A wooing game
(a ring game with insert dances)

Pauline Vapper, Akiliina Noor, Adeele Sulane, Iisa Tuulik, Juulia Äkke, Raissa Vaga, Hellen Äkke, Akiliina Osa, Bärni Tuulik

Suuremõisa village (1975)

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[The sporadic heterophony is created not from the intention of two-part singing, but because different singers sing differently some of the parts of the melody. The musical transcription is rather generic at times, because of the insufficient sound quality. The sound recording was done during the filming (the songs were performed during games and dances.)]

Mina lähen kosja, taale-rile-raa,
teistel pole asja seda keelata.
Võtan omal neiu, taale-rile-raa,
olen tema peiu, taale-rile-raa.

:,: Sina meil oled käin,
mina teil olen käin,
aga laulatusel viel põle käin. :,:
:,: Nüüd tantsime siin teiste ies ja
lahkumisel silmad vies. :,:

:,: Tere, minu sõber, võta naine,
teistel kõigil naised. :,:

:,: Võtan ka, ei jäta ma,
ei jäta teda võtmata, :,:
:,: ei siis põle üösel hulkumist
ega lakast alla kukkumist. :,:
:,: Ei siis põle külas küürakuid
ega valdas vanutüdrukuid. :,:
:,: Igal õhtul, kallim süles,
kartsast kaodu ronib üles. :,:
:,: Oomikul tuleb laudilt äe, :,:
:,: juba ülal kõrges päe. :,:

:,: Varas, varas oled sina,
varastad minu sõbra ära! :,:

:,: Keila, Kohila,
Piibe ja Preidi,
Läänjärve, Alliku,
Saarela ja Tammiku. :,:

During the song “Mina lähen kosja...”(“I am going to get married…”), the singers stand in pairs in a circle or half arc without holding hands. A single person moves around according to the song meter. With the words “Võtan omal neiu...” (“I’ll take a bride…”) s/he takes by hand someone from the circle and walks around with his/her partner till the insert song. Then the rheinländer and polka are danced. At the end of the insert song, the pair joins the others in the circle. The one, whose pair was taken away privously, comes into the circle with the words “Tere, minu sõber...” (“Hello, my friend…”). At the starting words of the insert song, s/he choses a partner and dances polka with him/her. During the third verse, the actions are repeated.

Pauline Vapper, 1904–2004; Akiliina Noor, born 1909; Adeele Sulane, 1917–1994; Iisa Tuulik, 1915–2004; Juulia Äkke, 1898–1980; Raissa Vaga, 1906–1993; Hellen Äkke, 1932–2014; Akiliina Osa, 1910–1994; Bärni Tuulik, 1914–1980 Suuremõisa village. Recorded by I. Rüütel, E. Tampere, V. Ojanurme, O. Kiis in 1975. Film: ERM, F 52; sound: RKM, Mgn II 2698 d [34].