Recordings from the Estonian Folklore Archives 3

Anna Köster

Anna Köster in 1975. Photo by O. Kiis. ERA, Foto 11079.

Anna Köster (1899–1989) lived her whole life in the village of Lemsi on Kihnu. When she was young, the village girls sang mainly newer folk songs as they did their needlework together. Anna Köster composed verses in this style in which she describes the natural beauty of the vicinity of her home. In temperament Anni was reflective and shy. In the period following World War II regilaul songs have been collected from her many times. Among the 49 different songs there are numerous wedding songs as well as charms for household chores and children’s songs from her family tradition.