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The President of the Republic at the Opening Concert of the 24th Song Festival on July 3 2004 at the Song Festival Grounds
03.07.2004


Dear people, festival participants and spectators,

It is a wonderful feeling to be here at the Song Festival Grounds, among one's own people. Here we perceive ourselves as members of one big and happy people belonging together. At this very place we have for decades felt happy about being together and proud of the riches of the Estonian culture. That's here, where Estonians from all over the world have met. Welcoming home all those who have gone from here at different times and for different reasons, we are expecting you back to our common homeland, Estonia.

For now, the tradition of our nationwide song festivals is 135 years old. Only few traditions can withstand the test of time for such a long time and still make new friends. Our song festivals are beloved and longed for like before. I suppose the reason for it to be that singing together is one part of our people's life. Supported by singing, the Estonians became both a people and free. It was just here, at our sacred place, where Estonia's freedom fight reached its climax.

Song festivals through history have instilled in us pride about being Estonians. It is true that 135 years ago there were only two songs of Estonian origin on the programme of the First Nationwide Song Festival, but the more powerfully sounded "Sind surmani" and "Mu isamaa on minu arm" by Aleksander Kunileid. And later singing together the very same patriotic poem of Lydia Koidula set to music by Gustav Ernesaks became the most impressive expression of our national spirit.

Today's festival is already the twenty-forth but only the seventh in a free Estonia. The song festivals for years expressed our resistance to foreign culture and power, and sent to our fellow Estonians and to the whole world a message of our desire for freedom. Now we are united and strong not in resistance but in a values-based alliance with other European nations. Living in the European culture area means living in a community of equal but also differing partners. In this community, we can be successful only if we also in the age of globalization and spread of mass culture maintain the singularity of our culture and our self-reliance.

The tradition of Estonian song and dance festivals belongs to the human cultural treasury. This has been confirmed by UNESCO who registered our festivals as one of the masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity. Thousands of attendees having arrived here is also a proof of that. Among them, there are our guests and fellow Estonians from overseas, where the preservation of Estonian culture means both a way of life and a mission.

Let me thank from my heart all singers, dancers, musicians and their instructors. Your commitment gives birth to beauty, which embellishes our days. I believe that from here all the participants and spectators take with them, in addition to everlasting impressions, a special sense of togetherness that helps us keep ourselves together as one nation and strengthens the tradition of song festivals.

I am sure that those who preserve Estonian heritage across the world will participate in next festivals as well. I hope that Alar Teose, a young dancer from Portland's "Tulehoidjad" who today marks his 14th birthday, then, too, will be among others. I wish him and all the other participants many happy returns of the day. I congratulate all those present who have an opportunity to witness a joyful celebration that joins together the whole of Estonia.

Today, also another important event is going to take place: soon the veil will fall from a monument to Gustav Ernesaks. Thus, on the Estonian Male Choirs Association's initiative and supported by our state, local governments and whole people, the Grand Old Man of our Song Festivals will arrive back on the Song Festival Grounds. So may our most beautiful songs sound in his honour!

A joyous festival to all of us!


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