Artists and programme

Leanne Barbo, Kadri Lepasson, Karmen Juhkam, Georg Kütt, Amanda Sepp    

SAT 15:30

Chamber Hall of the Traditional Music Center

On the 100^th birthday year of the Republic of Estonia, we’re taking a look at the part of Setomaa called Petseri County which is located on the other side of the border. Ivan Jürisaar who was born in the Petseri-Olohhova village was one of the last traditional seto zither players. He was born during the century before the last in 1890 but the archival recordings which capture the precise and rhythmic zither playing of the 85-year-old Jürisaar date back to the not-so-distant past (1975). Even though Setomaa is the last prevailing stronghold of traditional zither playing in Estonia, zither music is not very common at the local folk gatherings. Using the fretting technique to accompany dancing is rare all around Estonia despite the growing popularity of the väikekannel during the last few decades. The concert-lecture pays homage to Jürisaar and other old seto zither players and takes a peek at one of the oldest and most exciting periods of Estonian zither playing tradition. You will hear both Jürisaar himself and his contemporaries who knew him reminiscing on archival tapes. Contemporary zither players will play the songs Jürisaar used to play.