Medieval Days in the Old Town of Tallinn will take place
July 6 - 9 AD 2023

Program

City and historic tours

Tournament

Fun on Thursday, 6 July

Thursday, 6 JULY

10:00 – 16:30 On the stage of the town hall square

12:00 Herold’s greetings to the townspeople
13:00 Performance of the people of Olde Hansa
14:00 Games and competitions for the townspeople
15:30 Mistress Katharina will talk about the clothing worn in those times
16:00 Ensemble Orient Accident Trio

17:30 The opening procession starts at the Viru gates, followed by the opening ceremony at the Town Hall square.

18:00 After the opening ceremony, slackline world champion Tauri Vahesaar will continue with the trick spectacle “From the Sun and the Moon”, who will descend from the sky as an angel, waking up the sun and the moon. On the ground, the dance steps of the fire artists Karin and Alisa and the live fire mix into a captivating spectacle.

The Medieval Market at the Town Hall Square and the Medieval Village around Niguliste are open until the clock strikes 7 in the evening.

EXHIBITION at the Great Guild Hall “Why is Estonia not a kingdom?”

Every day between 10:00-18:00
The exhibition will discuss the nature of kingship from a global perspective and explore how the concept of kingship has been used in interpretations of Estonian society in both ancient and medieval times. Estonian History Museum, Suurgilt building (Pikk tn 17). Entrance with a museum ticket, 12/8 tokens (euro). The exhibition is also in English.

Visiting Tallinn Town Hall

Thu to Sat 11:00-16:00

Tallinn’s medieval town hall is open from the basement to the attic. You can enter until 15:30. Tokens – 5 euros/3 euros.
The oldest town hall in Northern Europe, a symbol of city power and a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, the construction history of which dates back to the 13th century. First mentioned in 1322 and completed in its final size in the heyday of the Hanseatic city in 1404.

The Town Hall Clock Tower can be climbed from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., entry is open until 5:30 p.m. Ticket €4/€2.

FRIDAY, 7 July

10:00 – 17:30 On the stage of the town hall square

12:00 Herold’s greetings and ceremonial honouring of the best merchants with wreaths.
12:30 Games and competitions for the townspeople
13:00 Old dance ensemble “Saltatriculi”
14:00 Medieval folk tales and music by Polina Cherkassova
15:00 Ensemble “Tabulatura” from Hungary
16:00 Old dance ensemble “Saltatriculi”
16:30 Mistress Catherine talks about clothing in those times
17:00 Ensemble “Tabulatura” from Hungary

The Medieval Market at the Town Hall Square and the Medieval Village around Niguliste are open until the clock strikes 7 in the evening.

Hopner house

13.00- 15.30 Come and take a picture of yourself as a medieval character. Photographer Nathan Popa (USA), whose love for the Middle Ages has brought him to live in Tallinn, will welcome you in the merchant’s living room of the Hopner House (Vanaturu Kael 3). You can adorn yourself on the spot with body coverings fit for respectable ladies and gentlemen of the city. About 30 minutes should be reserved for taking pictures. Please let us know your wish (1-4 people) in advance by emailing info@hopnerimaja.eu. Token – 45 euros, can be purchased from HERE.
In advance, you can familiarise yourself with the photographer’s handwriting HERE.

St Nicholas’ Church

18:00 Duo Obsolute present their record
The duo consists of two musicians – Jaanika Kuusik (soprano) and Riivo Kallasmaa (oboe), and the repertoire includes songs from the 9th century to the present day (folk hymns, Gregorian chants). Entrance to the museum with a ticket is 8/12 euros from the checkout and from the museum’s website.

Town Hall

19:00 Concert “Shakespeare and Music”
Shakespeare was a very musical writer and music plays an important role in his work. There are allusions to music in thirty-two of Shakespeare’s plays and five hundred passages of text, from complex metaphors to practical remarks. Several plays have songs, the tunes of some of which are known to us. In order to understand the multi-layered nature of Shakespeare’s texts, and to enjoy his wit, mastery of his wordplay and beauty, we should know the cultural background of his era (music). Shakespeare’s time was also a period of flourishing for English music.
The Rondellus concert features songs and instrumental pieces that Shakespeare mentioned in his plays or whose texts were used in them. The musicians explain and explain the background of each piece.
Ensemble Rondellus:
Maria Staak (vocals, wheel lyre)
Robert Staak (lute, percussion)
Johanna-Maria Jaama (fiddle)
Johannes Christopher Staak (singing, recorders, wheel lyre, bagpipes)
You can purchase a token (€10) HERE.

Ensemble Tabulatura (Hungary)

Tabulatura 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 the music that was once widespread in historical Hungary. At their concerts, they use historical instruments and, if possible, period settings, which enhance the experience of concert visitors, creating an authentic atmosphere and mood.
In addition to its concerts, the band also takes part in thematic concerts of Rákócz, Balassi, Tinód, Zsigmond, St. Elizabeth, Mátyás Hunyad, Kálvin, Shakespeare, St. István et al. from festivals and concerts and various traditional events both at home and abroad.
Over the years, six LPs have been released, in addition to this, the band has contributed to the recordings of many other artists’ music, as performers 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 era.
The ensemble has permanent members and, depending on the specifics of the programs, several permanent participants.
Permanent members are:
Huber Henriett: recorders, hurdy-gurdy, percussion,
Rossa Levente, band leader: rebec, quinton violin, violin, baroque violin, voice
Bencze Balázs, artistic director: lutes, cobza, penorcon, theorbed cister, baroque guitar, classical guitar, lyre, voice
Lénárd Kata: voice (Baroque and Renaissance), harpsichord
Richter Dorka: bass rebec, viola da gamba, baroque cello
Szabolcs Ákos: percussion
Other singers: Szabó Eniko (folk and archaic), and Pálmai Árpád (Gregorian and Renaissance).
Historical wind instruments will be played by: Pászti György, Lévai Péter, and Molnár Péter (chrome horn, bagpipe, shawm, Renaissance and medieval recorders, curtal and Turkish pipe).

SATURDAY, 8 July

10:00 – 17:00 On the stage of the town hall square

12:00 Herold’s greetings
12:10 Ensemble “Tabulatura” from Hungary
13:00 Old dance ensemble “Soldans” from Finland
13:30 Traveling musicians Johanna-Maria Jaama and Robert Staak
14:00 Ensemble “Tabulatura” from Hungary
14:45 Games and competitions for the townspeople
15:00 Traveling musicians Johanna-Maria Jaama and Robert Staak.
16:00 Oriental caravan with musicians and dancers – Müstika Stuudio & friends (Estonia-Lithuania-Finland-Greece)

Festivities continue when the hour strikes 6 in the evening on the Niguliste Hill at the Medieval Village until it is 9 in the evening.

St Nicholas’ Church

16:00 Half an hour of medieval organ music Entrance to the museum with a ticket is 8/12 euros from the checkout and from the museum’s website.

SUNDAY, 9 July

10:00 – 17:00 On the stage of the town hall square

12:00 Traveling theatre Tricktrek performance “Kuthi”
12:30 Old dance ensemble Fioretto
13:00 Cirkusstudio Folie performance “Two exquisite penopons and Miss Mia” Performed by: Mia Erika Peterson, Mikk Bernadt and Rasmus Randla
13:30 Kaari Uus plays nyckelharpa
14:00 Traveling theatre Tricktrek performance “Kuthi”
14:30 Kaari Uus plays nyckelharpa
15:00 Old dance ensemble Fioretto
16:00 Cirkusstudio Folie performance “Two exquisite penopons and Miss Mia” Performed by: Mia Erika Peterson, Mikk Bernadt and Rasmus Randla
16:30 Final words

The Medieval Market at the Town Hall Square and the Medieval Village around Niguliste are open until the clock strikes 5 in the evening.

Hopner house

13:00 Short film about the Middle Ages “The Prince” (in English) in the living room (Diele) of a merchant’s house (Vanaturu Kael 3). Free of charge.
Before watching, the townspeople and guests from further afield can get to know the author Nathan Popa (USA). Who talks about his connection with the Middle Ages and how he came to Tallinn on his artistic path. The work has won several awards and was completed in Estonia.

St Nicholas’ Church

15:00 dulcimer duo Paulina Andrejeva ja Miia Polding. Paulina and Mia’s friendship started in 2017 in the dulcimer orchestra Sotto Voce. The idea for the duo arose in 2020 when both started studying at the Tallinn Music School named after Georg Ots. The dulcimer is close to their hearts because it is a very special instrument – very old on the one hand, yet so new. The further development of the dulcimer is still ongoing and many different techniques are still undiscovered. At the concert, they perform medieval music and folk music arrangements.

16:00 Organ half hour
During the Medieval Days, St Nicholas’ Church’s newly restored choir organ will be played, which is especially suitable for Renaissance and Baroque music. Organists who keep early music in their hearts will come to play.
Entrance to the concert with a museum ticket (12/8€)

Organisers: Estonian Folk Art and Handicraft Union and Hopner House

www.medievaldays.ee
www.folkart.ee
www.hopnerimaja.eu