Estonian Music Week

Estonia may be small but it has a rich musical history!
Estonia is located on the shores of the Baltic Sea, just south of Finland and east of Russia. History shows that Estonians have lived there for hundreds of years and the Estonian language dates back centuries.
Estonia’s national heritage revolves around music, which dates back equally far, but really came into its own about 150 years ago with the first “Laulupidu” (a.k.a. Song Festival) organized in Tartu, the second largest city in Estonia, in the year 1869.
This 1869 inaugural Song Festival is considered the cornerstone of “Ärkamisaeg” (a.k.a. Estonia’s Cultural Renaissance or national awakening), which happened in the final decades of the 19th Century. This first Song Festival launched a tradition whereby 20,000 to 30,000 Estonians, who are members of local choirs and choral ensembles throughout Estonia, come together as a unified choir every five years to present a two-day open-air concert. This event is typically attended by a live audience of some 100,000 people, all sitting in an open-air amphitheatre. Today, those who do not attend in person typically follow along on TV.

Naturally these festivals, that began in the 19th century, took on special meaning during the 20 years of Estonian independence, from 1918 through 1939. Subsequently the festivals helped sustain Estonians through 50 years of Soviet Occupation, following WWII. Ultimately they contributed to re-establishment of Estonian Independence in 1991, through a series of non-violent musical protests and celebrations that have come to be known as Estonia’s “Singing Revolution” of the late 1980’s.
2018 is Estonia’s Centennial Year!

On February 24, 2018 Estonians all over the world celebrated the centennial of the Declaration of Estonian Independence. Independence was declared in the latter stages of World War I, as Tsarist Russia had fallen, as German forces were in retreat, and a window of opportunity presented itself.

In present-day Estonia, centennial celebrations began in late-2017 and will continue through to February 2020. Included within this time frame is the 150th anniversary Song Festival, planned for July, 2019. Centennial celebrations culminate with a tribute to the 100th anniversary of the end of Estonia’s War of Independence on February 2, 2020. (Just because Estonia had declared independence in 1918 did not mean that Russia, now the Soviet Union, would give up claims to Estonian territory without a fight).
“Estonian Music Week” in Toronto celebrates both music and independence!
Toronto is home to the largest Estonian community outside Estonia. A majority of this community were World War II refugees, their children and grandchildren. But some Estonians arrived in Canada before WWII and others have arrived since 1991.
It is therefore fitting that something very significant be organized in Canada, both as a tribute to Estonian independence but also to acknowledge Canada, which openly welcomed Estonians escaping Soviet occupation, persecution and deportation.
The first Estonian Music Week presented amazing concerts from May 24 through May 29, 2018. It was truly a one-of-a-kind event. Reportedly (and perhaps appropriately) EMW was the largest centennial tribute planned outside Estonia. The Centennial Celebration Committee in Estonia and various other cultural agencies in Estonia have been very supportive with advice and coaching.

EMW was conceived and is organized by The Estonian Studies Centre, a registered Canadian charity based at Tartu College, 310 Bloor Street West, in Toronto. The Centre is a member of the “Bloor Street Culture Corridor”, an umbrella group for many charitable and cultural organizations located in Toronto’s city core. The prime objective for The Estonian Studies Centre is introduction of Estonian culture, heritage and history throughout Canada and Estonian Music Week is its biggest and boldest initiative to date.
This one week of Estonian music that started in 2018 is certain to be an event that will be talked about for years, if not decades, to come!

Bridging distances, building relationships, establishing long-term contacts.
During these six jam-packed days in May, musicians entertained audiences at some of Toronto’s best known music venues, among them: Koerner Hall, Mazzoleni Hall, Hugh’s Room Live, Church of the Redeemer, Lula Lounge, Lee’s Palace and others.
Estonian musicians from “both sides of the pond” collaborated with well-known Canadian musicians during all concerts. Little wonder the festival’s tagline is: “Estonia meet Canada. Canada meet Estonia.”

Estonian Music Week incorporates the best of Estonian musical history and tradition by presenting not just choral music, but also classical, jazz, contemporary, instrumental, improvisation, rock and more. Since Estonia is a coastal country with a rich maritime history, perhaps its logical that its musical offerings also “cover the water-front”.
Estonian Music Week 2019 is kicking it up a notch by bringing Music + Tech together in collaboration with Latitude44.

EMW is expanding to bring you a whole new tech groove. Get in on it and discover something new! Meet some of e-Estonia’s new start-ups, e-Estonia representatives, and have a chance to hear some of the best progressive pop, jazz, and modern classical music at the same time. L44 has partnered with Latitude59. Latitude59 is an Estonian tech conference founded in 2012 that brings together startups, investors, and leaders in governance. Their goal is to encourage learning, networking, and connection in a smaller, more intimate environment.
See you at the WE Global Learning Centre and concert venues across Toronto on November 14-17!

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