This festival could be held only after a 14-year interval and it had to be done under the strengthened pressure of the tsarist government. A number of young musicians had become firm figures in the cultural life of Estonians. The song festival that year was tied to a major event in the cultural history of the nation – the building of the Estonia Theatre and Opera House was completed. Children’s choirs took part for the first time. Also for the first time, the entire programme consisted only of works by Estonian authors with two songs performed by children's choirs being the only exceptions.

CONDUCTORS:

Mihkel Lüdig (mixed and male choirs), Mihkel Kippert (children’s choirs), David Otto Wirkhaus (brass orchestras).

527 collectives with 10,100 singers and musicians took part in the festival, including 36 Estonian collectives from outside Estonia. There were approximately 35,000 people in the audience.