Our Estonian Group TLÜ rahvatantsuansamble SOLVEDAJA showed us a video about the Estonian Song Celebration in Tallinn:
The Estonian Song Festival (in Estonian: laulupidu) is one of the largest amateur choral events in the world, a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. It is held every five years in July on the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds (Lauluväljak) simultaneously with the Estonian Dance Festival. The joint choir has comprised more than 30,001 singers performing to an audience of 80,000.(Wikipedia)
“Ta lendab mesipuu poole” (Words by Juhan Liiv (1864-1913), Composition: Miina Härma, Peep Savapik)
Ta lendab lillest lillesse,
ja lendab mesipuu poole;
ja tõuseb kõuepilv ülesse –
ta lendab mesipuu poole.
Ja langevad teele tuhanded;
veel koju jõuavad tuhanded
ja viivad vaeva ja hoole
ja lendavad mesipuu poole!
Hing, oh hing, sa raskel a’al –
kuis õhkad isamaa poole;
kas kodu sa, kas võõral maal –
kuis ihkad isamaa poole!
Ja puhugu vastu sull’ surmatuul
ja lennaku vastu sull’ surmakuul:
sa unustad surma ja hoole
ning tõttad isamaa poole!
Hing, oh hing, sa raskel a’al –
kuis õhkad isamaa poole;
kas kodu sa, kas võõral maal –
kuis ihkad isamaa poole!
Translation:
He flies from flower to flower
and flies toward the beehive;
and the lightning clouds are rising –
Yet he flies toward the beehive.
And thousands go down;
thousands are coming home
and will endure hard work and care
and fly to the beehive!
Soul, oh soul, oh when the times are hard –
How you desire to be in your fatherland;
whether you’re home or in a foreign land –
you want to be in your fatherland!
And death’s wind might be blowing against you
and a bullet of death might be coming towards you:
you forget about death and care
and hurry to your fatherland!
Soul, oh soul, oh when the times are hard –
How you desire to be in your fatherland;
whether you’re home or in a foreign land –
you want to be in your fatherland
Translation: Matis Rüütel