Recordings from the Estonian Folklore Archives 3

Sido Nikit

Sido Nikit playing the horn duct flute (sarvepill) in 1913. Photo by A. O. Väisänen. ERA, Foto 971.

Sido Nikit and his son Nikita Vassil were living in the village of Kiiova in the community of Petseri (later Meremäe) when Armas Otto Väisänen visited them in 1913. At the age of 46 Nikit was recorded playing the buckhorn. Väisänen has written in his field notes that even though at their meeting Nikit had talked about being off to work, not once did he make any attempt to leave, he merely kept on playing. Nikit squinted as he blew his horn, his feet raced to keep time and his whole body swayed to the rhythm of the music. When he heard his own playing on the phonograph he jumped to the floor and started dancing.

Instrumental Tunes: