Title of Piece: Mu isamaa on minu arm
Performers: The people of Estonia, a choir of 30,000 and an audience of 300,000+
This video comes from Laulupidu 2009.
Culture or Origin: Estonia, 1869/1944
This particular piece of music has a fascinating history and connection to the Estonian culture. If ethnomusicologists study the connection between music and culture, this song would be at the heart of the study of Estonia. The text was written by Lydia Koidula and was chosen for the first Estonian Song Festival (or Laulupidu) in 1869. After the Soviet occupation of Estonia, the text was set to a new tune by Gustav Ernesaks (1944). It has been performed as the last song of the Laulupidu festival since 1947. This song, sung in Estonian, allowed the people of this nation to maintain their identity while under the control of the Soviet Union. It was an act of defiance of the USSR that occurred right under the noses of the Soviets. At the Laulupidu festival of 1988, the seeds of revolution were beginning to sprout, and this song gained even more meaning and signaled the end of Soviet control in the Baltics. Along with Latvia and Lithuania, Estonia participated in "The Singing Revolution" which was one of the more remarkable events in the break up of the USSR. Music became the tool of protest, and the Baltics declared their independence from the USSR in the summer of 1991.
Click here for the text and translation.
Click here for the text and translation.
Laulupidu takes place every 5 years, and the next one is scheduled for next week! July 4-6, 2014.
Incidentally, there is a wonderful documentary called "The Singing Revolution" that chronicles the changes that took place in Estonia during those few tumultuous years, and the role music played in the independence of the Baltic States. About 6 years ago my school was visited by a group of singers from around the world, including one Estonian. She told me about this documentary, and I immediately found it and watched it. It is available to rent on DVD from Netflix, and streams from time to time (not right now). I have included the trailer for the film for those who are interested.
