Tallinn Old Town Days. Estonian Bagpipe Patterns
The concert “Estonian Bagpipe Patterns” is a sonic journey created through the collaboration of six musicians, in which folk chorales and church melodies are interwoven with motif-based bagpipe music, much like traditional woven belt patterns, into a unified journey into the history of our people.
The bagpipes are played by traditional musicians with backgrounds from the Viljandi Culture Academy of the University of Tartu:
Kadri Allikmäe, Helery Kõrvemaa, Merili Kask and Ulvi Võsa – bagpipes
Hanna Miina Kivisäk – fiddle, vocals
Koidu Ahk – accordion
The bagpipe has been virtually the only dance instrument of our people for many centuries — according to historical sources, for at least 500 years. This musical journey connects Estonian bagpipe music with the history of the Estonian people under the influence of various powers throughout time. The concert features motif-based bagpipe music from old Estonian bagpipers such as Juhan Maaker and Jan Pulk. Alongside the bagpipes, the fiddle and accordion — long-standing rivals of the bagpipe — are also played. The audience will also hear folk chorales, two Orthodox church melodies, arrangements of other traditional pieces, and original compositions.
Most of the music performed at the concert comes from the collaborative album “Torupillikirjad” (“Estonian Bagpipe Patterns”) by Kadri Allikmäe and the other musicians, released at the end of 2024. The album is based on Kadri Allikmäe’s master’s thesis in traditional music at the Viljandi Culture Academy of the University of Tartu, focusing on motifs in bagpipe music.
According to bagpiper Kadri Allikmäe, the concert’s title emerged from her initial attempt in her master’s research to explore the possibility of interpreting traditional woven belt patterns on the bagpipe. She ultimately arrived at the conclusion that older Estonian bagpipe music is itself motif-based. “This discovery gave me wings for creating arrangements of several pieces and for composing original music,” she explained. “In addition, I was interested in whether bagpipe music — which for centuries helped hold together the communities of Estonians and Livonians — could be something sacred for us today.”
The event is part of the programme of the 44th Tallinn Old Town Days festival.
Listen to the album “Estonian Bagpipe Patterns” here: https://linktr.ee/kadriallikmae
Read more about the album: https://sites.google.com/view/albumtorupillikirjad/
