In rememberance of estonian folk musician Voldemar Varik 5.apr.1988 - Meie Elu estonian weekly newspaper -------------------------------------------------------- Word of a death usually is quick to travel, but not word of the already ailing for some time, and in recent times, secluded estonian folk musician Voldemar Varik passing away in Toronto March 9th. [1988] He was in many ways not a typical estonian, rather one of the promoters and interpreters of estonian folk culture. Voldemar Varik was born the son of a farmer in Mustjala, Saaremaa January 20th, 1920. Of those sons, there where wholly seven. They all were musical, but especially Volli, one of the middle brothers. He played all kinds of instruments, in particular the accordion and bagpipe. He became the village musician already in his boyhood years. His father, seeing such interest in music by his son, sold off a piece of forest and bought for him, a for the time very expensive accordion. Volli played everything that he had heard, and played them with a special force, which could not leave dancers sitting nor people not singing along with the melodies. He was known for his imitations of village singers. Wherever he played, he brought smiles. His sounds and personality united. When the iconic estonian bagpipe player Torupilli Juss died, Volli Varik stepped into his shoes. Ernst Idla* once characterized Varik as an even better player than Juss had been. In the Estonian Army, Varik was in the brass band. In active service he was taken to Russia, but in the same year came across to the other side under Staraja Russa. In 1944 he fought in german uniform against the russians ("not true?" - M.V.) and thereafter fled to Sweden, where he obtained work as an accordion tuner. ("Totally untrue" - M.V.) In Stockholm he played for the folk dancers, and his estonian folk melodies resounded at the first estonian song festival in Sweden. In Sweden, he also fashioned himself a bagpipe, which accompanied him when he resettled Canada in 1949. In Toronto, Voldemar Varik was one of the programme organizers of the first and very popular Saare peoples festivals. All remember him directing the performance of eight Saare accordionists and quartette. He was one of the founding members of the Toronto Saare people Association. At the first North-American Estonian Festival in 1957 he was of course performing on his bagpipe. He sang in the Toronto Estonian Male Choir. He performed for the last time for the Saare community some ten years ago, together with the former nordic accordion virtuoso Robert Salong, and also later with other estonian folk musicians. After that, begun the health issues that finally bested him. It is hard to believe that all that remains of Voldemar Variks corporeal body are ashes, but the cheerful sounds of his instrument ring on. They ring on in memory of the deceased as distant message from the estonians of old to continue to carry forward the culture of our people even today. That message is so deep and powerful, what Volli Varik is saying to us all with his departure. Therefore then herewith to you the thanks and respect of the estonian peoples! The folkmusician's talent lives on in the contrabass artist, his daughter Viiu. ROBERT KREEM * Idla was a gymnastic pedagogue who was responsible for the program direction of song and gymnastic festivals. M.V. indicates marginal notes by his estranged wife, Maimu Varik nee Meier. See also the image "Volli vabrikus rootsimaal" and obverse notes re: häälestaja=tuner. Translated from "Mälestades rahvapillimeest Voldemar Varikut - Meie Elu 5 apr 1988.pdf"