Why singing is so important to us...
Being Estonian means different things to different "Estonians" (Estonian-Canadians, Americans or Canadians with Estonian ancestry, Estonians with Estonian passports etc...). To a lot of us in the Vancouver Estonian community, who perhaps don't speak the language or have family living in Estonia anymore, we know that we can connect with our roots through song, craft or dance. While acknowledging and celebrating our multicultural environments in Canada, I feel like staying connected to our roots and origins is an important practice.
Every Thursday, my choir, the Vancouver Estonian Mixed Choir gets together to sing Estonian music. For the last year, we have been preparing, recording, and re-recording the repertoire for this year's Laulupidu. It was an honour for us all to be accepted to sing in this incredible international event. This event is part of UNESCO's Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. For, not only is the event securing the country's ancient folk music heritage, but without the tradition of this song and dance event, Estonia may have never had the strength and inspiration to break free from decades of oppressive Soviet rule.
If you'd like to be a part of Laulupidu (Estonian Song & Dance Festival) but can't fly to Tallinn this summer, come to our concert this May 31st to listen to this moving collection of traditional and contemporary choral music sung by us, the Vancouver Estonian Mixed Choir! Kristen Dobbin and I are promoting the concert through our cultural events project Nordic Culture Days' website. Here is the event poster:
Every Thursday, my choir, the Vancouver Estonian Mixed Choir gets together to sing Estonian music. For the last year, we have been preparing, recording, and re-recording the repertoire for this year's Laulupidu. It was an honour for us all to be accepted to sing in this incredible international event. This event is part of UNESCO's Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. For, not only is the event securing the country's ancient folk music heritage, but without the tradition of this song and dance event, Estonia may have never had the strength and inspiration to break free from decades of oppressive Soviet rule.
If you'd like to be a part of Laulupidu (Estonian Song & Dance Festival) but can't fly to Tallinn this summer, come to our concert this May 31st to listen to this moving collection of traditional and contemporary choral music sung by us, the Vancouver Estonian Mixed Choir! Kristen Dobbin and I are promoting the concert through our cultural events project Nordic Culture Days' website. Here is the event poster:
I will be singing along in my apartment in Tartu (sorry I'm not there everyone)!
After listening to our songs, you'll begin to understand why Estonians from all corners of the world (tens of thousands) come to this event every 5 years.
All donations ($10 is the suggested donation for entry) will be going towards our choir's costs of participating and traveling to this year's Laulupidu.
Hope you all can make it.
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