Who Will Represent Estonia at the Eurovision Song Contest this Year?

Kõrsikud, Lenna Head for Eesti Laul Final

Super Hot Cosmos Blues Band (Üle Josing)

The annual Eesti Laul competition began on Friday, with the first five finalists picked. The eventual winner, to be decided on March 1, will travel to Copenhagen, Denmark, for the Eurovision song contest at the beginning of May.

Ten songs competed for five spots in the final, to be held in two weeks time. Another five songs will qualify for the final from the second semi-final next Friday.

Friday's songs were (winners in bold):

1. “Amazing” by Tanja. Authors: Timo Vendt, Tatjana Mihhailova, listen here
2. “Flame” by the Titles. Authors: Rasmus Lill, Markus Rafael Nylund, listen here
3. “Resignal” by Wilhelm. Author: Lauri Kadalipp, listen here
4. “Solina” by State of Zoe. Authors: Anneliis Kits, Sander Mölder, listen here
5. “Sandra” by NimmerSchmidt. Authors: Fredy Schmidt, Andero Nimmer, Merilyn Merisalu, listenhere
6. “Maailm on hull” (The World is Crazy) by VÖÖRAD. Authors: Priit Uustulnd, Meiko Umal, listenhere
7. “Maybe-Maybe” by Super Hot Cosmos Blues Band. Authors: Mati Sütt, Janno Reim, listen here
8. “Kus on EXIT?” (Where's the EXIT?) by August Hunt. Author: August Hunt, listen here
9. “Tule ja jää” (Come and Stay) by Kõrsikud. Author: Kõrsikud, listen here
10. “Supernoova” (Supernova) by Lenna. Author: Mihkel Raud, listen here

The main page on Eesti Laul (in Estonian) can be found here.

Sõbrapäev - Valentine's Day (The Estonian Way!)

Valentine's Day is celebrated a little bit differently in Estonia. While it can be celebrated romantically between couples, it's mainly a celebration of love and friendship between family and friends. Children make cards and gifts for those they care about and adults exchange gifts too. It's a really nice way to celebrate this ocassion so that everyone is included and made to feel special.

Translation - "Thanks for great friends"

Estonia at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi

It was great seeing the Blue, Black and White Estonian flag raised high with pride at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Sochi on Friday night. A total of 25 Estonian athletes are completing at the games including Amercian born Warren Cummings Smith. It's great to see Estonians come together and unite in the spirit of sport. Hopefully they will have a medal on the tally soon!

The Origins of the Estonia Society & Estonian Song Festival

I was given some very interesting information this morning. I discovered that my 4th great uncle Johannes Carl Assmuth (1845-1916) was one of the founding members of the Estonia Society which later led to the growth of the Estonian Song Festival.

How did this all come about? I will explain.

On the 7th of October 1865 merchant Johann Trummer invited some of his friends around to his house in Viru Street for a meeting.  Among them was my great uncle who was the Sacristan and cantor of St. John's Church (Jaani Kirik) on Vabaduse Väljak.  (My great uncle later married one of Trummer's daughters.)

During the meeting it was discussed that there were no Estonian music societies in existence - they were all German. They then decided to form their own society for Estonian people and on the 10th of October 1865 the "Estonia Society" was born. Johann Trummer was elected the first society president and Johannes Assmuth was one it's first members. Both men were well respected in the community and played an integral part in Estonia's National Awakening.

Whilst working for the church Johannes Assmuth gained a lot of experience organising singing concerts; he was the head of the men's choir at St. John's and took part in other singing events in Tallinn. In 1869 when he heard the news that the 1st Song Festival was going to take place in Tartu, he pursuaded the Estonia Scoiety to send their choir. There was no railway at the time so the journey to Tartu took four days using borrowed horse wagons. The trip was well worth it for the choir won first place!

In 1880 the 3rd Estonian Song Festival took place in Tallinn. Johannes Assmuth, along with several other Estonia Society members became organsing committee members of the festival.

The Estonia Society steadily grew in popularity and in 1913 they built the Estonia Theatre which is an opera house and concert hall. At the time it was built, it was the largest building in Tallinn.

Today, the Estonian National Opera House is an epicentre of culture. Last year it celebrated its 100th birthday. To mark the occasion many indoor and outdoor music events took place as well as open days that allowed the general public to wander around the building, go back stage and try on costumes etc. I attended one of these open days last September and discovered just how beautiful this building is.

 

On display was a miniture version of the Estonian National Opera House made completely from marzipan.

Estonian Music Awards 2014 - The Winners

Congratulations to all the winners at this year's Estonian Music Awards. Kõrsikud won Best Band, Birgit Õigemeel, who represented Estonia at last year's Eurovision Song Contest won Best Female Artist and Lenna was awarded Best Album.

The complete list of 2014 winners:

Best Album – Lenna “Teine”

Best Band – Kõrsikud “Heli jälgedes”

Best Debut Album – Facelift Deer “Facelift Deer”

Best Male Artist – Leslie Da Bass “Times New Roman”

Best Female Artist – Birgit Õigemeel “Uus algus”

Best Ethno/Folk Album – Zetod “Lätsi kõrtsu”

Best Classical Music Album – Vivit! “Max Regeri ja Rudolf Tobiase koorimuusika”

Best Jazz Album – Hedvig Hanson “Esmahetked”

Best Electronica Album – Leslie Da Bass “Times New Roman”

Best Alternative/Indie Album – Kali Briis “Say Whaat?”

Best Metal Album – Talbot “Scaled”

Best Rock Album – Facelift Deer “Facelift Deer”

Best Pop Album – HU? “Bermuda”

Best Hip-Hop/Rap/R'n'b Album – Põhja-Tallinn “Maailm meid saadab”

Best Music Video – Iiris “Tigerhead”

Best Album Design – Pastacas “Yaki-Läki”

Best Folksy Album – Kõrsikud “Sinu südames”

Best Song – Winny Puhh “Meiecundimees üks Korsakov läks eile Lätti”

Contribution to Estonian Music Award – Anne Veski

Friedrich Kreutzwald - The Father of Estonian Literature

A few weeks ago I made the interesting discovery that the famous Estonian writer Friedrich Kreutzwald is in my family tree. He is not a blood relative but his cousin married into my family, hence making us related by marriage. He is a key figure in Estonian literature, as Shakespeare and Chaucer are in English, and I am thrilled to have this association with him.

If you are Estonian, you will know exactly who Friedrich Kreutzwald is. If you're not then here's a summary.

Friedrich Kreutzwald is the author of the first original work written in the Estonian language. He is considered the father of Estonian literature and was one of the leaders of Estonia's national awakening as well as a driving force in Estonian intellectual life.

26th December 1803 - 25th August 1882

Born on Boxing Day 1803 in Kadrina parish, Viru county, Friedrich Kreutzwald was the son of a farmer. As a boy he attended Rakvere district school and completed his high school education in Tallinn. For several years Kreutzwald worked as a teacher in both Tallinn and St.Petersburg before furthering his studies at Tartu University.  In 1833 he graduated in the field of medicine and married his sweetheart Marie Saedler in the same year. They later had three children - Alexis, Adelheid and Marie. For 44 years Kreutzwald was the town physician in Võru and received many honorary doctorates for his work.

In addition to his successful medical career Kreutzwald was also a prolific writer. One of his most famous works is the national epic "Kalevipoeg" which is based on Estonian folklore. Kreutzwald penned many moralistic folk stories that earned him a great amount of acclaim as a writer.

Some of Kreutzwald's works include:
Plague of Wine (1840)
The World and Some Things One Can Find in it (1849)
Reynard the Fox (1850)
Wise Men of Gotham (1857)
Old Estonian Fairy-Tales (1866)

Kreutzwald died in Tartu in 1882 and many monuments have been errected in his honour. They can be found at Kadriorg Park in Tallinn, Vabaduse Puiestee in Tartu as well as in his home town of Võru. To further pay tribute to his work, streets have been named after him, postage stamps have been released bearing his image (1938 & 2003) and even a hotel in Tallinn has been named in his honour.

Monument commemorating the work of Kreutzwald in Võru

Friedrich Kreutzwald has made a priceless contribution to Estonian literature which will be enjoyed by many generations to come. 

  

The Joys of Searching on Osta

A few weeks ago I was looking on the Estonian auction website Osta in search of some of my great grandfather's postcards when quite by chance, I came across an old Tartu school girls photograph. As my grandmother was born in Tartu I was naturally curious to take a look at the photo. When I clicked on the link,  I was surprised to see my grandmothers face staring back at me. I couldn't believe it! I contacted my father and uncle immediately to get their opinion to determine whether it is in fact her, and the consensus was - it is! It was a great find on Osta and I'm so very happy I found it.

However, I am still unable to determine which school these girls belonged to, if anyone knows, please contact me via Facebook.

As for my great grandfather's postcards, I am yet to buy one from Osta. Every time I manage to locate one, I'm always too late and disappointed to find the auction has ended. The good news is however, my wonderful cousin Jaanus recently attended a stamp/coin/postcard fair in Tallinn and met a collector who owned five of my great grandfather's postcards! He sold Jaanus three of them but didn't want to part with the other two.  Now I have these postcards in my collection, making me a very happy woman indeed!