First or record · 30.06.1869
The first Estonian song festival, 1869
The first all-Estonian song festival was held in Tartu from 30 June to 2 July 1869. Officially it marked fifty years since the end of serfdom in Livonia. Its driving force was Johann Voldemar Jannsen, who insisted that only men should sing, so many mixed choirs had to relearn their songs. The organisers were nervous about the mocking German papers, so the dress rehearsal was held behind closed doors in St Mary's Church. It went beautifully. The concerts took place in the garden of the Ressource society, across from today's St Peter's Church, before about 15,000 listeners. Carl Robert Jakobson stayed away: he called it a German festival in Estonian.
Open it on the map See the spot on the old maps and as it is today
Eesti keeles
Esimene üldlaulupidu peeti Tartus 30. juunist 2. juulini 1869. Ametlikult tähistati sellega Liivimaa talurahva pärisorjusest vabastamise 50. aastapäeva. Peo hing oli Johann Voldemar Jannsen, kes nõudis, et laulaksid ainult mehed, ning paljud segakoorid pidid laulud ümber õppima. Kardeti kohalike saksa ajalehtede õelaid kommentaare ja seepärast toimus peaproov suletud uste taga Tartu Maarja kirikus. See õnnestus suurepäraselt. Kontserdid peeti Ressource'i seltsi aias praeguse Peetri kiriku vastas umbes 15 000 kuulaja ees. Carl Robert Jakobson jäi peost eemale: tema meelest oli see saksa laulupidu eesti keeles.