Raised glasses and raised voices: Estonian folk singers in Russia

VINCENT TEETSOV

In 2004, Elviine Klimson and Emilie Floren sat around a small table with what appears to be sliced sausage and dark bread on the table, and glasses of vodka in their hands.

They sang the song “Hellad vennad astkem kokku” (“Dear Brothers Let’s Step Together”), gesturing to those behind the camera to grab a glass and join as they had fun around the party table (“lusti pidulaua ümber”). Based on the way they sang with abandon, it was clear that the song had been sung countless times before, from when they were young women, into the 21st century, as older ladies.

(Full story available via link below)

Estonian vocal ensemble in Tsvetnopolye (1997).

Photo: Anu Korb