“Pärnu Traditional Music Days” (Pärnu Pärimusmuusika Päevad) is a series of concerts, workshops, jam-sessions and club-evenings, focusing mostly on Estonia’s west-coast’s musical and cultural heritage, introducing and bringing it alive. Playing, dancing and singing together, learning, swap of the experience and joyful time with companions make important part of the event, but also exiting shows by the professional performers of the traditional music. Unplugged and authentic sounds are preferred, but when pulse is needed for dancing, beat and voices may rise.
“Pärnu Traditional Music Days” festival was established 2009 and this sort of event was considered necessary at once. 2011 is the 3-rd episode of the succession, this year the Program is extended from Wednesday to Saturday and offers more occasions to participate, learn and practice. And to listen and see, of course.
Due to weather of April there are only indoor events, located mostly in Maarja-Magdaleena Gild’s house (in the city center) and Pärnu Yahtclub (by the river). Some concerts are also carried out in rural areas of the Pärnu County and in the schools – see the Program (in Estonian). For more details in English, press: "Read More".
Instruments to be presented and taught during workshops will be:
* Jew’s harp (parmupill)
* 6-string kannel, Estonian small zither (kannel)
* Estonian type of bagpipe (torupill) and Whistles (viled)
* Fiddle (viiul)
* Guitar (kitarr)
* Bowed lyre (hiiu kannel)
* Estonian type of diatonic accordion (lõõts)
* Russian accordion (karmoška)
* For more detailed timetable see the Program.
Workshops and lessons are in Estonian, but teachers can understand and answer the questions also in English (and some in Sweden).
Festival-club with live music meets every evening in the Pärnu Yahtclub. Each musician and fan will be welcome; do not hesitate to carry your own music instruments with you. To guarantee the rhythms for dances, there are bands of the traditional music available, please see the Program for details.
Bands and performers of Pärnu Traditional Music Days 2011
The Band of the Students of traditional music from Viljandi Culture Academy – old fiddle and bagpipe tunes for dancing or listening.
Karoliina Kreintaal (fiddle, vocal)
Merike Paberits (bagpipe, whistles, vocal)
Jaan Jaago (guitar)
Knihv - older Estonian traditional dance music from archives – Estonian type of flatfoot waltzes and polkas.
Maarja Nuut (fiddle, vocal),
Karoliina Kreintaal (fiddle, vocal),
Tõnu Tubli (percussions, vocal)
Sw(f)est – Estonian-Swedish joint project of traditional music
Sandra Sillamaa (Estonian bagpipe, soprano saxophone, whistle)
Jonas Bleckman (cello / Rootsi)
Jalmar Vabarna (guitar)
Sannalise – music and stories from South-Estonia, spoken and sang in local dialect.
Celia Roose (vocal, Russian accordion)
Indrek Kalda (fiddle, vocal)
Andres Kuut (guitar, vocal)
Rikker & Koppel – famous and beloved local accordionists from two different bands, play and sing popular traditional songs and dance tunes.
Siim Rikker (diatonic accordion, vocal)
Raido Koppel (button-accordion, vocal)
Pärnu Poisid (The Boys of Pärnu) – amusing and cheerful traditional instrumental choir with large pipes-and-horns-section plays dance music and traditional shanties in Estonian mode and with a good taste of comedy.
Pot-Eedu aka Eddi Leet (vocal)
Conductor Ülu aka Ülle Jantson (accordion, penny-whistle, vocal)
Rodion Lõõts aka Raido Koppel (button-accordion, vocal)
Matvei Korts aka Mati Kiviselg (button-accordion)
Whistle-Sander aka Sander Udikas (clarinet, whistles, vocal)
Guitar-Riff aka Rivo Kajo (guitar, percussions, vocal)
Kirsi Ats aka Ado Kirsi (euphonium, vocal)
Kullionu aka Andres Kotkas (althorn)
Villu Leis (trombone)
Valdo Järvekülg (tuba)
Ülemakstud Rentslihärrad (The Overpaid Unsheltered Gentleman) – the special project of two well-known traditional musicians from two different bands bring manly songs and stories from the end of XIX and the first years of XX century.
Tarmo Noormaa (Estonian diatonic accordions and vocal)
Lauri Õunapuu (songs and stories)
Vennakese – 3 brothers and a friend play traditional Estonian dance music and are prepared to play until the morning.
Martin Müller (diatonic accordion, vocal)
Asso Int (diatonic accordion, vocal)
Heiki Int (guitar, vocal)
Meelis Int (bass, vocal)
For more information and timetables please see the Program.