Rahvalaulud ja rahvamuusika Virumaal

The article discusses folk songs in Virumaa region, starting from their earliest forms until today. Like Estonian folk songs in general, folk songs in Virumaa are also divided into two main historic-stylistic layers: the ancient or runo verse (in Finland usually called Kalevala-metric or runosong) and the newer or end-rhymed folk songs. The former is a unique cultural phenomenon, the poetic-musical style of which is known only at Baltic-Finnic peoples, whereas the latter, by their form and music, are close to the folk songs of European peoples in the past few centuries. Between the two, there is a smaller group of so-called transitional folk songs. Virumaa region is part of the northern Estonian linguistic and cultural area, which also covers western Estonia and the islands, and which can be regarded as the cradle of ancient classical Estonian culture. This was the region of the earliest permanent farming as well as transfer to cultivating economy, which brought about sedentary settlement, the formation of the oldest Estonian villages and patriarchal extended family. It was probably here that in the last millennium B.C. – in the later development stage of the Proto-Baltic-Finnic language – the (Kalevala-metric) runo verse folk song was born, which spread all over Estonia and also to other Baltic-Finnic peoples. The oldest types of Estonian runosong (regilaul) are thought to have emerged in northern Estonia. Connection with the historical tradition of the region has persisted until today. In recent years the creation of new modern runosongs has gained impetus. Although the purity of form often leaves to be desired, they are a living proof of the vitality of the runo verse.