Opening permanent exhibition

A new permanent exhibition dealing with the history of the song festivals will open at the Tartu Song Festival Museum (Jaama 14) on 19 June 2019.

The new permanent exhibition “Creation of the Song Festival” centres on the evening before the first song festival and the festival tradition that began in Tartu. The aim of the exhibition is to give visitors an idea of who ‒ and how ‒ created this important part of the Estonian identity.

However, the exhibition encompasses more than just the origin and establishment of the Estonian song festival tradition. On the journey through time towards the present day, we also take a look at newer rituals that have merged with the festival traditions and thus become integral to the song festival we know and love today.

Questions such as how the tradition of lighting the song festival fire and following its journey began, when different types of choirs or even instruments were allowed to take part in the festivals or how Gustav Ernesaks’ song „Mu isamaa on minu arm“ (“My Fatherland is My Love”) became the unofficial Estonian anthem will find their answers.

On their journey throughout the history of the song festivals, visitors can see how the festivals became events that handle topical societal and political issues. The exhibition is meant to try and showcase the development, influence and magic of the song festival.