“The first human language was the song.”

(Johann Gottfried von Herder)

The first printed book containing some text in Estonian – a Lutheran handbook for people of Livonia – was published in 1525 in Germany. For the celebration of this 500-year anniversary, 2025 has been declared Year of the Estonian Book.

Song lyrics have played an important role in the spread of the Estonian written word. At first, the Estonian written language was the domain of German clergymen, but with the efforts of many Estonian intellectuals, our language was freed of the initial foreign qualities and gained its true identity. Several of our linguists and writers were also musical, for example Johannes Voldemar Veski led a choir, Johannes Aavik and A. H. Tammsaare played the violin, Lydia Koidula composed songs for her plays and accompanied them on a piano.

“In the Beginning There Was the Song” invites you to discover the 500-year-old winding story of the Estonian written word through stories, songs and music.