The Baltic Nations: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania
odd: label: Introduction
content: On August 23, 1989, people in the Baltics formed a human chain stretching 430 miles, connecting their capital cities Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius. They remembered the day in 1939 when Hitler and Stalin had made a secret pact that sealed their fate for several decades. Their massive demonstration told the world that they existed as nations and that they yearned to be masters of their own destiny. They sang their messages and called it the Singing Revolution - a revolution that would result two years later in independence for the three countries from their former Soviet overlords.

Folklore - and singing in particular - had long been a fascination to Baltic citizens seeking to establish a national identity, and the Singing Revolution built upon recent decades of renewed public interest in folklife. During the 1970s collecting and recording traditional cultural expressions increased on the professional, academic, and grassroots levels. Local folk in various rural regions and young people studying in urban settings formed performing groups to perpetuate song, dance, and musical traditions. Everywhere there was an impetus to learn as much as possible about the past and to actively relate that knowledge to the present. These activities were in full swing in the late 1980s. The numerous folk ensembles became an integral part of the mass rallies comprising the Singing Revolution in all three Baltic nations. Many said they could not imagine the national re-awakening having occurred without the ensembles and the entire folklore movement.

These ensembles continued to play a vital role after independence, as Festival visitors could experience for themselves. In these newly reborn countries, society was undergoing many changes at the time of the 1998 Festival. The market economy was affecting daily life, not always beneficially. Western popular culture was exerting a homogenizing influence, especially on the younger generation. The desire to join the ranks of "modern nations" sometimes clashed with the urge to celebrate one's cultural uniqueness. The 1998 Festival program, coming after only a few years of national independence, thus offered a timely opportunity to ponder whether the people of the Baltic countries would continue to practice and cherish their traditions now that they no longer served the function of political resistance to a foreign oppressor. Festival participants from the Baltic nations had lived through many swift and significant changes. They had much to show and tell; and Festival visitors had much to learn.

Curators of the program included: Kalev Järvela (Estonia), Dainis & Helmī Stalts (Latvia), Zita Kelmickaitė (Lithuania). Coordinators were: Alar Ojalo (Estonia), Alvis Lidaks (Latvia), Vida Şatkauskienė (Lithuania); Kerry Stromberg was the Program Coordinator. The Baltic American Festival Committee included Guna MacDonald (Coordinator), Liina Keerdoja (Estonian American Council), Aivars Osvalds (American-Latvian Association), Laima Şileikis-Hood (Lithuanian-American Committee, Inc.), and Dalė Lukas (LAC, Inc. Washington, D.C. representative).

The program was made possible by and was produced in cooperation with the Estonian Government and Estonian Ministry of Culture, the Latvian Government and Latvian Ministry of Culture, and the Lithuanian Government and Lithuanian Ministry of Culture. Additional support came from the Cultural Endowment of Estonia, the American Latvian Association, and the Lithuanian Foundation.
label: Researchers
content: General program

Ilze Akerbergs, Elena Bradunas, Rebecca Maksel, Kerry Stromberg

Estonia

Ingrid Rüütel, Chair, Paul Hagu, Kalev Järvela, Ats Joorits, Peeter Laum, Mart Maripuu, Alar Ojalo, Linda Sade, Aivar Siim, Liivi Soova, Anu Tarvis, Valdur Tilk, Igor Tõnurist, Lembe Torop

Latvia

Juris Gagainis, Juris Indāns, Lilita Līdaka, Valdis Muktupavels, Inese Pētersone, Guntis Šmidchens, Ernests Spičs, Daina Vītoliņa

Lithuania

Giedrė Ambrozaitienė, Birutė Imbrasienė, Zita Kelmickaitė, Juozas Kudirka, Vacys Milius, Jolanta Paškevičienė, Giedrė Puodžiukaitytė, Vida Šatkauskienė
label: Presenters
content: Estonia

Kristiina Paul, Leena Valge, Silvi Valge

Latvia

Andris Rūtiņš, Guntis Šmidchens, Līga Varesa

Lithuania

Elena Bradunas, Audronis Braukyla, Darius Sužiedelis
label: Participants
content: Estonia

Music and Dance Traditions

ALLE-AA  -- ALLE-AAÜlle Jantson, Vändra, Pärnu, EstoniaOtt Kaasik, Vändra, Pärnu, EstoniaAndo Kiviberg, Vändra, Pärnu, EstoniaÜrjo Jaama, Vändra, Pärnu, EstoniaThule Kann, Vändra, Pärnu, EstoniaAare Kiviväli, Vändra, Pärnu, EstoniaToivo Luhats, Vändra, Pärnu, EstoniaRaivo Sildoja, Vändra, Pärnu, EstoniaAivar Teppo, Vändra, Pärnu, EstoniaMargus Veenre, Vändra, Pärnu, EstoniaEnrik Visla, Vändra, Pärnu, Estonia

KIHNUMUA (KIHNU GROUP)  -- KIHNUMUA (KIHNU GROUP)Ly Leas, singer, Kihnu, Pärnu, EstoniaReene Leas, lace maker, singer, Kihnu, Pärnu, EstoniaArgo Lilies, singer, Kihnu, Pärnu, EstoniaVeera Nazarova, singer, Kihnu, Pärnu, EstoniaVeronika Nazarova, singer, Kihnu, Pärnu, EstoniaHeldy Odinchenko, embroiderer, singer, Kihnu, Pärnu, EstoniaLiisi Sang, singer, Kihnu, Pärnu, EstoniaKülli Sepp, singer, Kihnu, Pärnu, Estonia

KULDATSÄUK (SETU GROUP)  -- KULDATSÄUK (SETU GROUP)Taimi Auser, singer, EstoniaEgo Kõiv, singer, EstoniaHelena Kudre, lace maker, singer, EstoniaEevi Laanetu, singer, EstoniaValve Poolak, singer, EstoniaMaret Vabama, sash maker, singer, Estonia

LEIGARID  -- LEIGARIDTiiu Aasa, dancer, maker of traditional clothing, Talinn, EstoniaMarget Indov, dancer, maker of traditional clothing, Talinn, EstoniaSille Kapper, dancer, maker of traditional clothing, Talinn, EstoniaMerike Reinok, dancer, maker of traditional clothing, Talinn, EstoniaÕie Rekand, dancer, maker of traditional clothing, Talinn, EstoniaLembe Torop, dancer, maker of traditional clothing, Talinn, EstoniaTõnu Aas, dancer, game leader, Talinn, EstoniaHeinar Kukk, dancer, game leader, Talinn, EstoniaAlar Leming, dancer, game leader, Talinn, EstoniaTõnu Linno, dancer, game leader, Talinn, EstoniaMargus Paap, dancer, game leader, Talinn, EstoniaPaavo Saare, dancer, game leader, Talinn, EstoniaElina Aasa Parra, musician, Talinn, EstoniaEero Sommer, musician, Talinn, EstoniaJaan Sommer, musician, Talinn, EstoniaToomas Torop, musician, Talinn, Estonia

Craft Traditions -- Craft TraditionsTiit Sarapuu, boat builderKati Sihvre, traditional clothing makerAivar Siim, herbalistValdur Tilk, woodworkerLiina Veskimägi, wool processor

Latvia

Music and Dance Traditions

DANDARI  -- DANDARIElīna Kūle Braže, Rīgā, LatviaElīna Hermane, Rīgā, LatviaInta Jansone, Rīgā, LatviaZigmārs Kristsons, Rīgā, LatviaZane Kriumane, Rīgā, LatviaSandra Lipska, Rīgā, LatviaLauris Neikens, Rīgā, LatviaIlmārs Pumpurs, Rīgā, LatviaValdis Putninš, Rīgā, LatviaErnests Spičs, Rīgā, LatviaIeva Tamane, Rīgā, LatviaJuris Zalāns, Rīgā, Latvia

RASA  -- RASAKārlis Freibergs, LatviaGita Lancere, LatviaRūta Muktupavela, LatviaValdis Muktupāvels, 1958-, LatviaIveta Tāle, Latvia

SALMANIS FAMILY  -- SALMANIS FAMILYIndra Čekstere, LatviaIlze Prīmane, LatviaAina Salmane, LatviaPēteris Salmanis, LatviaUldis Salmanis, LatviaAnda Skuja, LatviaDāvis Skuja, LatviaTālivaldis Skuja, LatviaZane Zvaigzne, Latvia

STALTS FAMILY  -- STALTS FAMILYMārtiņš Heimrāts, Rīgā, LatviaZoja Kļujeva, Rīgā, LatviaMarga Stalta, Rīgā, LatviaHelmī Stalte, Rīgā, LatviaJulgī Stalte, Rīgā, LatviaDainis Stalts, Rīgā, LatviaDāvis Stalts, Rīgā, LatviaRaigo Stalts, Rīgā, LatviaRičards Stalts, Rīgā, LatviaValda Vītola, Rīgā, Latvia

Craft Traditions

Olğerts Gerdiņš, fishing net maker, Latvia

Juris Indāns, traditional craftsperson, Latvia

Māris Jansons, musical instrument maker, Latvia

Aldis Kalcenaus, boat builder, Latvia

Māris Karlsons, ceramicist, Latvia

Daina Kraukle, weaver, Latvia

Ilga Madre, knitter, Latvia

Inita Straupe, weaver, Latvia

Vitauts Straupe, metal jewelry maker, Latvia

Vilnis Vincēvičs, blacksmith, Latvia

Ingrīda Žagata, potter, Latvia

Lithuania

Music and Dance Traditions

Veronika Povilionienė, singer, Lithuania

INSULA  -- INSULAAlvydas Alimas, Vilnius, LithuaniaSigita Dacienė, Vilnius, LithuaniaJonas Latakas, Vilnius, LithuaniaRita Macijauskienė, Vilnius, LithuaniaVygandas Norvilas, Vilnius, LithuaniaMilda Ričkute, Vilnius, LithuaniaLoreta Šarkaitė, Vilnius, LithuaniaValdemaras Skugaras, Vilnius, LithuaniaElvyra Spudytė, Vilnius, LithuaniaLinas Ulkštinas, Vilnius, LithuaniaZenaida Vaičikauskaitė, Vilnius, LithuaniaGintaras Vaitkaitis, Vilnius, Lithuania

MARCINKONYS VILLAGE FOLK ENSEMBLE  -- MARCINKONYS VILLAGE FOLK ENSEMBLERūta Antulytė, Marcinkonys, Varena, LithuaniaJonas Bajoriūnas, Marcinkonys, Varena, LithuaniaJonė Cerebiejienė, Marcinkonys, Varena, LithuaniaJuzė Česnulevičienė, Marcinkonys, Varena, LithuaniaStanislovas Česnulevičius, Marcinkonys, Varena, LithuaniaJuzė Grigienė, Marcinkonys, Varena, LithuaniaAntanina Kokienė, Marcinkonys, Varena, LithuaniaJuozas Korsakas, Marcinkonys, Varena, LithuaniaBirutė Korsakienė, Marcinkonys, Varena, LithuaniaVincas Miškinis, Marcinkonys, Varena, LithuaniaAldona Paulauskienė, Marcinkonys, Varena, LithuaniaRože Pačkauskienė, Marcinkonys, Varena, LithuaniaJonas Sereičikas, Marcinkonys, Varena, LithuaniaPetronele Sereičikienė, Marcinkonys, Varena, LithuaniaJoana Serenčikienė, Marcinkonys, Varena, LithuaniaRozalija Vilčinskienė, Marcinkonys, Varena, Lithuania

SODAUTO (LITHUANIAN FOLK ENSEMBLE OF GREATER BOSTON)  -- SODAUTO (LITHUANIAN FOLK ENSEMBLE OF GREATER BOSTON)Birutė BanaitienėBronius BanaitisVytautas BazikasGintaras ČepasValentina ČepienėAndrius DilbaVytautas DilbaTeresė DurickasDarija GiniūnaitėDanutė KazakaitienėKristina KrikščiukaitėLilija KulbienėAidas KupčinskasGita KupčinskienėKęstutis KveragaRikantė KveragienėJūratė NarkevičienėGintautas NarkevičiusKotryna RhodaHenrikas RimkusVida RimkuvienėDanguolė SenutienėRenata ŠvedaitėJanina ŠvedienėRima TamulėOrinta Vaičiulytė

SUTARAS  -- SUTARASAntanas Fokas, Vilnius, LithuaniaBronislovas Glovickis, Vilnius, LithuaniaRobertas Kunickas, Vilnius, LithuaniaGintautas Paukštis, Vilnius, LithuaniaLaimutis Žemaitis, Vilnius, Lithuania

TRYS KETURIUOSE  -- TRYS KETURIUOSEDaina Norvaišytė, Vilnius, LithuaniaGabrielė Širkaitė, Vilnius, Lithuanialngrida Varnienė, Vilnius, LithuaniaDaiva Vyčinienė, Vilnius, Lithuania

Craft Traditions

Vytautas Jarutis, blacksmith, Lithuania

Alfredas Jonušas, amber worker, Lithuania

Rūta Jonuškienė,  -- sodas  -- (straw craft) designer, Lithuania

Monika Kriukelienė, weaver, Lithuania

Stasys Mickus, fence maker, Lithuania

Adelija Mickuvienė, Easter egg decorator, Lithuania

Raimundas Puškorius, woodcarver, Lithuania

Leokadija Šalkovska,  -- verba  -- binder, Lithuania
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
setName: label: See more items in
content: Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1998 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections
identifier: label: Identifier
content: CFCH.SFF.1998, Series 2
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials