The Baltics - Tallinn & Riga

Song Festival Grounds - Tallinn

I took this photo a few days later, after the song festival had concluded. Notice the large monochrome portrait of Lenin mounted between the stage and the tower.

(Music link: "Mis maa see on")

As I mentioned, the singing traditions of the Baltics later played a part in re-establishing those small countries as independent nations. Starting in the mid-1980's, mass demonstrations and other acts of civil disobedience occurred in the Baltics and other parts of the Soviet Union. Such events gave voice to the national aspirations of citizens in the non-Russian parts of the USSR, and to widespread dissatisfaction throughout the USSR with the stagnate, state-owned economy, the scarcity of consumer goods, and the lack of personal, cultural and political freedom. 

The mass protests in the Baltics featured the singing of national songs and hymns that were forbidden by the Soviet government. The Song Festival Grounds became a focus of the demonstrations in Estonia. At the peak of the demonstrations, more than 300,000 people crowded the amphitheater and surrounding grounds - this in a country of only about 1.3 million people.The story of these events is told in a 2006 documentary film, The Singing Revolution. (Link for trailer: "The Singing Revolution")

(Music link: "Ilus Maa")

All three of the Baltic countries regained their independence in 1991, a few months before the final dissolution of the Soviet Union. 

Flag of the Republic of Estonia

(Source: http://placesaroundtheworld.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/eestilipp.jpg)

Laulupidu continues as a cherished national tradition in Estonia. The Soviet flags you see in my photos of the Song Festival Grounds have been replaced by the blue, black and white flag of independent Estonia. The portrait of Lenin is long gone. Gustav Ernesaks, composer of "Mu Isamaa on Minu Arm" and one of the heroes of the 1969 Laulupidu, lived to see Estonian independence restored - he died in 1993 at the age of 84. A larger-than-life statue of him was dedicated on the Song Festival Grounds in 2004. It shows Ernesaks seated on the ground, chin resting on his hand, gazing toward the stage - as if enjoying the festival performances. The combined choirs and the audience sing "Mu Isamaa on Minu Arm," the once banned national song, at the conclusion of each Laulupidu. The festival torch is extinguished at the last notes.

The most recent Laulupidu was held in July 2019. Here are links for the official website: "My Fatherland is My Love" and one of the massed choir songs: "Ta Lendab Mesipuu Poole"