UMMALEELO is the result of the joint project of UMMAMUUDU and the Seto leelochoir LEELONAASE. In 1997 the introducing EP UMMALEELO was released, presenting rare folk songs of an ethnic group coming from south-eastern Estonia together with the instrumental background from the band. Leelo, in the Seto dialect, stands for a repetitive chorus of melodic syllables. The uniqueness of Setos appears first of all in their singing, where the phrase of the precentor is followed by the choir repetition with an interval of a neutral third, which is created by one singer only - killõ/ the upper voice. Additionally to the peculiarity of their singing, the Setos arouse attention with their colourful national clothes. The special adornments of their attire are silver ornaments: massive silver brooch with necklace of silver coins from the times of Russian tsars.
The archaic and genuine folk songs of Setos have been blended with the contemporary pop music instruments in the joint project of the band and the leelochoir. Such combination is due to the aim of making the EP`s more important half, the Seto folklore, more acceptable to common listener and thus provide a better environment for preserving the Seto song as an undoubtedly original folk tradition in Estonia. The members of the leelochoirs are mostly 60-70 years old women and men, the aftergrowth being minimal or even nonexistent. In Estonia, such kind of music is only listened to by a competent elite of intellectuals, however the idea of UMMALEELO is to take the Seto folk tradition, with the help of the modern instrumental background, to the broad masses, especially to the young listeners, in order to value this peculiar component of national culture and to introduce the original example of the national culture outside of Estonia.
The Seto folk songs on the EP are authentic and the whole material appearing on the CD can be performed live by the same people. Already for the second year running the cast of UMMALEELO gave a live concert at Viljandi Folk Music Festival. The performance of 1997 was supported by the Finnish folk group ME NAISET, with whom the collaboration will continue.
Briefly about the Seto leelochoir
The folk song group LEELONAASE was founded in Tartu, 1988 with the aim of preserving and forwarding the Seto language and culture. The biggest events besides frequent performances in Estonia:
1990 and 1992, participation at the festival in Sarinski, Mordva
1994, performances given in Kiuruvesi, Finland
1995, performance given at 'VIII International Folklore Festival Baltica `95'
The members of the choir in 1997 are as follows:
precentor Alli Siruli - lead vocal / sõnoline
choir: Alla Kalle, Nadeshda Kuhi, Olli Kure - killő, Sirje Siruli
UMMALEELO Sponsored by NOKIA