Estonian Sledge* Singing
The Estonian traditional way of singing springs from shamanism. To become attuned to it, close your eyes, relax and let these three words flow freely through your mind. Stay relaxed and curious. Follow all the images, feelings, and sensations which arise in association with these words.
My reflection from the exercise:
ESTONIA
We have been addressed as Estonians by other European people - by Germans, Danes, and people from the Latin countries. In 1857 we ourselves took over the name Eestlased - Estonians. Before that throughout thousands of years we called ourselves Maarahvas - The People of the Earth. We are losing the qualities of being People of the Earth as we become Estonians - a modern nation.
SLEDGE
The sledge is the oldest universal vehicle for transportation. Trade caravans on sledges connected peoples from ocean to ocean during wintertime. The prints from the sledge are two parallel lines heading towards the horizon. The two lines are always together, but they never meet.
SINGING
In Estonian the word for wedding is laulatus, the literal meaning being something like "put together singing." Estonian Song Festivals attract almost one fifth of the 1.4 million population to come and sing together.
The tunes for Runic or Sledge singing cannot be learned from books. Good folk singer Toomas Köömel said in 1913: "It's not choral singing, where everybody has to sing the same. These are willow tunes, each sings as he likes."
The willow tunes can be learned, when you go alone without speaking to others and address some tree, stone or well, asking them to teach you the tune. If you are very quiet and open your heart, the tune starts to sing to you. Let it go on singing to you, try to become attuned to it, and don't forget to thank the place for its favour before you leave.
Estonian Runic singing is an ancient and powerful tool for our young and independent nation. To put it to use one has to step into timelessness and to feel the sledge footprints heading towards the horizon. Both of them follow the same direction by their very own way. Every verse is paralleled with at least one another, which adds a different aspect to the first one. The words in the same verse begin as a rule with the same consonants , and have the same vowel sounds - this empowers the singing.
The folk music group 'Oort' is looking for ways to use Estonian Runic singing again as a tool for communication. This CD is a step forward on their journey.

Mikk Sarv, July, 2001

* The traditional Estonian thousand-year-old way of singing is called in Estonian regilaulmine. The literal translation of it is 'sledge singing'. In English we have used the term Runic Song, which originates from Finland.