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12:00 Herold’s opening greetings to the townspeople
12:10 Performance of the people of Olde Hansa
14:00 Travelling musicians Robert and Johanna
15:00 Early music ensemble “Tabulatura” from Hungary
16:00 Travelling musicians Robert and Johanna
17:00 Opening procession from the Viru gates to the Town Hall square
The opening procession of the 25th Medieval Days starts on July 5th at 17:00 at the gates of Viru.
This is followed by a ceremony in the spirit of the times on the Town Hall square with the participation of burghers, artisans, town mistresses, heralds and distant guests.
This time, taiko drums give the kick-off, rhythm, energy and momentum to Medieval Days. The Mutek TAIKO duo and the Mutek TAIKO drum school, whose lead drummers are Hele-Riin Uib-Pachel and Marilin Kaprei, will perform. The duo has performed at several concerts and festivals both in Estonia and abroad.
The townspeople are also expected to participate in the opening procession. The band accompanying the opening procession is Tabulatura from Hungary.
Dress up in medieval clothes and come join in!
The medieval market and village on the Town Hall Square and around St Nicholas’ are open until the clock strikes 7 in the evening.
18:00 Ensemble Triskele “Fly over the sorweful“ in St Nicholas’ Church (Niguliste 3). Ducats that are included in the museum ticket can be purchased on site. learn more about the performers HERE.
19:00 Historical tour with Ülle Sillasoo “Plants in the late Middle Ages before and after consuming” Kuldjala tower (Gümnaasiumi 1). Ducats can be purchased HERE.
19:00 City tour “Tallinn – city of towers” (in Russian) guide Eduard Paul Kohlhof. Starting point at Fat Margaret tower (Pikk 70). Ducats can be purchased from HERE.
20:00 Early music ensemble Rondellus, “Decameron and music” in Tallinn Town Hall (Raekoja plats 1). Ducats can be purchased HERE.
Tabulatura (HU)
The ensemble was founded in 2000, and the band set itself the goal of introducing its listeners to medieval, renaissance and early baroque music, as well as music that was widespread in historical Hungary at the time. At their concerts, they use historical instruments and, where possible, period settings that enhance the experience of concertgoers, creating an authentic atmosphere and mood.
In addition to regular concerts, the band also takes part in various thematic festivals and concerts both at home and abroad.
Over the years, they have released six LPs, and the band has also helped record music for many other artists, appearing in historical films, plays, musicals, museums and other cultural projects. The band’s program includes music from the Middle Ages to instrumental pieces from the Reformation. The ensemble has permanent members and, depending on the specifics of the programs, several permanent participants.
Musicians:
Henriett Huber,
Katalin Lénárd Cserhalminé,
Balázs Bence,
Ádám Buda,
Levente Rossa Bors.
Rondellus “Decameron and music”. Boccaccio’s “Decameron” is still known and remembered primarily because of the piquant stories found there, but the pandemic has made this work relevant to us in many ways. In the same way that young people hiding from the plague entertained themselves and kept themselves healthy with songs, dances and playing instruments, we too can find solace, exaltation and relief from our worries in the beautiful Italian music of the time.
Rondellus ensemble:
Maria Staak – vocals, wheel lyre
Robert Staak – lute, percussion
Johanna-Maria Jaama – fiddle
Johannes Christopher Staak – vocals, recorders, wheel lyre, bagpipes
Muteki Taiko group has grown out of Muteki TAIKO Drum School (founded in 2021), creator and instructor Hele-Riin Uib-Pachel. Hele-Riin has been studying taiko drums since 2009 and improved herself under various masters. The ensemble’s mission is to bring the traditions and energy of Japanese drumming to the Estonian audience and to promote intercultural understanding and cooperation. Currently, the group consists of about fifteen members, all of whom share a passion for taiko drums and Japanese culture. Each member of the group brings a unique set of experience and skills to the ensemble, enriching its overall sound and performance style.
Muteki TAIKO group members:
Katrin Saali-Saul, Tiina Sai, Regina Tursman, Anne-Lii Molis, Viktoria Ignatjeva, Liis Peterson, Ireen Mitmann, Külli Ruus, Merike Ots, Külli Aas, Annel-Ly Kutsar
Learn more by clicking HERE.
Ensemble Triskele “Fly over the sorweful“ focuses on the work of Paul Gerhardt, the most brilliant lyricist of Lutheran hymns of the 17th century, which appears most often in older Estonian hymnals. Over time, the original church singing styles have sometimes become unrecognisable, and they have become supple and eloquent Estonian folk melodies.
the band:
Tarmo Tabas – vocals
Heikki-Rein Veromann – vocals, flutes
Toivo Sõmer – vocals, lyre, chanters, lute
Janno Mäe – vocals, percussion, bells, viola da gamba
In addition to folk chorales, the concert also includes church songs from the earlier stratum, which were formed in the 4th-5th centuries in contact with the folklore of different nations and were strongly influenced by the folk songs of the region.
12:00 The crowning of the best craftsmen with wreaths and early music ensemble MAQAM.
13:00 Early music ensemble “Tabulatura” from Hungary
14:00 Early dance ensemble “Soldans” from Finland
15:00 Thomas Ignatius (FIN) medieval music meets 1980s synthesizer music
16:00 Early music ensemble MAQAM
17:00 Early music ensemble “Tabulatura” from Hungary
The medieval market and village on the Town Hall Square and around St Nicholas’ are open until the clock strikes 7 in the evening.
12:00 – 17:00 Knights’ tournament on St. Nicholas’ Hill
15:00 Early music ensemble Tabulatura (HU) in St Nicholas’ Church (Niguliste 3). Ducats are included in the museum ticket, which can be purchased on-site.
18:00 Historical tour with Ain Mäesalu “Weaponry of the medieval talliner” in Kiek in de Kök Fortifications museum (Komandandi 2). Ducats can be purchased HERE.
19:00 Magical Scented Satchel workshop in Loewenschede tower (entrance via Tower’s square) in cooperation with Town Hall Pharmacy and master Krista Kaur from The Tallinn Botanic Garden. Ducats can be purchased from HERE.
20:00 Thomas Ignatius (FIN) medieval music meets 1980s synthesizer in Kiek in de Kök Fortifications museum (Komandandi tee 2). Ducats can be purchased from HERE.
21:30 City tour with Jaak Juske “Toompea towers and stories”. Starting in front of the Kiek in de Kök fortifications museum (Komandandi 2). FREE OF CHARGE
Thomas Ignatius (FIN)
Thomas Ignatius is the medieval alter ego of Tuomas Palonen. He is a musician known for his many attempts to reimagine the past.
His latest album has been praised, among others, by The Wire (UK) magazine and several radio stations in Europe and the USA. Palonen’s venture this time is to explore a parallel universe where digital synthesizers from the 1980s intersect with medieval melodies, resulting in the so-called medieval birthday pop.
To support the medieval nature, Palonen sings in Latin. He has also taken pains to ensure that his compositions and melodies carry a medieval feel. Palonen’s previous solo album won the Teosto Prize, Finland’s biggest music award.
Ensemble Maqam plays European and Oriental old music and interweaves it with its improvisations from folk tunes and dances, court and spiritual music from Turkey, Italy, Spain, Syria, Iran and other places. You can listen to Turkish saz, Swedish nyckelharpa, various flutes and whistles, Lithuanian birbyne, hand drums, French bagpipes and other instruments at the concert.
The ensemble consists of:
Kadi Maria Vooglaid,
Johanna-Maria Jaama,
Polina Cherkassova.
11:00 Mistress Katariina speaks of customary clothing
11:30 Wooden laboratory TrickTrek and their puppet performance “Kuthi”
12:00 Early music ensemble Musica Silentii
12:30 Wooden laboratory TrickTrek and their puppet performance “Kuthi”
13:00 Early dance ensemble Saltatriculi
13:30 Wooden laboratory TrickTrek and their puppet performance “Kuthi”
14:00 Early music ensemble Musica Silentii
15:00 Early dance ensemble Saltatriculi
16:00 Oriental travelling caravan – Studio Müstika and friends
The medieval market and village on the Town Hall Square and around St Nicholas’ are open until the clock strikes 5 in the evening.
12:00 Come and let yourself be photographed as an medieval character. In Hopner house (Raekoja plats 18). Photographer Getter Leipalu. Ducats can be purchased from HERE.
12:00 Kandleduo, Paulina Andrejeva and Miia Polding, (The kannel is an ancient Estonian stringed instrument that goes back thousands of years) St Nicholas’ Church, St Anthony’s Chapel. Ducats are included in the museum ticket. Read more about the performer HERE
13:00 Storyteller Polina’s medieval fairytales and music “The king who searched for his heart” (in Estonian) Maiden’s Tower (Lühike jalg 9A). Ducats can be purchased from HERE.
15:00 Storyteller Polina’s medieval fairytales and music “The king who searched for his heart” (in Russian) Maiden’s Tower (Lühike jalg 9A). Ducats can be purchased soon.
17:00 Fat Margaret tower’s star object, experience the history of The Cog with historic tour. Ducats come with the museum ticket.
Kandleduo Paulina Andrejeva ja Miia Poldingi the friendship began in 2017. The idea to create a Kandleduo was born a few years later when both started studying at the Tallinn Music School named after Georg Ots (now MUBA).
The kannel is a notable and close-to-heart instrument for them, it being at the same time something old but also something new. The further development of the kannel as an instrument is still ongoing and many techniques have yet to be discovered.
The repertoire of the duo Paulina & Miia consists of classical and modern music, and they also perform their own compositions, which are based on folk tunes from different countries.
Oriental travelling caravan – Müstika Studio & friends (Estonia-Lithuania-Finland).
A proper medieval celebration must not be without oriental dancers, who bring the dances of various cultures, including the wandering dancers Roma e. gipsy dances and songs. The dance performance has been put together by Berit Aicha Kalling from Müstika Studio. Müstika dancers, soloists Birgit Noormägi, Aleksandra Kogerman, and Berit Kalling herself will perform. Samai Dance Studio from Lithuania and Sarima from Finland are guests at this time.
During the days of the Medieval Days, Tallinn can experience a flourishing Hanseatic atmosphere – a medieval market with traders and workshops takes place on the Town Hall Square, and on St Nicholas’ Hill you will find a village of craftsmen and a children’s area with workshops, a knight’s school and many other exciting things.