In northeastern Estonia and the Pechory region of the Russian Federation, the Seto community is no stranger to the ancient polyphonic singing tradition of Leelo, which provides the basis for its modern identity. The area is situated 186 miles (300 kilometers) southwest of Tallinn, the Estonian capital. It is believed that the tradition is about 1,000 years old, and is considered to be a special variant of the Baltic-Finnic run song tradition. Seto music is generally polyphonic, but there are also solo songs, such as cradle songs, shepherd songs, laments for the dead, and incantations.
Seto songs are sung in many different voices, including two or more high voices, and a lower choir voice known as the torrõ. The lead singer (sõnolinõ) sings the verse, followed by the choir joining in for the last syllables of each line and then repeating that verse. Good lead singers will be able to improvise on traditional song form or will add something new and personal to old songs. As the Seto people believe, the ability to create new song texts and spontaneous improvisation is the best way to demonstrate a singer's skill. The fact that improvisation skills are still a fixture in the community shows the vitality of Seto Leelo in general. In the older Seto song tradition, women who are gifted with words are called mothers of the song. The oral tradition, which has been passed on to future generations, is predominantly female. Songs were sung on special occasions relating to Orthodox holidays and rituals for major life events (births, weddings, funerals).
The song Seto Leelo has a thousand-year history and has been an integral part of everyday life for over a thousand years. Because the Seto language has been an oral language and the Setos were mostly illiterate until 100 years ago, singing became an invaluable thing for the people. Singing has been a way to express joy, but also envy, sadness, and grief. Singing has been the means of all kinds of communication and has helped make working on the fields or in the house more tolerable, and easier to bear. In Seto culture, singing is associated with religious and family traditions, as well as chores and rituals. Although singing was once used to accompany nearly all daily activities in the Seto's rural communities, it is now primarily restricted to stage performances. However, it remains prominently alive in community events as a central, vital, and highly valued part of Seto culture. It is a source of pride for the Seto and a popular attraction for tourists. Leelo choirs are the hub of their communities and embody local identity.
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