Sounds and Stories from Ruhnu Island

“In particular, I like the sense of respect for place, for people, for tradition and for transmission that you manage to convey in the whole package. It speaks to my soul even if it is of a place I have never been to in a language I do not know.”
— Tom Sherlock, Ireland                

"They incorporated music, song, dance and storytelling in a way that most of the audience who have never been familiar with Estonian culture and traditions, came away as if they had gone for a short visit to the heartland of Estonia and mixed with the locals of the countryside there.”  — Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich, musician, Ireland

"Listening to this music, you find yourself on the historical and contemporary  Ruhnu island at the same time, which is connected by a waves, pinetrees, beaches of white sand, evil mosquitoes, two churches and the Ruhnu violin camp organized by Karoliina Kreintaal and friends. Ruhnu seems like a remote and isolated island in the Baltic sea, which is worth visiting. " — Leanne Barbo / "Music" magazine

Sounds and Stories from Ruhnu Island  releases second album "Echoes of the Sea"

The unique violin music of Ruhnu Swedes and the island’s historical stories have been compiled into the album Echoes of the Sea, dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the great escape of Ruhnu Swedes when the island’s people could take nothing with them but memories.

"Today, the story of the remote Ruhnu Island and a small nation forced to leave their homes due to war resonates with almost everyone, both at home and abroad," says trio member Lee Taul. "Talking about war—or even worse, experiencing it firsthand—has become a looming part of everyday life for Europeans who have long enjoyed peace. Remembering is crucial when making decisions about the future, to keep the course firmly set towards freedom," adds the violinist.

The album’s arrangements are inspired by the nearly 400-year-old wooden church bells of Ruhnu, the seals that trouble fishermen, the forest, the wind, and the waves that crash onto the shore—sometimes gently, sometimes with a stormy force. It also draws from the island’s people, old hymn tunes, and the Ruhnu violin camp. "The band and the violin camp, now in its 12th year, grew out of a desire to play and share the historical heritage of this small island. Reviving a broken musical tradition has largely been driven by our enthusiasm and deep interest in Ruhnu’s musical identity," says Karoliina Kreintaal. "Fifteen years ago, the unique Ruhnu-Swedish repertoire was not widely known, but its current popularity is reflected in the fact that Ruhnu music will be performed at this year’s national folk music festival Iseoma," notes Karoliina.

Alongside the album, a new video single En liten fågel (A Little Bird) will be released. The song originally appeared in the 1854 hymn book under the title Den Signade Dag. "So far, Ruhnu Saare Lood ja Laulud concerts have been enriched by stories and folktales I have collected over the past ten years. In addition to the album Echoes of the Sea, we are also releasing a series of video stories edited by Ako Lehemets to paint an even more vivid picture of our artistic world for listeners. The videos will be gradually uploaded to our YouTube channel," says singer and storyteller Kairi Leivo.

The folk hymn was inspired by a 1938 recording of Elias Schönberg’s singing, made by Swedish Radio in Ruhnu. The video is dedicated to Ellen Jäger, who, along with other Ruhnu Swedes, fled the island with her family in 1944 at the age of four. Since Estonia regained its independence, she has spent every summer on her home island. Ellen’s smiling face on her veranda and her sharp sense of humor have brightened nearly every visit the band members have made to the island.

Echoes of the Sea was recorded by Rainer Koik at Kuremäe Farm near Halliste, at the Kreintaal family home, and at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre studio. The album design was created by Kärt Rumvolt.

The band will next perform at Tallinn Music Week on the Viljandi Folk Music Festival stage. A concert featuring the new album’s music and video material will take place at Erinevate Tubade Klubi on April 5 at 8:45 PM.

Listen to the album on Spotify
The album will also be released on vinyl in about a week.

Ruhnu Saare Lood ja Laulud began as a joint effort by musicians to organize violin camps on the island. Historically, Ruhnu was known for its skilled fiddlers. The logical next step after the camps was the formation of the band, which gave its first concerts in 2019, the same year they released their debut album