Saturday, July 29

If possible, please come to the workshops 10 minutes early to guarantee a spot!


Folk dancing on the beach
SAT 29.07 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!

Baby singing and playing groups / Kreete Viira
SAT 29.07 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.

Women’s singing group / Celia Roose
SAT 29.07 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.

Men’s singing group / Ando Kiviberg
SAT 29.07 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.

My instrument: Jew's harp / Katariin Raska
SAT 29.07 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.

Children’s singing and playing groups / Kreete Viira
SAT 29.07 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.

Contemporary modal music / Ross Daly (Greece)
SAT 29.07 at 12.30, Chamber Hall of the Traditional Music Center

Ross Daly is a multiinstrumentalist and a composer of contemporary modal music, who is one of the most esteemed experts of Crete’s, his home island’s, musical heritage. In this workshop he will unveil the magical world of modal music and present his ancient traditional instruments: lyre, tarhu and rabab.

Dance School / Flat Foot Waltz. Tallinn Dance House Musicians
SAT 29.07 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.

Songs and stories from Tibet / Loten Namling (Tibet)
SAT 29.07 at 14.00, Sakala Center

An excellent singer Loten Namling will give you a chance to get to know Tibetan culture better. The musician will reflect on what gives the songs and stories a spiritual dimension? Is it the same among different peoples and in different cultures? He will naturally illustrate his contemplations with songs and stories and answer all the questions.

The shared sound of Estonian and Ukrainian folk songs / Ruslan Trochynskyi
SAT 29.07 at 14.00, Chamber Hall of the Traditional Music Center

Traditional tunes and songs travel alongside people. Ruslan Trochynskyi, a musician who moved from Ukraine to Estonia, has learned from the audiences that several Ukrainian melodies are well-known in Estonia and passed down from one generation to the next. Curious Ruslan has now dug into archives and found out more about the travels of Ukrainian songs that are well-known in Estonia and will now share his discoveries and sing the songs in both languages.

The story matters / Piret Päär
SAT 29.07 at 15.00, Bonifatius Guild, 2nd floor (Väike-Turu 8)

Why do people need stories? Where does a story begin and where does it end?
And if the story exists, then why exactly do we need to tell it or read it so badly?
What’s the difference between telling and reading?
Piret Päär will gently weave this workshop’s thread by answering these and other questions.

Take along your question and come.

Piret Päär is a storyteller. She has been telling stories over thirty years, both to adults and kids. She is also the leader of Storytelling House.

Dance School / Dances from Kihnu. Mare Mätas and youngsters from Kihnu
SAT 29.07 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.

My instrument: Estonian diatonic accordion / Juhan Uppin
SAT 29.07 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.