Recordings from the Estonian Folklore Archives 3
Mihkel Toom
Mihkel Toom and Mart Männimets at a recording session in Tallinn in 1936. Photo by P. Parikas. ERA, Foto 8929.
August Pulst was the one who over the course of his tours with folk musicians brought wider fame to the music men of Tori Parish where he himself originally came from. Mihkel Toom (1873–1958) was one of the most famous of Tori’s wedding musicians. He started to learn the violin at the age of six. At the age of 18 he was already playing at weddings, building bees and christenings. The most free time to play at festivities he had was in the final decade of the 19th century just before he got married. August Pulst has described Mihkel Toom’s lively playing: “Standing up he stamped the rhythm with his foot. At times he would place his foot up on a bench or chair and with a pipe in his mouth would put his bow into motion so that his violin would wail out, his head would be rocking and his pipe would be bobbing up and down.” Mihkel’s grandfather had also been a wedding musician, while his father played the buckhorn. Mihkel Toom was recorded by the National Radio with another violin player Mart Männimets. Mart was very musical and was able to play harmony by ear to the playing of others. The two men aroused the enthusiasm of even professionals in the audience with their playing.
Instrumental Tunes:
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)