Recordings from the Estonian Folklore Archives 3
The Brother's War Tale
Kadri Asu Kolga-Jaani (1937)
Kes see tõi sõjasõnumid,
kes see kandis vainukeeled?
Arak tõi sõja sõnumid,
vares kandis vainukeeled.
Kes siit saab sõtta minema:
kas saab isa või saab poega,
või saab kiige noorem poega,
kiige viimem, kiige viksem,
kõige uhkemad obesed,
kõige saksemad sadulad?
Vend läks aita ehtimaie,
õde järel õpetama:
“Pane sina selga surmasärki,
valged koolikindad kätte!
Kui sa saad sõtta minema,
ära (sina) sõida ette sõja,
ega tansi taha sõja,
keeruta keset sõdaje!
Esimesed eidetasse,
tagumesed tapetasse,
keskmised kodo tulevad.
Kui sa saad kodo tulema,
ära joo soovetta –
soo on täisa surnu'ida;
ära joo rannavetta –
rand on täisa raipe'ida.
Joo sa kal´list kajo vetta.”
“Vennakene, hella vella,
akka mulle rääkimaie,
kudas sääl sõjas oltanesse,
sõjaleiba söödänesse,
vainukakku kastetasse?
Kas on sõjas naene armas,
naene armas, kaas või kallis?”
“Pese mo pia veresta,
lopota saapad savista,
siis mina akkan rääkimaie,
kudas sääl sõjas oltanesse,
sõjaleiba söödänesse,
vaenukakku kastetasse.”
Who brought tidings of the war,
who carried those words of strife?
A magpie brought tidings of war,
a crow carried words of strife.
Who of us is to go to war:
is it father or is it son,
or is it the very youngest son,
the very last one, the smartest son,
with the noblest horses,
the swellest saddles?
Brother went to dress himself in the storehouse,
sister went to give advice:
“Don you now a shirt of death,
white mittens of dying!
When you go to war,
don't ride at the front of the war,
nor dance at the rear of the war,
twirl in the very middle of the war!
The first ones get slaughtered,
the rear ones get killed,
the ones in the middle return home.
When you come home,
do not drink the water from the marsh –
the marsh is full of the dead,
do not drink the water of the coast –
the coast is full of carrion.
Drink only precious water from the well.”
“Dear brother, gentle brother,
speak to me now,
how is it there in the war,
what bread of war is eaten,
what cakes of strife are dipped?
Is your wife dear to you in the war,
your wife dear, your spouse precious?”
“Wash my head of blood,
rinse my boots of mud,
then I'll speak to you,
how it is there in the war,
what bread of war is eaten,
what cakes of strife are dipped.”
ERA, Pl. 47 A1 < Kolga-Jaani khk., Uue-Võidu v. – H. Tampere, A. Pulst Riigi Ringhäälingus 1937. a. < Kadri Asu, 67-a.
[LP VI 9; CD2-31]. Viidang 1997, 30–31.
Introduction to the Publication 
- Singers and Musicians (by counties)
- Jukk Akermann
- Liis Alas
- Eleena Animägi
- Kadri Asu
- Marie Helimets
- Otto Hiiop
- Liina Irdt
- Ann Ismael
- Hendrik Jantson
- Greete Jents
- Kristjan Joakit
- Mart Kaasen
- Liidia Kampus
- Liina Kaskmann
- Lisette Kautlenbach
- Hella Keem
- Ruuben Kesler
- Jaagup Kilström
- Mari Kilu
- Kristjan Kiviloo
- Maria Koert
- Minna Kokk
- Joosep Kotkas
- Helene Kukk
- Kadri Kukk
- Jaak Kõdar
- Anna Köster
- Liisa Kümmel
- Miina Lambot
- Albert Lauri
- Miina Leht
- Anna Lindvere
- Selma Lätt
- Aleksander Maaker
- Mart Männimets
- August Müürsepp
- Ottilie Niinemägi
- Sido Nikit
- Liisu Orik
- Helmi Ots
- Juuli Ott
- Anna Paalberg
- Julius Paas
- Ann Rammo
- Jaan Rand
- Mari Sarv
- Marie Sepp
- Reet Sutt
- Hindrek Tamm
- Liisu Tamp
- August Teppo
- Mihkel Tiitus
- August Tina
- Mihkel Toom
- Anne Vabarna
- Pauline Vapper
- Nikita Vassil
- Kindlus Viin
- Osvald Viin
- Helmi Vill
- Oskar Visnapuu
- Marta Vist
Songs, Game Songs and Instrumental Tunes
Herding Shouts and Songs
- 1. Hoots (Suure-Jaani)
- 2. Shouts (Kolga-Jaani)
- 3. Drive the Herd Over Here! (Kodavere)
- 4. Drive the Herd Over Here! (Karksi)
- 5. Drive the Herd Over Here! (Sangaste)
- 6. Sun, Come On Out! (Karksi)
- 7. The Herd Is Far Away (Setu)
Harvest Songs
- 8. Meadows for the Herds to Wander On (Kolga-Jaani)
- 9. Field for the Birds (Karksi)
- 10. Bidding Hands to Work (Setu)
- 11. Sizzle, Precious Sickle! (Muhu)
Domestic Chores
Songs for Calendar and Feast Days
Calendar Songs
- 16. Martinmas Song (Jõelähtme)
- 17. St. Catherine’s Day Song (Tõstamaa)
- 18. St. Catherine’s Day Song (Karksi)
- 19. Flax for the Sliders! (Tori)
- 20. Flax for the Sliders! (Kihnu)
- 21. Come to the St. John’s Bonfire! (Kolga-Jaani)
Swinging Songs
Lullabies and Children’s Songs
Lullabies
- 28. Come, Sleep, onto the Child’s Brow! (Kihnu)
- 29. Let the Cradle Rock! (Kuusalu)
- 30. Servants of Slumber
- 31. Grew into a Herder! (Setu)
Nursery Songs
- 32. Riding to Riga (Anna)
- 33. The Titmouse (Halliste)
- 34. The Dog Goes to Keep the Herd (Halliste)
- 35. Animals at Work (Kanepi)
Children’s Songs
Wedding Songs
- 42. The Maiden Is Not at Home (Kuusalu)
- 43. The Bride Leaves Her Father’s Home (Kuusalu)
- 44. A Bride Has to Be Conscientious (Mustjala)
- 45. When Are We Going to Get There? – Ride on This Way – The Silken Ones Are Coming (Tõstamaa)
- 46. Eat, Kinfolk! (Tõstamaa)
- 47. The Brother’s Meadows (Karksi)
- 48. The Rich Man’s Ox and the Poor Man’s Crow (Urvaste)
- 49. Better to Be on a Log than in Bed with a Young Man (Hargla)
- 50. The Groom is Brought to the Table (Setu)
- 51. Adorn Yourself, Brother! (Setu)
- 52. The Bride’s Lament to Her Brother (Setu)
Laments for the Dead
Song and the Songster
- 55. Sing! (Tõstamaa)
- 56. The Songster’s Childhood (Põlva)
- 57. Songs Learned at Work (Kolga-Jaani)
- 58. The Sad Songster (Kuusalu)
- 59. A Forest Stands Between the Maidens (Karksi)
Home, Youth, Love
- 60. Mother’s Teachings (Karksi)
- 61. The Cleanliness of the Vessels (Anna)
- 62. I Know an Indifferent Maiden (Põlva)
- 63. The Lying Groom (Kuusalu)
- 64. A Cabin for the Bride to Sleep In (Kanepi)
- 65. The Timid Suitor (Tori)
Orphans, Slaves
- 66. A Bird Came to Comfort Me (Kanepi)
- 67. One’s Own Mother and a Step Mother Wait at Home (Hargla)
- 68. The Food of One’s Own Mother and a Stepmother (Urvaste)
- 69. Slaves Toiling at Night (Tõstamaa)
- 70. The Serf’s Work Week (Muhu)
- 71. Revenge on the Lords (Kolga-Jaani)
Nature, Work, Fun, Mockery
- 77. Creation (Tõstamaa)
- 78. Seeking the Brush (Kihnu)
- 79. At Mother’s Grave Side (Kolga-Jaani)
- 80. Just a Kiss (Kolga-Jaani)
- 81. The Husband Slayer (The Song of Maie) (Karksi)
- 82. The Daughter Slayer (Haljala)
- 83. The Drunkard is Called back Home (Hargla)
- 84. The Lost Geese (Karksi)
- 85. The Brother’s War Tale (Kolga-Jaani)
- 86. Flight of the Recruit (Jõelähtme)
- 87. The Taskmaster and the Serf (Kodavere)
- 88. Sash Weaving (Setu)
- 89. The Grinding Stone (Setu)
- 90. The Ship Game (Jõelähtme)
- 91. The Horse Game (Urvaste)
- 92. The Hawk Game (Tori)
- 93. The Doll Game (Karksi)
- 94. The King Game (Tori)
- 95. The Minstrel Game (Urvaste)
- 96. The Goose Game (Jõelähtme)
- 97. The Gate Game (Sangaste)
- 98. The Finger Binding Game (Sangaste)
- 99. Buckhorn: “Off to Eat” (Karula)
- 100. Herder’s horn (Setu)
- 101. Alderwood horn (Tori)
- 102. Duct flute: “David's Polka” (Jõhvi)
- 103. Reed pipe with horn (Setu)
- 104. Reed pipe: “Juss the Piper's Waltz Tune” (Emmaste)
- 105. Bagpipe: “Kerchief Dance” (Kuusalu)
- 106. Jew’s harp: “Rand’s Waltz Tune” (Kirbla)
- 107. Bowed harp: “The Wolf on the Other Side of the Bog” (Estonian waltz) (Lääne-Nigula)
- 108. Violin duet: “Tune from Harju County” (Estonian waltz) (Tori)
- 109. Violin duet: “Polka” (Tori)
- 110. Violin duet: “Vir-ver-vidis” (polka) (Urvaste)
- 111. Estonian psaltery: “A Mouse Hopped” (Tartu-Maarja)
- 112. Estonian psaltery: “Jog” (Halliste)
- 113. Estonian psaltery and leaf instrument: “Building Bee Polka” (Kanepi)
- 114. Estonian accordion: “An Old Polka from the Village of Loosu” (Põlva)
- 115. Village band: “Wedding Polka” (Kanepi)