Estonian Song Festival 2009

[kaur]

I think that this is most suitable section to share my feelings that I felt yesterday.

There lives approximately 1,4 million people in Estonia. 100 000 gathered to song festival.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvZ5mCpOaus

Wiki brief info - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estonian_Song_Festival

[Stan]

Not often a former Soviet Republic can sing its way to freedom without a bullet fired and send the old bear back where he came from.

The song festival is best described here with the President's speech to the nation on none other than the 4th of July

President of the Republic
Opening of the Song Festival in Tallinn
4 Jul 2009

The meaning of song festivals and dancing has changed over time.

We have turned ourselves into a nation through singing – an Estonian-speaking nation. We have freed ourselves through singing.

With all our strength and perseverance we have sung against those who have tried to take our freedom from us.

We have reminded them with unwavering conviction that we hold our fatherland dear.

[Meinertzhagen]

I've been at its great sister song festival in Vilnius, Lithuania for the last few days. It seemed similarly well attended. It's also the 1000th anniversary of Lithuania (when was first mentioned in writing). I'm in Riga now and I'll be heading to Tallinn tomorrow. Very inspiring as a group, the Balts.

[Old Eagle]

I always tried to take visitors to the singing stage in Tallinn because it was so impressive. As I recall, the stage could accomodate something like 10,000 singers. Yeah, not audience -- singers!

I am also heartened to have heard no references to Stan singing in the chorus.

[Stan]

I've been at its great sister song festival in Vilnius, Lithuania for the last few days. It seemed similarly well attended. It's also the 1000th anniversary of Lithuania (when was first mentioned in writing). I'm in Riga now and I'll be heading to Tallinn tomorrow. Very inspiring as a group, the Balts.

Drop me a PM and perhaps we could have a non-virtual beer together in Tallinn

I am also heartened to have heard no references to Stan singing in the chorus.

You'll then be pleased to know that I still scare old ladies at the crosswalk with my somewhat open-piped Harley

[Rex Brynen]

You'll then be pleased to know that I still scare old ladies at the crosswalk with my somewhat open-piped Harley

Are you sure its the Harley that's scaring them?

[Stan]

Hey Rex,

I was recently asked about that when a local newspaper was inquiring about my personal life

With that (and little left of an imagination) I responded...

There's more little old ladies in sedans scarin' us than the other way around

Are you sure its the Harley that's scaring them?

[kaur]

Old Eagle said:

As I recall, the stage could accomodate something like 10,000 singers.

2 days ago the number was 25 000. Just singers.

[Stan]

2 days ago the number was 25 000. Just singers.

An impressive number considering the amphitheater was constructed with 15,000 singers in mind.

More available here at Lauluvaljak.

[marct]

An impressive number considering the amphitheater was constructed with 15,000 singers in mind.

More available here at Lauluvaljak.

Totally amazing, Stan!