Friday, July 28
If possible, please come to the workshops 10 minutes early to guarantee a spot!
Folk dancing on the beach
FRI 28.07 at 10.00, Basketball court at Lake Viljandi beach
The best way to start your morning is to listen to the music in the best possible way - through dancing! Two sisters Mia Marta Ruus and Paula Kristiine Ruus musicians ask you to join them on Friday and Saturday morning to dance on the basketball court at Lake Viljandi beach so you can start the day in a great way, letting traditional music into your bones and lifting your mood!
We dance old social dances and spice it up with a few waltzes, polkas, flat foot waltzes and rheinländers. Bring a friend or come alone, you’ll find a dancing partner on the court!
My instrument: bagpipe / Cätlin Mägi and Lauri Õunapuu
FRI 28.07 at 11.00, Chamber Hall of the Traditional Music Center
Everyone has their own instrument! How does the music get into an instrument and when and under what circumstances did Estonians start playing all these well-loved folk instruments - answers to these questions will be given by the experts, who will also play beautiful tunes on their precious instruments. The duration of the workshop is thirty minutes and it is suitable for every age.
Baby singing and playing groups / Kreete Viira
FRI 28.07 at 11.00, Sakala Center (Tallinna 5)
Target audience: children aged 0-2 with their parents
Traditional music teacher Kreete Viira invites mothers and fathers to bring their babies to the group where they play age-appropriate games, singing games and sing songs which you can memorise and repeat at home to promote the love of traditional culture in your children.
Men’s singing group / Urmas Kalla
FRI 28.07 at 11.00, Wine bar Mulks (Tartu 7c)
Target audience: men of all ages, no women are allowed.
The mandatory voice and mind wakeup session for all men on all three festival days. Men’s singing group is a chamber of secrets where men twirl their moustaches in the dark, sing manly songs and talk about manly things. Bring your favourite songs to the singing group to share with others.
Women’s singing group / Tammeougu Mari
FRI 28.07 at 11.00, Bonifatius Guild, 2nd floor (Väike-Turu 8)
Target audience: women of all ages - no men are allowed.
Women have preserved our traditional singing culture throughout centuries. The folklore archive is filled with songs from our female ancestors where they talk about their thoughts and feelings. Which of these songs speak to the women of today? Which songs will the women of today leave to their children? We invite all women to join us on three festival mornings to sing about what you’re thinking and feeling. Bring your favourite songs with you so you can share with the others.
Children’s singing and playing groups / Kreete Viira
FRI 28.07 at 12.00, Sakala Center (Tallinna 5)
Target audience: children aged 3-6 with their parents
Kreete Viira teaches children and their families age-appropriate games, singing games and songs. We invite children with their parents to attend. Later on, you can play these games at home yourself.
The true face of Hungarian music / Góbé (Hungary)
FRI 28.07 at 12.30, Chamber Hall of the Traditional Music Center
Wild musicians from Hungary, whose instrument park includes 80% of all Hungarian traditional instruments, will show you the true face of Hungarian music, talk about its foundations and its roots, and present their own vision of what makes folk music the people’s music.
Dance School / Estonian polkas. Tallinn Dance House Musicians
FRI 28.07 at 13.30, Green Stage
If you want to practice for the dance house and get the steps right, then come to the Dance School! Superb musicians, singers and dancers will show you how the Estonian country folk and townspeople danced in the old times.
Roots in the music/ Flook (Ireland / England)
FRI 28.07 at 14.00, Sakala Center (Tallinn 5)
The awarded Anglo-Irish instrumental band Flook has been active for over a quarter of a century. In this workshop the musicians of the band will talk about their music, instruments and culture and are happy to answer all your questions.
Birthday and jubilee songs / Martin Müller
FRI 28.07 at 15.00, Bonifatius Guild, 2nd floor (Väike-Turu 8)
Viljandi Folk Music Festival is celebrating a round-number anniversary, its 30th birthday. To celebrate the big three-oh, Martin Müller, an excellent Estonian diatonic accordion player and singer will bring along all well-known and lesser-known traditional celebratory tunes from the song treasury of his family and friends. Let’s sing the old songs and learn the new ones together!
Dance School / Estonian polkas. Round dances from Saaremaa.Tammeougu Mari and the girls of Sõrve
FRI 28.07 at 15.30, Green Stage
If you want to practice for the dance house and get the steps right, then come to the Dance School! Superb musicians, singers and dancers will show you how the Estonian country folk and townspeople danced in the old times.
My instrument: kannel / Kertu-Liis Õnnis
FRI 28.07 at 16.00, Chamber Hall of the Traditional Music Center
Everyone has their own instrument! How does the music get into an instrument and when and under what circumstances did Estonians start playing all these well-loved folk instruments - answers to these questions will be given by the experts, who will also play beautiful tunes on their precious instruments. The duration of the workshop is thirty minutes and it is suitable for every age.