Helmi Peegel (Valjala Viiu). Photo: R. Hansen 1961. ERA, Foto 5556.
We continued our trip to Valjala. There we visited Helmi Peegel – /---/ a good singer and an outstanding person. From her we recorded several songs. (From the field work diary of I. Rüütel, June 9, 1961; Rüütel 2015: 177)
Helmi Peegel of Valjala municipality is a well-known story-teller of the neighbourhood, who had performed under the name of Valjala Viiu accounts from real life, she was also a dancer in a local folk dance group. (From the description of the video "Songmakers, singers and instrumentalists"; Rüütel 2014: 28)
The most active and talented singer, dancer and story-teller was Helmi Peegel. She was locally known as Valjala Viiu. /---/ Helmi Peegel composed stories – in the form of a tale or a song – based on the critique stories she obtained from the collective farm workers and general folk and performed them for the public. Many things that others didn't dare to say out loud, would reach those concerned, accompanied by the laughter of the people. (From the field work diary of O. Kõiva, June 6, 1961; Rüütel 2015: 175)
Helmi Peegel, aged 41, Kiriku village [Valjala parish]. Recorded and filmed by O. Kõiva, I. Rüütel, R. Hansen in 1961.
Editors Janika Oras, Kadi Sarv
Translation into English Inna Feldbach, Olga Ivaškevitš
Selection of photos Aivo Põlluäär
Project co-ordinator Risto Järv
Web design Lorem Ipsum
Cover photo Ingrid Rüütel 2007 (private collection)
Ensemble Trad.Attack!
Ministry of Education and Research (projekt IUT22-4)
The European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (Centre of Excellence in Estonian Studies)
The Cultural Endowment of Estonia
ELM Scholarly Press, 2018
© and ℗ Estonian Literary Museum, 2018
© Ingrid Rüütel
ISBN 978-9949-586-57-8
[CD, DVD and textbook]
Sound production and CD mastering Jaan Tamm
DVD editing and mastering Jaan Kolberg
Editor Janika Oras
Translation into English Inna Feldbach
Design and text book layout Krista Saare
Print Kruuli Trükikoja AS
Replication Baltic Disc AS
Editor Asta Niinemets
Music transcription Ingrid Rüütel, Ludmilla Toon, Edna Tuvi
Notation editing Ingrid Rüütel, Edna Tuvi
Sheet music graphics Edna Tuvi
Texts transcription Erna Tampere, Ingrid Rüütel
Dialectic texts editor Ester Kuusik
Translation of summary Inna Feldbach
Layout and design Krista Saare
Print OÜ Greif Trükikoda