Comenius 2010-2012
Martna Põhikool
Kaja Sarrapik, Marek Tammemägi
The Singing Revolution in the Art
the fast spread of national romanticism involved
important changes – performances, installations and
shows.
Traditional painting was starting to lose its leading
position, it was replaced with new technics.
The Singing Revolution in the Art
The artist Jüri Arrak was one of the mental leaders in the new
revolutionary movement in the culture. His painting „ A
man with a dragon” involves the message from the Estonian
epic „ Kalevipoeg” – it is time for changes.
The Singing Revolution in the
Caricature
 The caricature was a good way in the 1990s to demonstrate
the new processes in the society.
 The caricature is a protest against the phosphorite mining
in Estonia between 1987-88. The picture marks the
beginning of the singing revolution in Estonia.
The Singing Revolution in the
Monuments
 It was possible to start
talking about the
monuments which were
once built for the people
who defended Estonia in
the Freedom War (1918
1920) and they were
damaged and destroyed
during the Soviet period.
The Singing Revolution in the
Journalism
 Media played an important role during the
independence movement 1987-1991. Since then the
political publicity wasn't possible, it was developing
and reached its high level in 1988 when people's
reading interest grew dramatically. Newspapers played
the role of the organizer of crowds. The national
memory was restored. Media was the key to the
crowds.
The Singing Revolution in the
Cinematographic
 The film makers started to reflect issues that were
strongly banned during the Soviet period.
 The documentaries started to reflect ecological and
environmental issues.
 The hectic time in the society was reflected in the
cartoons too.
The Singing Revolution in the
Literature
The Singing Revolution in the
Literature
 M.-A. Kelam “From the entire heart”:
freedom of Estonia was possible thanks to the sense of
justice and the struggle of hundreds and thousands of
people
 T. Tõnisson “Once we will win…”:
The thought that one day we will win anyway became
clearer and it united people stronger and stronger
The Singing Revolution in the
Literature
 M. Laar “101 historical events in Estonia”:
Describing the singing revolution H. Valk says in this
book:“It was worth to suffer the humiliation of the
Russian rule for decades. It is the biggest
demonstration ever, never seen before in any films or
television, in live or dream.The peaceful revolution in
Estonia was like an example to the rest of the socialist
world - it is possible to fight without guns.
The Singing Revolution in the
Literature
 P. Vesilind “Estonia in the year 1989”:
sweet but at the same time also bitter period of the
Estonian history.
 P. Vesilind “Memories of The Singing Revolution”:
the Estonians have sung themselves free from the Russian
occupation.
The Singing Revolution in the
Music
 In the late 1980’s music was once again used as a unifying
force when hundreds of thousands gathered to sing
forbidden Estonian songs, demanding their right for selfdetermination from a brutal Soviet occupier
 “The young people, without any political party, and
without any politicians, just came together ... not only tens
of thousands but hundreds of thousands ... to gather and to
sing and to give this nation a new spirit,” remarks Mart
Laar, a Singing Revolution leader and the first post-Soviet
Prime Minister of Estonia. “This was the idea of the Singing
Revolution.”
The Singing Revolution in the
Music
Song festivals
• The first one in 1869
• Has served as the symbol
of Estonian national
culture and identity.
• The festivals carried the
spirit of nationalism
during the years of
Russian occupation
between 1940 and 1991.
The Singing Revolution in the
Music
Song festivals
• The traditional opening and
finishing songs, Mihkel
Lüdig's "Dawn" and Gustav
Ernesaks' “Land of my
Fathers, Land that I Love”
have acquired a liturgical
function - song miraculously
slipped by the Soviet censors,
and for fifty years it was a
musical statement of every
Estonian’s desire for freedom.
The Singing Revolution in the
Music
The Singing Revolution
a non-violent revolution that overthrew a very violent occupation.
the spontaneous mass night-singing demonstrations at the Tallinn Song
Festival Grounds when a hundred thousand Estonians gather each
night for a week to sing protest songs all night in June 10–11, 1988
The Singing Revolution in the
Music
• Rock Music
• In May 1988, five new patriotic
rocksongs (Viis isamaalist laulu)
written by Alo Mattiisen became
rallying cries for independence. A
song cycle Five Patriotic Songs,
created by Mattiisen and Leesment
and partially based on hundredyear-old patriotic choral songs,
became especially popular.
The Singing Revolution in the
Music
To the song cycle Five Patriotic Songs belong:
1)Isamaa ilu hoieldes (Cherishing the Beauty of the Land
of my Fathers)
2) Eestlane olen ja eestlaseks jään (Estonian I Am, and
Estonian I Will Be) was first sung in May 1988. With this
song started the real Singing revolution.
3) Kaunimad laulud (The Finest of Songs)
4) Mingem üles mägedele (Let’s Go Up to the Hills)
5) Sind surmani (Until I Die)