mõõdulõikeid

Mõõdulõikeid are a traditional form of folk music and art from Estonia. The term "mõõdulõikeid" is comprised of two words, "mõõdu" which means "lyre" and "lõik", which means "struck" or "played".

Mõõdulõikeid date back to the medieval period and are associated with the cultural heritage of the Võru and Setu regions in southeastern Estonia. This genre of music was played on a variety of instruments including the mõõdu, a long-necked stringed instrument similar to a lute, and the puhkpillad, a type of horn.

The melodies and rhythms of mõõdulõikeid are characteristic of Estonia's folk tradition and are often used in folk dances. The songs are typically sung in Southern Estonian dialect and their lyrics usually tell stories about folk life, love, and nature.

The art of playing mõõdulõikeid was largely oral and was passed down through generations of musicians. Unfortunately, the art of playing mõõdulõikeid was in decline as a result of urbanization and cultural suppression during the Soviet era. However, in the 1990s, a renewed interest in preserving traditional Estonian music led to efforts to document and revive the mõõdulõikeid tradition.

Today, efforts are being made to document and preserve the mõõdulõikeid tradition. Field recordings and transcriptions of mõõdulõikeid music have been made, and modern-day musicians are working to continue this important part of Estonian cultural heritage.