The (''Presidential March'', also translated to ''Solemn March'') is the official
honorary march of the
President of Estonia
The president of the Republic of Estonia ( et, Eesti Vabariigi President) is the head of state of the Republic of Estonia. The current president is Alar Karis, elected by Parliament on 31 August 2021, replacing Kersti Kaljulaid.
Estonia is ...
which is played as a welcoming/inspection march for the president, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the
Estonian Defence Forces. The march was composed by Estonian musician
Eero Liives
Eero Liives (15 February 1892 Avispea, Vao borough, Väike-Maarja Parish, Virumaa – 25 April 1978 Tallinn) was an Estonian composer and violinist.
Liives was the son of writer Ardi Liives. From 1918 until 1965, he played violin in Theatre Est ...
(1892–1978). Today the march is played by the
Kaitseväe Orkester
The Kaitseväe orkester, known in Anglophone countries as the Band of the Estonian Defence Forces, is the official military band service of the Estonian Defence Forces. The main task of the band is to play music at all national and military ceremo ...
during military reviews of troops such as the
Estonian Honour Guard during
state visits and the ''
Eesti Kaitsevägi
The Estonian Defence Forces ( et, Eesti Kaitsevägi) are the unified military forces of the Republic of Estonia. The Estonian Defence Forces consist of the Estonian Land Forces, the Estonian Navy, the Estonian Air Force, and the paramilitary Esto ...
'' during military parades in
Tallinn.
On 27 January 1923, it was adopted as the military march by of the Estonian Head of State. Prior to that, (known in Estonian as ''Porilaste marss'') was used as a presidential song. The government chose to abandon the natively Swedish march, to differentiate itself from Finland, which also uses it as an honorary march. The march is still used as official honorary music for high-ranking officials. The march would be performed for the last time in 4 decades on Independence Day in 1940, due to the
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
and later
Soviet occupation of Estonia taking place in the following four years. Both governments tried to cultivate a separate identity and culture from the
Estonian people
Estonians or Estonian people ( et, eestlased) are a Finnic ethnic group native to Estonia who speak the Estonian language.
The Estonian language is spoken as the first language by the vast majority of Estonians; it is closely related to othe ...
, which included banning traditional ceremonial pieces such as . The march was reinstated in 1991, after Estonia's declaration of independence became legal, and has been used by the state ever since.
References
External links
*
Estonian military marches
{{Military-stub