Recordings from the Estonian Folklore Archives 3
Minna Kokk
Minna Kokk in 1967. Photo by H. Tampere. ERA, Foto 8369.
It was in 1957 that Minna Kokk (1892–1971), a very knowledgeable person about old customs in Hargla Parish, was visited for the first time in the village of Mõniste by one of the expeditions from the folklore archives. Her songs were also recorded in 1965. Minna loved her songs and in her own words could sing “millions” of rhymed folksongs and explained how she was constantly singing as she tended the herds. She was a bit reluctant, however, to sing the regilaul songs she had learned from her mother to the collectors – she did not feel that the tunes were pretty enough. She had witnessed the singing of wedding songs when she was a girl and when she sang these during the recording session she would turn her body from side to side with her hands on her hips as had been the custom in Mõniste. Minna had lived in poverty. However, the talkative woman, who had a passion for reading, worked for the local papers. After her first contact with the folklorists she started to write down the many songs and stories she had in her memory and sent them to the archives.
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)