Songmakers, singers and musicians

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• Konstantin Tuttav
• Konstantin Suurtee
• Aleksander Nõgu
• Villem Nõgu
• August Trei
• Helmi Peegel (Valjala Viiu)
• Oskar Koel plays the concertina at Pahavalla dancing ground on the musician's stone
• Tiina Rand
• Fiddler Juhan Lätt
• Concertina player Aleksander Rüütel

The movie "Songmakers, singers and musicians" shows episodes filmed during visits to local songmakers, singers and musicians. At the beginning of the 20^th century, songs by Konstantin Tuttav, that reflect the events of the 1905 year revolt in the Pöide area, were very popular. Song No 17 of the sound recording is an example of those. This is really an excerpt of a longer song that spread more widely in the shorter version. In the movie, Konstantin Suurtee of Veere village sings a song by Tuttav and tells, how these songs spread among the islanders.

Songmaker Konstantin Tuttav recorded by Richard Hansen and interviewed by Ingrid Rüütel and Ottilie Kõiva. Photo: L. Briedis 1961. ERA, Foto 5553.

Songs by Aleksander Nõgu, a farmer from Laimjala municipality of Pöide parish, date back to the 1920s and 1930s and depiet village life in a humorous manner. Villem Nõgu of Ridala village performed soldiers' songs, autobiographical songs and dance songs. Songs by a local songmaker Mihkel Trei were popular around Valjala. They were sung by his nephew, August Trei, who also shared recollections about his uncle. Tiina Rand from Pihtla municipality of the former Püha parish sang old nursery rhymes. Helmi Peegel of Valjala municipality was a well-known storyteller, who performed documentary tales under the pseudonym of Valjala Viiu, was a member of local folk dance group and sang several songs for the folklore collectors.

Local musicians were also caught on film. We can see Oskar Koel of Laimjala municipality, who also accompanied the New Year bucks, playing for the dancers on the traditional musician's stone of Pahavalla village. The fiddler Juhan Lätt and the harmonica player Aleksander Rüütel made music in Valjala municipality. The latter also accompanied the Valjala dancers in the movie "Local versions of social dances of the early 20^th century".

Video ERA, DV 109—110. Audio RKM, Mgn II 457 c, f, 468 e, 469 i, 468 e, 481 e, 504 b, 495 f, 460 c, 506 e, 500 c.