Joint Singing as a Means of Cultural Transmission in Estonia

Authors

  • Inge Raudsepp Foundatsion Innove (EE)
  • Anu Sepp Estonian Academy of Music and Science (EE)
  • Inkeri Roukonen University of Helsinki (FI)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17770/sie2015vol2.455

Keywords:

cultural transmission, joint singing, music education, Song Celebration

Abstract

The phenomenon of joint singing, originating from the traditional old folk song and subsequent choral singing, has developed in Estonia into a significant cultural metaphor– Song Celebrations. Recent decades have brought about rapid changes in Estonian socio-cultural reality: the process of globalisation has raised the question of how to maintain national identity and cultural traditions considering these rapid processes.

The aim of this article is to analyse phenomena of joint singing and Song Celebrations through historical, cultural and educational lens. The subject and corresponding literature were analysed using hermeneutic approach by M. Heidegger, W. Dilthey and H.-G. Gadamer, reflected through the focus of culture and cultural transmission by L.Rauhala, R.McShea, M.J. Taylor and C. A. Thoth.  The drifts of the content and developmental tendencies of joint singing and Song Celebrations between 1962−2011 were investigated by means of comparative analysis.

The phenomenon of joint singing that has developed into the Song Celebrations tradition continues to be one the main means of cultural transmission in Estonia.

 

References

Aalto, P. (2000). Constructing Post-Soviet Geopolitics in Estonia. A Study in Security, Identity. Acta politica, 19. Helsinki: University of Helsinki.

Adorno, T.W. (1997). Aesthetic Theory. London: The Athlone Press.

Ammas, A., Valner, K., Arraste, A., Moss, I. Noorte laulu- ja tantsupeod [Estonian Youth Song and Dance Celebrations]. (2011). Eesti Kooriühing.

Andresen, L. (2003). Eesti kooli ajalugu [The History of Estonian School]. Tallinn: Avita.

Dilthey, W., Gadamer, H. G., Heidegger, M. (1997). Filosoofilise hermeneutika klassikat [Some classics of philosophical hermeneutics]. Ilmamaa.

Eesti Muusikalugu (2007). [Estonian Music Story]. Tallinn: Talmar ja Põhi.

Estonian Ministry of Education and Reasearch. (2011). Statistics.Tallinn.

Estonian Ministry of Education and Reasearch. (2014). Statistics.Tallinn.

Elliott, D.J. (1990). Music as culture: Toward a multicultural concept of arts education. Journal of Aesthetic Education, 24 (1), 147–166.

Elliott, D.J. (1995). Music Matters: A new philosophy of music education. Oxfrod: Oxford University Press.

Flam, G. (1992). Singing for Survival: Songs of the Lodz Ghetto, 1940-45. Urbana: University of Illinois Press.

Geertz, C. (1973). The Interpretation of Cultures. New York: Basic Books.

Grossberg, L. ( 1992). Is There a Fun in the House?: The Affective Sensibility of Fandom. In L.A. Lewis (Ed.) The Adoring Audience: Fan Culture and Popular Media. (pp. 50- 65). London & New York: Routledge.

Kuutma, K. (2006). Laulupeod rahvusliku identiteedi kandjana [Song Festivals in creating the Estonian cultural identity]. Retrieved January 29, 2009 from http://haldjas.folklore.ee//tagused/nr1/internet.htm

Lippus, U. (1997). Baltic Music History Writing: Problems and Perspectives. Acta Musicologia, Vol. LXXI, 1, 50-60.

McCarthy, M. F. (1990). Music education and the quest for cultural identity in Ireland 1831 1989. Michigan: University of Michigan.

McShea, R. J. (1990). Morality and Human Nature: a New route to ethical theory. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.

National Curricula. (2011). https://www.hm.ee/en/national-curricula (28.02.2015)

Pierson, S. (1998). Laulsime end vabaks: muusikaline tegevus ja selle areng eesti kristlaste seas [We achieved our freedom by singing: musical activity and its development among Estonian Christians]. Teater. Muusika. Kino, 12, 43-45.

Päts, R. (1939). Põhialuseid ja lähtekohti muusikalise kasvatuse teostamisel [The foundations and basic views in executing music education]. Muusikaleht, 4/5, 84-89; 7/8, 133-139.

Päts, R. (1940). Ühislaulmisest [About joint singing]. Eesti Kool, 3, 185-187.

Päts, R. (1947). Lastekoorid uue ülesande ees [Children’s choirs facing a new task]. Nõukogude Õpetaja, 45, 4.

Raudsepp, I. & Vikat, M. (2009). Joint singing as a phenomenon of Estonian cultural transmission. Problems of Education in the 21st Century, 13, 103-109.

Raudsepp, I. (2013). Riho Pätsi fenomen Eesti muusikapedagoogikas [The Phenomenon of Riho Päts in Estonian Music Pedagogy]. Tallinn University.

Rauhala, L. (2006). Ihminen kultturissa – kulttuuri ihmisessä [Man in Culture – Culture in Man]. Helsingin Yliopistonpaino. Helsinki University Press.

Sepp, A. (2009). Some highlights of music education in Estonian comprehensive schools. H. Ruismäki, I. Ruokonen (Eds.) Arts Contact Points between Cultures: 1st Intercultural Arts Education Conference: Post-Conference Book. Helsinki: University of Helsinki, 35–43.

Sepp, A., Ruokonen, I. & Ruismäki, H. (2012). Review of the choir singing tradition in Estonia: praxial music education and socio-cultural aspects. Problems in Music Pedagogy, vol.10–11, 113–124.

Stolovitš, L. (1992). Esteetika, kunst, mäng [Aesthetics, art, play]. Tallinn: Kunst.

Suutari, P. (2002). Teoreetilisi lähtekohti rootsisoomlaste muusikakogemuse ja identifikatsiooni uurimisel [Theoretical basis for the study of the music experience and identification of Swedish Finns]. In T. Ojamaa, & I. Rüütel (Eds.), Pärimusmuusika muutuvas ühiskonnas I [Ethnic music in the changing society I] (pp.193-201). Eesti Kirjandusmuuseumi etnomusikoloogia osakond.

Taylor M. J., Thoth C. A. (2011), Cultural Transmissionin. In Goldstein,S., Naglieri J. A. (Eds) Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development (pp 448-451). NewYork: Springer.

Tylor, Edward. 1920 [1871]. Primitive Culture. New York: J.P. Putnam’s Sons,1.

Tormis, V. (2000). Lauldud sõna [The words sung]. Tartu: Tartu Ülikool.

Vikat, M. (1993). Rahvalaul ja lapsed. Rahvamuusika osast väikese lapse isiksuse arengus. Kollokvium. Kokkuvõtted [Folk song and children. – The role of folk music in the development of the personality of a child. Colloquium. Compendium]. Tallinn: TPÜ kirjastus.

Downloads

Published

2015-05-17

How to Cite

Raudsepp, I., Sepp, A., & Roukonen, I. (2015). Joint Singing as a Means of Cultural Transmission in Estonia. SOCIETY. INTEGRATION. EDUCATION. Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference, 2, 155-164. https://doi.org/10.17770/sie2015vol2.455