I have been invited to visit Estonia and attend the Torupilli Festival at Viljandi, on the past 23th September.
The event is held in March but the organizers were forced to reschedule to September, due to Covid-19 restrictions.
It is an familiar event, where one can really meet everyone and learn a lot about the making, teaching and playing of the bagpipes in Estonia.
We were greeted to a reception with concerts and dancing at “ The traditional music barn “(Pärimusmuusika Ait). After an overnight stay, we were offered a morning of workshops and lectures.
In the afternoon, it was off to the “Bagpipe Farm in Riidaja” (Torupillitalu Riidajal), house of the bagpipe maker Ants Tau and family. It is a beautiful property, with incredible food, and all the bagpipe playing one could wish for, until the wee hours of the morning.
On both days, we were offered individual and groups lessons, lectures and presentations.
It was a truly magnificent introduction to the region’s “state of the art” on bagpipes, and a great push and incentive for the continuation of my research of the Säkkipilli in Finland.
Special thanks to Leanne Barbo and Cätlin Mägi for the invitation.
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Teacher and Lectures were:
Ulvi Võsa, Merike Paberits, Cätlin Mägi, Sandra Vabarna, Katariin Raska, Ants Taul, Andrus Taul, Lauri Õunapuu, Hanna-Liis Lao, Leanne Barbo discuss bagpipe topics and play the instrument.
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More information:
https://www.folk.ee/sundmused/event/17-kursus/1929-torupillifestival-2
Gonçalo Cruz
is a Researcher, Musician, Educator & Maker of Bagpipes & Woodwinds.
He holds a Masters in Architecture, and is currently a Doctoral candidate at the Sibelius Academy - “Forgotten Bagpipes - The redesign of the Säkkipilli in Finland”. His research interests are in the disciplines of Music, Ethnomusicology, Organology, as well as Art & Design, History & Archeology, with a special interest in the subjects of Instrument building, Tuning and Temperament.
As an artist, Gonçalo has been working as a music composer and guest musician on live and recorded performances, and is keen in developing the concept of “Music as Design”