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The earliest mentioning of Estonian singing and dancing dates back to Saxo Grammaticus' Gesta Danorum (c. 1179).^[1] Saxo speaks of Estonian warriors who sang at night while waiting for an epic battle. The Estonian folk music tradition is broadly divided into 2 periods. The older folksongs are also referred to as runic songs, songs in the poetic metre regivärss the tradition shared by all Baltic-Finnic peoples. Runic singing was widespread among Estonians until the 18th century, when it started to be replaced by rhythmic folksongs. Professional Estonian musicians emerged in the late 19th-century at the time of Estonian national awakening. Nowadays the most known Estonian composers are Arvo Pärt and Veljo Tormis.

History[link]

Folk music[link]

Bagpipes or Torupillimängija

Estonian runo-song (Estonian: regilaul) has been extensively recorded and studied, especially those sung by women. They can come in many forms, including work songs, ballads and epic legends. Much of the early scholarly study of runo-song was done in the 1860s by Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald, who used them to compose the Estonian national epic, Kalevipoeg. By the 20th century, though, runo-song had largely disappeared from Estonia, with vibrant traditions existing only in Setumaa and Kihnu.

Traditional wind instruments derived from those used by shepherds were once widespread, but are now more rarely played. Other instruments, including the fiddle, zither, concertina and accordion are used to play polka or other dance music. The kantele (Estonian: kannel) is a native instrument that is now more popular among Estonian-Americans than in its homeland. Nevertheless, Estonian kannel musicians include Igor Tõnurist and Tuule Kann.

National awakening[link]

An Estonian six stringed Kannel

After the Estonian national awakening the first professional Estonian musicians emerged. The most significant was Rudolf Tobias (1873–1918) and Artur Kapp (1878–1952). Other composers followed, such as Mart Saar (1882–1963), Artur Lemba (1885–1963), Heino Eller (1887–1970) and Cyrillus Kreek (1889–1962).

20th century[link]

In the 1960s, the Soviet government began encouraging folk art from its constituent republics. Local ethnographic bands were formed after Leiko, a choir from Värska, came together in 1964, while a less regionally-distinct form of Estonian folk music was soon promoted,

beginning with the formation of Leigarid in 1969. The 1950s and 60s also saw the publication of Herbert Tampere's Eesti rahvalaule viisidega (Estonian folk songs with melodies), a collection of folk songs. The first LP of traditional music, Eesti rahvalaule ja pillilugusid (Estonian folk songs and instrumental pieces) was released in 1967. In the 1980s, a series of festivals took place that helped stimulate increasing agitation for freedom of expression; these included the 1985 conference of CIOFF, the 1986 Viru säru and 1989's Baltica.

Estonia also produced a number of classical composers of high repute during the twentieth century, including Rudolf Tobias (1873–1918), Heino Eller (1887–1970), Artur Kapp (1878–1952), Artur Lemba (1885–1963), Mart Saar (1882–1963), Lepo Sumera (1950–2000), Eduard Tubin (1905–1982) and the living composers mentioned below.

Today[link]

These celebrations of traditional life have inspired multiple later composers who modernized traditional music, including Olev Muska and Coralie Joyce, Kirile Loo, Veljo Tormis and the Estonian-Australian choir Kiri-uu. Other modern Estonian musicians include the influential composers René Eespere (1953–), Ester Mägi (1922–), Arvo Pärt (1935–), Urmas Sisask (1960–), Veljo Tormis (1930–) and Erkki-Sven Tüür (1959–).

There are several yearly music festivals of Estonia.

The girl band Vanilla Ninja are one of the best-known Estonians in popular music, having had success in several Central European countries. Kerli has had moderate success in the United States.

Metsatöll is a folk-metal band combining runo-song and traditional folk instruments with metal. Another Estonian folk metal group is Raud-ants, who performed at the annual minority language music festival Liet-Lavlut with a song in Votic.

See also[link]

• Estonian Song Festival
• List of Estonian choirs
• Estonian rock
• Viljandi Folk Music Festival

References[link]

1. ^ The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians; p.358 ISBN 0-333-23111-2

• Cronshaw, Andrew. "Singing Revolutions". 2000. In Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed.), World Music, Vol. 1: Africa, Europe and the Middle East, pp 16–24. Rough Guides Ltd, Penguin Books. ISBN 1-85828-636-0

External links[link]

• (French) Audio clips: Traditional music of Estonia. Musée d'Ethnographie de Genève. Accessed November 25, 2010.
• Music of Estonia at the Open Directory Project
• Estmusic.com Overview of Estonian music
• Estonianmetal.com Overview of Estonian metal bands, releases, news and other events

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This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Tagged since August 2011. It has been nominated to be checked for its neutrality. Tagged since February 2009.

Lauris Reiniks
Background information
Birth name	Lauris Reiniks
Born	(1979-07-11) July 11, 1979 (age 32) Dobele, Latvia
Origin	Riga, Latvia
Genres	Pop, pop-rock
Occupations	Singer, songwriter, actor, TV Host
Years active	1998–present
Labels	MicRec (2008–present) MicRec PM(2005–2008) Platforma Records (2002–2005)
Website	laurisreiniks.com

Lauris Reiniks (born on July 11, 1979 in Dobele, Latvia) is a Latvian pop music singer, songwriter, television host and actor. Lauris was educated at the Jelgava Music college in Latvia and the University of Latvia, but acting skills have been honed in Los Angeles, California. He has released 7 solo albums. As a composer and recording artist Lauris Reiniks has received more than 20 National awards and has gained international recognition. The remarkable number of views of his music videos on YouTube has unofficially made him a "King of YouTube" in Latvia.^{[citation needed]} Lately Lauris Reiniks is considered as the Baltic artist.^{[citation needed]}

Early years[link]

Lauris was born in the Latvian town of Dobele, grew up in a musical family in Tērvete. Lauris' first appearance on television was at the age of five, singing in a show called Neighbors Meet. As a kid and teenager, Lauris was a soloist in a pop-rock group called “AURI” formed by his father. Together with this band Lauris gained his first stage experience; participating in different children music festivals, contests and other musical activities.

The Reiniks family (mother Dace, father Arturs, sister Ruta) used to be one of the most active singing families in the country. They regularly appeared on a broadcast called "Spiets" (The Swarm) and toured around Latvia with concerts.

In 1998 Latvian Television noticed the young and attractive Lauris and offered him to host a new musical TV show called "Nošu Spēles" (Games of Music Notes).

The show brought Lauris together with the popular Latvian composer Raimonds Pauls who invited Lauris to participate in several his music projects and record songs. This collaboration lasted for one year when Lauris realized he can write his own music and be an independent artist.

The management company Aktiv Music approached Lauris Reiniks in 2000 and offered him a record deal with Platforma Records company. That was a moment when Lauris stepped into the big scene of Latvian pop music and started his way to success and fame.

Music career highlights[link]

This section is in a list format that may be better presented using prose. You can help by converting this section to prose, if appropriate. Editing help is available. (August 2011)

Lauris Reiniks' most popular and renowned songs are "Sirds Sadeg Neparasti", "Es Neesmu Neprātīgs", "Tik Balti", "Es Tev Apmulsis", "Tev Šodien Vienalga", "Es Esmu Tev Dzīslās" in a duet with his sister Rūta, "Pasakā" in a duet with Aisha and his 2010 Baltic smash hit "Es skrienu" (I'm running). Most of his Latvian songs are written in collaboration with Mārtiņš Freimanis who wrote lyrics to Lauris's music.

• Twice Lauris Reiniks has been a winner of the annual Universality Prize, which is offered by AKKA/LAA the Latvian copyright agency for those songs that have been played most often on the radio and television in Latvia. "Tell Me" (2004) in a duet with Marija Naumova and "Sirds Sadeg Neparasti" (2007) song that had received all major music awards in Latvia already in 2003.
• He has been a voice of Coca-Cola commercial in Latvia.
• The 2003 album Lidot savādāk (To Fly Differently) certified Gold.
• In 2005 the Latvian edition of BBC popmusic magazine Top Of The Pops awarded Lauris with a title of "Latvian National Megastar 2004".
• In 2005 Lauris Reiniks releases a song "And You Came" in a duet with Estonian singer Maarja which becomes a hit both in Latvia and Estonia.
• In 2009 marketing and public relations specialists from 7guru.lv who presented a list of Latvia’s seven most successful pop musicians ranked Lauris second, right after the band Brainstorm.
• His latest 2010 studio album Es skrienu was awarded the "Best Pop Album" at Latvian Music Awards 2010. The title song "Es skrienu" from the same album was officially the best selling song of 2010 on doremi.lv – the biggest mp3 shop in Latvia.
• In 2010 Lauris Reiniks's song, video "Es skrienu" very fast becomes a national blockbuster. "Es skrienu" song has been recorded and released also in 6 more languages – Estonian ("Ma jooksen"), Lithuanian ("Aš bėgu"), Russian ("Я бегу"), Italian ("Correrò da te"), German ("Ich Renne") and English ("I Will Run"), hitting the radio charts and dance clubs in all three Baltic States – Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. The German version "Ich renne" has been included in several compilations in Germany, released by EMI Germany.
• With a music video for "Es skrienu" song Lauris has set the Baltic record as the first Baltic artist who has reached over 1 million views on YouTube in a very short period of time. That happened with a Lithuanian version called "Aš bėgu".
• In 2011 Lauris Reiniks' song "Aš bėgu" wins "Song Of The Year" award in Lithuania on TV3 Lithuania show "Vaikų Balsas 2011".
• On June 1, 2011 Lauris Reiniks releases his first album in Lithuania called "Aš bėgu". The album is Lithuanian adaptation of Lauris's award winning Latvian album "Es skrienu", featuring tracks in Lithuanian from the original Latvian album as well as previously unpublished English versions of Lauris's most popular Latvian songs.
• In July, 2011 Lauris Reiniks releases his first album in Estonia called "Ma jooksen". The album is Estonian adaptation of Lauris's award winning Latvian album "Es skrienu", featuring tracks in Estonian from the original Latvian album as well as previously unpublished English versions of Lauris's most popular Latvian songs.
• September 2011, Lauris Reiniks "Es skrienu" album certifies Gold in Latvia.
• February 2012, Lauris Reiniks wins " Radio Hit Of The Year" award with a song "Es skrienu" at Latvian Music Awards 2011.

Television[link]

Ever since 1998 Lauris Reiniks has been hosting several TV shows for Latvian Television LTV, TV3 Latvia (Viasat) and LNT Television. Lauris has done several National TV commercials and print ads. In 2010 Lauris gets his first National TV award "Zelta Vilnis 2009" (Golden Wave) in a nomination "TV Personality Of The Year".

Lauris Reiniks has be a host of following TV shows and projects:

• 1998–2003: "Nošu spēles" LTV
• 1998–2001: Internation children music festival "Saules zaķis" LTV
• 2000 : Eurovision Song Contest 2000 host and spokesperson from Latvia. LTV
• 2000: VIII Latvian school and youth song and dance festival LTV
• 2000: "Rīga 800"; LTV
• 2001–2005: "Kam gaišāka galva?" LTV
• 2002–2003: "Troksnis" LTV
• 2003: "SeMS" LTV 7
• 2004: "Junior Eurovision Latvia 2004" LTV; co-hosted by Rūta Reinika.
• 2005: IX Latvian school and youth song and dance festival LTV
• 2005: "SeMS " LTV 7
• 2007: "Dziedi ar zvaigzni" (Sing With a Star) TV3 Latvia, co-hosted by Iveta Feldmane.
• 2008: "Koru kari" " (Clash of the Choirs). TV3 Latvia
• 2009: "Muzikālā banka 2008" (Latvian Radio 2 Music Awards) LTV
• 2009: "Latvijas zelta talanti 2009" (Latvia’s Golden Talents) LNT
• 2009–2010: "Latvijas ģimeņu dziedāšanas svētki" (Latvia’s Singing Families) LNT
• 2012: "Pelnrušķīte" (Cinderella) LNT

Dancing With The Stars[link]

On April 8, 2007 live on TV3 Latvia Lauris Reiniks becomes the first season winner of Latvian "Dancing with the Stars" (Dejo ar Zvaigzni). He was partnered by a professional ballroom dancer and many time Latin dance champion – Aleksandra Kurusova. In the spring of 2008, an ABC Television affiliate in California, USA presented a story about Lauris as a successful pop musician and winner of the Latvian version of "Dancing with the Stars".

4 years later (2011) Lauris Reiniks is invited to participate in the same kind of show in Lithuania -"Šok su manimi" (Dance with me) on TV3 Lithuania. After 3 episodes, Lauris and his partner Aleksandra gave their place to the eliminated couple and withdrew from the show.

Acting[link]

Lauris Reiniks's acting credits include a role of Rolf in a musical The Sound Of Music in 2004/2005 and Olympus in a musical "Autoplanet" in 2005. In May, 2007 Lauris Reiniks starts working on a motion picture "Dancis pa trim" (Three to Dance) produced by "Kaupo" film studio. He is playing Edvards, a Latvian soldier during the latter stages of World War II. The movie comes out on big screens in 2011. In 2010 Lauris Reiniks is playing one of the leading roles in the world famous play "Ladies Night" (Kailie Brieži) produced by Domino Teatras and staged at National Theater in Riga. The show is still on-going.

Eurovision Song Contest / Eirodziesma[link]

• 2001 – Lauris Reiniks in a duet with Linda Leen finishes 2nd at Latvian National selection with a song "I Wish I Knew".
• 2002 – Lauris Reiniks finishes 5th at Latvian National selection Eirodziesma 2002 with a song "My Memory Tape".
• 2003 – along with Mārtiņš Freimanis and Yana Kay a trio F.L.Y. has been created specially for Eurovision Song Contest Latvian selection. With a song "Hello From Mars" they won the National preliminaries and represented Latvia at Eurovision Song Contest 2003 taking place in Riga. The song finished 24th.^[1]
• 2009 – Lauris Reiniks's song "I wish I could pretend" performed by Kristina Zaharova finishes 2nd in Irish Eurovision Finals "Eurosong 2009".
• 2010 – Lauris Reiniks' song "Your Morning Lullaby" gets into the finals of Latvian Eurovision National preliminaries "Eirodziesma 2010" finishing 4th.
• 2011 – Lauris Reiniks finishes 2nd at Latvian Eurovision National preliminaries "Eirodziesma 2011" with his song "Banjo Laura". The Spanish version "La chica del Banjo" of the song is being released a month later.

Discography[link]

• Planet 42 (2002)
• Lidot savādāk (2003)
• Tik balti (2003)
• Never Look Back (with F.L.Y.) (2003)
• Debesskrāpju spīts (2005)
• Nakts veikalā (2007)
• Es skrienu (2010)
• Aš bėgu (2011)
• Ma jooksen (2011)

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lauris Reiniks

• Official website
• Lauris Reiniks on Facebook
• Lauris Reiniks on Twitter
• Lauris Reiniks's channel on YouTube
• Lauris Reiniks on Myspace
• Lauris Reiniks at the Internet Movie Database

Luisa Värk
Luisa Värk in Eesti otsib superstaari
Background information
Birth name	Luisa Värk
Born	(1987-02-06) 6 February 1987 (age 25) Elva, Estonia
Genres	Pop, Country
Years active	2007-present

Luisa Värk (born 6 February 1987 in Elva) is an Estonian singer.

Värk was a runner-up of on the first season of Estonian Pop Idol (Eesti otsib superstaari).^[1] She was also a runner-up on Tantsud tähtedega, Estonia's version of Dancing with the Stars. Her dancing partner was Martin Parmas.^[2]

Värk participated in the Estonian Eurovision national final Eurolaul 2008 with two songs."It's Never Too Late" with Estonian band Traffic^[3] and "God inside your soul" with Margus Vaher.

Luisa was born one day before fellow singer Kerli, who was also born in Elva, Estonia.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Luisa Värk at the Internet Movie Database

Ott Lepland
Background information
Birth name	Ott Lepland
Born	(1987-05-17) 17 May 1987 (age 25)
Origin	Tallinn, Estonia
Genres	Pop, rock
Instruments	Vocals, piano
Years active	1995–present
Labels	Crunch
Website	www.lepland.ee

Ott Lepland (born 17 May 1987) is an Estonian singer, who is best known as the winner of the third season of Eesti otsib superstaari. Lepland represented Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan with the song "Kuula".

Lepland has been singing since he was a child. He released four albums with children songs in 1995 and 1996. At the moment Lepland is studying at Georg Ots' Tallinn Music School pop and jazz singing. He has also studied piano for ten years.^[1]

Ott has performed in several plays, including the role of Troy Bolton in Estonian State Puppet & Youth Theatre's musical, the Estonian version of High School Musical.

In 2010, Lepland released his self-titled first album after winning the Estonian version of Pop Idol. The self-titled album consists of 12 songs, including singles "Otsides ma pean su jälle leidma", "Süte peal sulanud jää", etc.

In December 2010, a fan book of Lepland was released, it is titled "Lubage mul olla. Ott Lepland." (Let me be. Ott Lepland) with subtitle "8 kuud superstaarina" (8 months as a superstar).

In 2011, Ott participated in another TV3 TV show Laulupealinn (Capital of songs/singing), where Ott represented Estonian town Kärdla. Every week, Lepland had to perform with partners from Kärdla or Hiiu County, including his grandmother, nephew, and a local mixed choir. Lepland won the show and Kärdla has now the title of Singing Capital of Estonia.

His second album Laulan ma sind was released in November 2011.

He participated in Eurovision 2012, winning 6th place with his song "Kuula", which won 120 points.

[edit] Songs performed in Eesti otsib superstaari

Discography[link]

• "Oti jõululaulud" (Seafarm Recs; 1995)
• "Oti suvelaulud" (Seafarm Recs; 1996)
• "Ott ja Valged jänesed" (BG Muusik; 1996)
• "Ott ja sõbrad" (BG Muusik; 1996)
• "Ott Lepland" (Crunch Industry; 2010)
• "Laulan ma sind" (Crunch Industry; 2011)

Singles[link]

• "Otsides ma pean su jälle leidma" (December 2009)
• "Süte peal sulanud jää" (February 2010)
• "Läbi öise Tallinna" (April 2010)
• "Üheskoos on olla hea" (June 2010)
• "Kohtume jälle" (October 2010)
• "Sinuni" (with Lenna Kuurmaa) (December 2010)
• "Öö" (April 2011)
• "Tunnen elus end" (October 2011)
• "Kuula" (January 2012)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Ott Lepland discography at MusicBrainz
• Ott Lepland at the Internet Movie Database

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (May 2011)

Getter Jaani
Getter Jaani (2012)
Background information
Born	(1993-02-03) 3 February 1993 (age 19)
Origin	Tallinn, Estonia
Genres	Pop, electropop
Years active	2009–present
Labels	Moonwalk (2010–present)
Website	www.getterjaani.com

Getter Jaani (born 3 February 1993 in Tallinn) is an Estonian pop singer. She represented Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 with her entry "Rockefeller Street".^[1] Despite being an initial favourite and qualifying for the final, she finished in the penultimate position at 24th place.

Getter Jaani came to stardom on the third season of Eesti otsib superstaari, an Estonian version of Pop Idol, where she finished 4th which led her to the role of Sharpay Evans in "High School Musical" in Tallinn (2010). She has also taken part as herself in a popular TV series, called "Riigimehed", aired on ETV (2010).

Getter was born and raised in Tallinn where she continues her studies at the Centre of Vocational Disciplines to become a tailor-stylist. She also takes acting classes at the School of Fine Arts, led by Kaari Sillamaa who has written the Estonian lyrics for the Estonian Eurovision entries of 1996 ("Kaelakee hääl") and 1999 ("Diamond of Night").

On May 26, she presented the scores on behalf of Estonia for the grand-finals of the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 held in Baku, Azerbaijan.

[edit] Songs performed on Eesti otsib superstaari

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

Extended Plays[link]

• 2010: Parim Päev EP (Moonwalk)

Singles[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website