SINGING REVOLUTION ESTONIA

125 years struggling for freedom The Estonian history is essentially bound to song, singing together and choir singing. One way of expressing the Estonian identity is based on the concept of a "singing nation", which in turn has united the nation for 125 years.

During the 19th century, Estonia was a province of the Russian Empire. These circumstances started a national awakening among the Estonians during the 1860s. This movement culminated in 1869 as the first national song festival took place in Tartu.

It was a major event in a musical and a cultural-political sense, main objectives for the future national activities were drawn here. Thus, for the Estonians, the perception of homogeneity and hope for a better future have been connected with the national song festivals. The unique and huge festival stage holds up to approximately 30,000 singers and was constructed in 1960. The Tallinn Song Festival Grounds became a sacred place for the Estonian culture. One quarter of the one million Estonians may gather here during the festivals.

The song festival tradition is closely combined to the cultural resistance during the period of oppression. Foreign rulers have tried to use the song festival for their own interests. The so-called "singing revolution" that took place in 1988 was also based on song festival traditions. Allegedly, approximately 300,000 people gathered at the Song Festival Grounds to present political claims and listen to patriotic songs.

The 22nd All-Estonian Song Festival was organized at the same place in 1994, this was the first song festival in the re-established Republic of Estonia.

THE ARTISTS: Appr. 500 Estonian choirs with 25.600 singers