903 based on a piece played by Hans Rönnkvist (1840-1906) on the island of Vormsi.
In a 1937 archive recording of the fourth piece, ‘Aamer August’, Hendrik Adamson (1879-1958) from Vändra parish played the violin.
‘Mustjala Foot’ was played on the bagpipes by Jaan Piht (1875-1950) from Mustjala parish in a 1936 archive recording.
“The Karula Man’s Honey Bread” was published in 1904 in the ‘Foot Waltzes for Violin’ collection of Tõnis Allikas (1878-1911).
The final tune was recorded in 1929 based on a piece played by Jüri Tiits (1851-1930) in Vigala parish.
FIDDLES
The Shepherding Song
Arrangement by Kärt Tambet (1999)
Woven into this arrangement are shepherds’ calls from a 1937 archive recording as performed by Kadri Asu (1870-?) from Kolga-Jaani parish, and “The Song of the Billy-Goat’s Horn” recorded in a 1936 archive recording as played by Otto Hiiop (1865-1950) from Urvaste parish.
Seven
Arrangement by Karoliina Kreintaal (1988)
Soloists: ensemble Ruhnu Island Songs and Stories consisting of Kairi Leivo, Karoliina Kreintaal, Lee Taul (1992) & Sänni Noormets (1990)
This arrangement intertwines the well-known dance tune ‘1-2-3-4-5-6-7’ and the song ‘Ett, tu, tre’, which was played by Ruhnu violinist Elias Schönberg (1861-1943) in a 1938 Swedish archive recording. The first of the four verses was sung by Aliise Näälik (1886-?) from Kaarma parish in a 1960 archive recording. The second verse was published in 1996 by Eda Aus (1954) in Music for Babies. The third verse was penned in Nõmme in Tallinn in 1922 based on a song by Helga Õun (1911-1999). The final verse was written in 2023 by Kairi Leivo (1971).
Pull George
Arrangement by the duo Mann & Juula a.k.a. Juuli Kõrre (2003) & Maria Mänd (2003)
This arrangement is based on the song ‘Pull George’, which was played on the violin by Jakob Pärn (1882-?) from Tori parish in a 1963 archive recording.
Something for the Journey
Composed by Regina Mänd in 2020
Arrangement by Regina Mänd
KANNELS
Any Given Summer
Composed by Aia Rikka (2003) in 2020
Arrangement by Kadri Lepasson
Latvian Rumba & Finnish Polka
Arrangement by Kadri Lepasson
Soloists: Aivar Arak & Martin Arak
This arrangement weaves together ‘Those Beautiful Days’ a.k.a. ‘Latvian Rumba’ from the repertoire of Aivar Arak (1959), played by Osvald Rossmann (1930-1983), and ‘Finnish Polka’, a well-known folk tune from Finland, from the repertoire of Martin Arak (1986).
Trot
Arrangement by Kadri Lepasson
This arrangement is based on a tune of the same name played on a kannel by Jaak Kõdar (1888-1976) from Halliste parish in a 1961 archive recording.
Theodor Marjak’s polkas
Arrangement by Ott Kaasik (1969)
Intertwined in this arrangement are the songs ‘Maie from Peetsu Farm Has Lots of Stuff’ and ‘Wedding Polka’ as played on the kannel by Theodor Marjak (1900(?)-?) from Rõuge parish in a 1957 archive recording.
BAGPIPES
Jakob Ratsov’s wedding music
Arrangement by Merike Paberits (1988)
This arrangement is based on a piece played on the bagpipes by Jakob Ratsov (1831-1923) from Kuusalu parish in a 1913 archive recording.
Cross Dance
Arrangement by Cätlin Mägi
This arrangement intertwines a tune of the same name played on the bagpipes by Jaan Piht (1875-1950) from Mustjala parish in a 1936 archive recording with a song recorded in 1911 based on a piece sung by Liisa Rentel (1856-1928) from Peetri parish.
Tori Pipes
Arrangement by Kaisa Kuslapuu (1995)
This arrangement is based on a folk tune played on the violin by Mihkel Toom (1873-1958) and Mart Jantson (1872-1948) from Tori parish in a 1936 archive recording.
Kolka Polka
Composed by Lauri Õunapuu (1976)
Arrangement by Lauri Õunapuu & Cätlin Mägi
Soloist: Lauri Õunapuu
This song was written for the 2025 Folk Music Celebration in 2023.
TALHARPAS
Mart Kaasen’s folk tunes
Arrangement by Sänni Noormets (1990)
This arrangement combines the songs ‘The Wolf on the Other Side of the Bog’ and ‘Western Waltz’, originating from Lääne-Nigula parish and played on the talharpa by Mart Kaasen (1869-1955) in a 1936 archive recording, with a folk tune whose lyrics were recorded in 1937 based on a song by Mart Reitel (1866-?) and whose melody was written by Sänni Noormets in 2023.
Den brinnande
Arrangement by Liisa Koemets
This arrangement is based on a piece of the same name which was likely played on a talharpa by Hans Kristiansson Ek (1835-1893) on the island of Vormsi. Swedish musician Styrbjörn Bergelt (1939-2006) unveiled the song in an interview with Sörmlandslaten in 1982.
The Haystalk
Composed by Marko Veisson (1976) & Ramo Teder (1970)
Arrangement by Liisa Koemets
Soloists: Puuluup a.k.a. Marko Veisson & Ramo Teder
Tribidansin
Arrangement by Liisa Koemets
This arrangement combines the song of the same name from the island of Vormsi, recorded in 1903 as played by Hans Rönnkvist (1840-1906), with ‘Tribedansen’ sung by Lars Pilmann (1877-1964).
ESTONIAN DIATONIC ACCORDIONS
Evening Waltz
Composed by Kristi Kool (1992) in 2019
Arrangement by Kristi Kool
Off to the Hayfield We Go
Arrangement by Kert Krüsban
Soloists: Martin Müller & Asso Int (1986)
This arrangement is based on a song of the same name from the repertoire of Martin Müller (1988) which was sung by his grandmother Hella Tõevere (1912-2006) from Viru-Nigula parish, with lyrics by Aadu Jaakson (1860-1906).
Lääne County Folk
Arrangement by Natali Ponetajev (2000)
This arrangement includes a folk waltz played on the accordion by Jüri Loring (1886/7-?) from Vigala parish in a 1929 archive recording, “The Old Man from Hiiumaa’s Peasant Shoe Waltz” as played on the accordion in 1938 by Priidu Maritov (1870-1941) from Kullamaa parish and another folk waltz played on the accordion in 1929 by Jaan Sarapuu (1862-?) from Kirbla parish.
Polkas in the style of Tähevälja Kapell
Arrangement by Kert Krüsban
Intertwined here are the songs ‘Adra Sauna’, ‘The Trullallaa Polka’ and “Teppo’s Polka” by the band Tähevälja Kapell from Puhja as played in Pilistvere parish in 1973(?) by Elmar Täheväli (violin, 1908-1984), Laine Täheväli (mandobass, 1923-2000), Oskar Märtson (accordion, 1909-1998), Alma Märtson (kannel, 1915-1999) and Endel Koppel (domra, 1926-1995).
MANDOLINS
Põltsamaa Waltz
Arrangement by Hans Mihkel Vares (1992)
Soloists: Leaders of Estonia’s mandolin orchestras Ilmar Kald (1974), Jaanus Põlder (1971), Joosep Sang (1971) & Joonas Tuuling (1964)
This arrangement is based on ‘Waltzer’, which was recorded at an unknown time by an unknown person from Põltsamaa parish. ‘Waltzer’ and a number of other songs collected by Peet Käär (1860-1916) were rewritten by then Hugo Treffner Gymnasium student Oskar Lõvi (1892-1977).
Musu’s Mishap (vengerka)
Arrangement by Tanel Sakrits
This arrangement combines the widely known dance tune style of the vengerka with lyrics written by Mihkel Neumann (1866-1941) and published in New Joke Song Compendium: Selected Songs and Verses Poking Fun and Playing for Laughs in 1908.
Quicksticks Polka
Composed by Valdur Lehtla (1946) in 1979
Arrangement by Sten Aamer (1996)
Morning Rheinländer
Composed by Kristjan Kuusmik (1996) in 2016
Arrangement by Kristjan Kuusmik
GARMONS
Anniaru Rheinländer
Composed by Piret Aus (1971) in 2021
Arrangement by Piret Aus
Soloist: Piret Aus
Party!
Arrangement by general conductor’s assistant Tuule Pihlap (2003)
This arrangement includes five pieces of accordion music from the Setomaa region. Among them, the traditional kargus, performed here in a version devised by general conductor Evelin Leima, was played by Ivan Vahelaan (1913-1997). “Boy’s Quadrille” was played by Paul Rahasepp (1911-?) in a 1979 archive recording. ‘Village Dance’ was played by Aleksei Oroperv (1912-2004) from Setomaa in a 1984 archive recording. The traditional kasatsk was published in Kalju Tero: The Seto King’s Musician in 2009, played by Tero himself (1932-2011).
For the Garmon
Composed by Jalmar Vabarna (1987) in 2006
Arrangement by Arno Tamm (1985)
When as a Child Playing in the Meadow
Arrangement by Evelin Leima
This arrangement is based on a well-known folk tune. The lyrics were published in I Love Songs 1 in 1940.
COMBINED ORCHESTRA
A Stretch of the Wings
Composed by Koidu Ahk (1972) in 2023
Arrangement by Koidu Ahk
Soloist: Maimu Jõgeda (1993)
To the Wedding Venue
Arrangement by Maatasa Folklore Club
This arrangement is based on the song ‘In the Morning, When I Took You There’, sung in Tallinn in 1967 by Helene Kukk (1894-1969) from Sangaste.
Peter from Woki Farm’s Foot
Arrangement by Helin Pihlap
This arrangement is based on the song “Peter from Woki Farm in Leerimetsa’s Foot”, which was recorded as played on the harmonica by Jüri Koiv (?) in Reigi parish in 1905.
Peter’s Polka
Arrangement by Tarmo Kivisilla (1972)
This arrangement is based on a song of the same name played on the violin in a 1938 archive recording by Hindrek Pukk (1875-?) from Saarde parish.
Closing song
Soloist: Meelika Hainsoo
This arrangement combines a tune from Kodavere parish that was recorded in 1905, based on a song sung by Kristjan Sepp (?), with lyrics from Haljala parish recorded as part of a collection effort lasting from 1892-1894, based on a song sung by Eeva Kasik (?).