The music score of "Kungla Rahvas" was the own handwriting of an Estonian music teacher that I met while playing piano at Teppan Dragon Japanese Restaurant in late 2006 or early 2007. The handwriting in the lower part of the music score is mine. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
KUNGLA RAHVAS
(Estonia's Most Popular Song)
ONCE in a while, if there is no available driver at Dragon Tei or Teppan Dragon Japanese Restaurants where I'm playing piano, I used to dropped by some guests to their hotels.
It's late in 2006 or early 2007 that I have a group of European guests (about 6 or 7 people) that I dropped at Cliffside Hotel, just 50 meters from Image Restaurant where I played music for 13 years under contract with its owner/manager Margarita Borja Dalton. She treated me, my wife Flor and daughter Karen like her own family that's why I stayed very long with her.
Before reaching the Cliffside Hotel, I can't resist myself to ask them, "Are you Italians?" Because I thought their language is similar to Italy.
They said they are from Estonia. Upon hearing a new country citizens to me, I asked them, "What is the most popular Estonian song? Because I know some international songs but I don't know a single Estonian song yet."
A lady mentioned a song but I didn't remember it. They said they will be back and dine again at Teppan Dragon tomorrow,where I played music every night and they will teach me the most popular Estonian song. They are very excited about my request. It's a way of promoting Estonian music/culture through song and also helping me to add to my repertoire an Estonian song.
True to their words, they're back the next night. One of the lady asked for a pen and a piece of paper. She can write music score very fast. She said she is a music teacher in Estonia.
After writing it, she began to explain the meaning of the song "Kungla Rahvas"and she wrote under the title "Nation (people) of Kungla". She softly sung it slowly first. The beat is a little upbeat so while learning the song, the beat becomes faster.
At the end and lower right of the score sheet, she wrote "Estonian God of Song" and "Vanemuine" which I believe is the singer/composer of the song.
They go back the next day with 2 new compatriot and when I played the Kungla Rahvas, all of them sung and enjoy the night. Everybody is impressed with the way I learned it that fast. Actually, the melody is not yet very much familiar to me up to now but because the chords of the song are easy, I just follow those and use my 'music instinct' (or playing by ear) which I'm using effectively if Japanese guests are singing at Breeze Bar of Palau Royal Resort using a 1982 Karaoke Songbook all written in Japanese. It has chords and sometimes music score which I follow when they are singing it. They will be impressed when I told them the word "Hajimete" which means ''It's the first time that I played it".
Estonia is currently the No. 50 country in the FIDE Rating list. It has 5 GMs, 1 WGM, 8 IMs, 3 WIMs, 5 FMs, 6 WFMs, and 1 WCM.
Estonia (Top 100 Active players) February 2015
| # | Name | Title | Fed | Rating | G | B-Year |
| 1 | Kulaots, Kaido | g | EST | 2558 | 11 | 1976 |
| 2 | Kanep, Meelis | g | EST | 2509 | 0 | 1983 |
| 3 | Volodin, Aleksandr | g | EST | 2484 | 9 | 1990 |
| 4 | Rychagov, Mikhail | g | EST | 2457 | 0 | 1967 |
| 5 | Liiva, Riho | m | EST | 2456 | 0 | 1975 |
| 6 | Shvyrjov, Igor | g | EST | 2433 | 0 | 1955 |
| 7 | Seeman, Tarvo | m | EST | 2426 | 11 | 1969 |
| 8 | Kalinichev, Andrey | f | EST | 2424 | 0 | 1986 |
| 9 | Sepp, Olav | m | EST | 2411 | 0 | 1969 |
| 10 | Ladva, Ottomar | m | EST | 2410 | 11 | 1997 |
| 11 | Firstov, Juri | EST | 2389 | 0 | 1982 | |
| 12 | Shishkov, Andrei | f | EST | 2387 | 0 | 1978 |
| 13 | Lauk, Ular | m | EST | 2385 | 0 | 1968 |
| 14 | Kiik, Kalle | m | EST | 2384 | 0 | 1963 |
| 15 | Zavoronkov, Vladimir | m | EST | 2346 | 0 | 1976 |
| 16 | Zjukin, Sergei | m | EST | 2304 | 0 | 1972 |
| 17 | Soskov, Vjatsheslav | EST | 2289 | 0 | 1987 | |
| 18 | Sirosh, Ilja | EST | 2285 | 9 | 1998 | |
| 19 | Vovk, Ilja | f | EST | 2274 | 0 | 1988 |
| 20 | Krupenski, Juri | f | EST | 2259 | 0 | 1982 |
| 21 | Remmel, Anto | EST | 2257 | 0 | 1946 | |
| 22 | Gansvind, Valeriya I. | wf | EST | 2247 | 0 | 1965 |
| 23 | Jezov, Roman | EST | 2245 | 11 | 1990 | |
| 24 | Vorobjov, Pavel | EST | 2231 | 0 | 1981 | |
| 25 | Golubenko, Valeri | EST | 2225 | 0 | 1961 | |
| 26 | Dubrovin, Robert | EST | 2221 | 0 | 1986 | |
| 27 | Narva, Jaan | f | EST | 2220 | 0 | 1958 |
| 28 | Valner, Uku | EST | 2215 | 0 | 1990 | |
| 29 | Koop, Vyacheslav | EST | 2204 | 0 | 1979 | |
| 30 | Fomina, Tatyana | wg | EST | 2201 | 0 | 1954 |
| 30 | Korstin, Maris | EST | 2201 | 0 | 1981 | |
| 32 | Peebo, Kalle | EST | 2200 | 0 | 1949 | |
| 33 | Konovalkin, Eduard | EST | 2196 | 0 | 1973 | |
| 34 | Rauk, Tonu | EST | 2190 | 0 | 1970 | |
| 35 | Holvason, Juri | EST | 2186 | 2 | 1992 | |
| 36 | Kukk, Sander | EST | 2184 | 0 | 1987 | |
| 37 | Narva, Mai | wm | EST | 2179 | 9 | 1999 |
| 38 | Tarakanov, Oleg | EST | 2161 | 0 | 1953 | |
| 39 | Korchagin, Oleg | EST | 2158 | 0 | 1965 | |
| 40 | Kuusk, Andres | EST | 2157 | 0 | 1981 | |
| 41 | Aleksejev, Igor | EST | 2139 | 0 | 1986 | |
| 42 | Zainetdinova, Svetlana | wf | EST | 2129 | 0 | 1962 |
| 43 | Tolmatshov, Eduard | EST | 2126 | 0 | 1963 | |
| 44 | Garber, Vjatseslav | EST | 2118 | 0 | 1936 | |
| 44 | Sarv, Arvo | EST | 2118 | 0 | 1943 | |
| 46 | Tsiganova, Monika | wm | EST | 2113 | 0 | 1969 |
| 47 | Soot, Margus | EST | 2101 | 0 | 1980 | |
| 48 | Muutnik, Valdo | EST | 2098 | 0 | 1961 | |
| 49 | Tominga, Eke | EST | 2082 | 0 | 1997 | |
| 50 | Haavamae, Henrik | EST | 2074 | 0 | 1998 | |
| 51 | Narva, Triin | wc | EST | 2073 | 0 | 1994 |
| 52 | Kukk, Raul | EST | 2067 | 0 | 1964 | |
| 53 | Chukavin, Kirill | EST | 2063 | 0 | 2002 | |
| 53 | Kasela, Sten | EST | 2063 | 0 | 1990 | |
| 55 | Piarnpuu, Leili | wm | EST | 2060 | 0 | 1950 |
| 56 | Nahkur, Madis | EST | 2043 | 0 | 1992 | |
| 57 | Petrov, Dmitri | EST | 2035 | 0 | 1998 | |
| 58 | Tuul, Tarmo | EST | 2034 | 0 | 1988 | |
| 59 | Vahtra, Tuuli | wf | EST | 2025 | 9 | 1989 |
| 60 | Dusman, Alexander | EST | 2018 | 0 | 1982 | |
| 61 | Dragun, Valentin | EST | 2016 | 0 | 1997 | |
| 62 | Narva, Regina | wf | EST | 2007 | 0 | 1970 |
| 63 | Abozenko, Georg | EST | 1984 | 0 | 1996 | |
| 63 | Nikitin, Pjotr | EST | 1984 | 0 | 1941 | |
| 65 | Brokko, Margit | wf | EST | 1972 | 18 | 1973 |
| 66 | Teemae, Leo | EST | 1970 | 0 | 1932 | |
| 67 | Medar, Marti | EST | 1960 | 0 | 1996 | |
| 68 | Petrov, Aleksandr | EST | 1939 | 0 | 1941 | |
| 69 | Nikulin, Oleg | EST | 1936 | 0 | 1996 | |
| 70 | Makin, Kirill | EST | 1918 | 0 | 1985 | |
| 71 | Kruusiauk, Heda | EST | 1902 | 0 | 1949 | |
| 72 | Tominga, Ago | EST | 1887 | 0 | 1995 | |
| 73 | Korban, Katrina | EST | 1864 | 0 | 1997 | |
| 74 | Skladtsikov, Andrei | EST | 1858 | 0 | 2000 | |
| 75 | Olde, Margareth | EST | 1855 | 0 | 2000 | |
| 76 | Lumiste, Rene | EST | 1853 | 0 | 1999 | |
| 76 | Orlov, Roman | EST | 1853 | 0 | 2000 | |
| 78 | Sirp, Karl Aleksander | EST | 1851 | 0 | 1999 | |
| 79 | Sagadijeva, Anna | wf | EST | 1838 | 0 | 1998 |
| 80 | Hanzatjan, Anaid | EST | 1830 | 0 | 1995 | |
| 81 | Ivanov, Platon-Jaan | EST | 1815 | 0 | 2000 | |
| 82 | Poom, Mati | EST | 1803 | 0 | 1944 | |
| 83 | Skladtshikov, Andrei | EST | 1798 | 3 | 2000 | |
| 84 | Ruus, Rein | EST | 1782 | 0 | 1955 | |
| 85 | Kestlane, Harry | EST | 1776 | 0 | 1965 | |
| 86 | Raudsepp, Teet | EST | 1775 | 0 | 1944 | |
| 87 | Pedoson, Georg Aleksander | EST | 1763 | 1 | 2004 | |
| 88 | Garanin, Aleksei | EST | 1749 | 0 | 2001 | |
| 89 | Sepandi, Jaak | EST | 1739 | 0 | 1939 | |
| 90 | Liebert, Erwin | EST | 1737 | 10 | 1999 | |
| 91 | Jurtov, Aleksei | EST | 1710 | 0 | 1997 | |
| 91 | Nero, Georg | EST | 1710 | 0 | 1999 | |
| 93 | Viikmaa, Karmen | EST | 1707 | 0 | 1983 | |
| 94 | Timoshin, Andrei | EST | 1703 | 0 | 2003 | |
| 95 | Bondar, Daniil | EST | 1700 | 0 | 2001 | |
| 96 | Paan, Karel | EST | 1682 | 5 | 1998 | |
| 97 | Olde, Grete | EST | 1671 | 0 | 2002 | |
| 98 | Obolonin, Filipp | EST | 1664 | 4 | 1997 | |
| 99 | Tiisler, Tanel | EST | 1663 | 12 | 1997 | |
| 100 | Zubehhin, Aleksei | EST | 1634 | 2 | 2000 |
I've got the idea of writing this post when I started to take note the list of new countries that view the Palau Chess Federation website http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
New countries who are viewing this website now include Togo, Japan, Bangladesh, India, China, Cote d’ Ivoire, Latvia, Malaysia, Kuwait, Poland, Brazil, Serbia, Benin, Mexico, Qatar, Senegal, Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Norway, Pakistan, Jordan, New Zealand, Romania, Bulgaria, Sweden, Hungary, Bahrain, Austria, Martinique, Guam, Canada, Spain, Estonia, Netherlands, South Africa, South Korea, Singapore, Croatia, Taiwan, Italy, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Indonesia, Barbados, Chile, Ireland, United Arab Emirates, Zambia, Nigeria, Bahamas, Zimbabwe, Georgia, Slovakia, Algeria, Micronesia, Portugal, Panama, Marshall Islands, Vietnam, Northern Mariana Islands, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Argentina, Thailand, ...
74 countries (as of Feb. 23, 2015) plus the Top 10 countries as of Dec. 2014:
The Top 10 Countries who viewed PCF website are 1. USA (95,350) 2. Philippines (5,475) 3. Russia (3,381) 4. Germany (2,654) 5. Australia (1,365) 6. Palau (1,278) 7. UK (786) 8. France (700) 9. PNG (682) 10. Ukraine (453). The total all-time page view is 123,365. (It is now 132,509).
On Aug. 14, 2014, in the 11th and final round of 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway, Estonia women's team played the Puerto Rican team, whose one of the players is blind and using a special chessboard, against WGM Tatyana Fomina, right.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
THIS TIME, AGAINST QATAR.
(Photo by Eric Ksau Surangel Whipps)
Source: Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
The Beginning of Chess in Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
2006-February 2015
To be published as a book in the future
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