Recordings from the Estonian Folklore Archives 3
Selma Lätt
Selma Lätt writing down fishing practices told by August Truuvert in Kihelkonna parish in 1958. Photo by E. Veskisaar. ERA, Foto 3315.
The folklorist Selma Lätt (1909–1969) is not only one of the collectors of the material in this set but is also one of the performers. When this collection was being prepared she recorded charms and children’s game songs that she had learned as a child from her mother in Halliste. Selma Lätt was born in the village of Morna in the Karksi Parish. Later she lived in various places in the Halliste and Paistu Parishes where her parents rented land. In 1929 she entered the University of Tartu and as of 1933 she worked in the Estonian Folklore Archives (after the war known as the Department of Folklore at the Museum of Literature) where she was known primarily as a researcher of wedding and calender customs. She was the editor of works on a variety of different areas of folklore.
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)