PEER audio paper
23.08.2023

Lament is like a safe lap

In this audio paper, we are focusing on a guided lamenting circle, and explore on the meanings that the participants in the circle give to the lament.
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By Elina Hytönen-Ng & Emilia Kallonen

Abstract

Lamenting is a form of tradition found all over the world. Laments have been a women’s oral tradition that commonly focused on women’s complaints (McLaren 2008, 2). The lamenting areas closest to Finland, amongst the Baltic-Finnic areas, are Karelia and Ingria traditions (Honko 1975). Further details about the Karelian lamenting tradition can be found for examplein Konkka’s(1985), Tenhunen’s (2006), E. Stepanova’s (2014), and Silvonen’s (2022) research to name a few. Traditionally the individual heard laments from the women in the community around them and internalised the form of language and tunes. As the traditional life form disappeared after Second World War, lamenting in contemporary Finland has moved into being learned on different folk singing and lamenting courses.

In this audio paper, we are focusing on a guided lamenting circle, and explore on the meanings that the participants in the circle give to the lament. We argue that the circle acts as the community that is substituting the traditional tightly-knitvillage communities that are largely missing in contemporary Finland.

Bibliography

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Jouste, M. (2020) Suonikylän kolttasaamelainen itkuperinne 1900-luvulla. Etnomusikologian vuosikirja. Vol. 32. Pp. 10–45.

Konkka, U. (1985) Ikuinen ikävä – karjalaiset riitti-itkut. Helsinki: SKS.

McLaren, A. E. (2008) Performing Grief: Bridal Laments in Rural China. University of Hawai’i Press.

Nenola-Kallio, A. (1982) Studies in Ingrian laments. Helsinki: Suomalainen tiedeakatemia.

Tenhunen, A. L. (2006) Itkuvirren Kolme Elämää. Helsinki: SKS.

Silvonen. V. (2022) Apeus arkistoäänitteellä: Äänell itkeminen performanssina ja affektiivisena käytäntönä Aunuksen Karjalassa. Helsinki: University of Helsinki.

Silvonen, V. & E. Stepanova. 2019. Language, Music and Emotion in Lament Poetry. The Embodiment and Performativity of Emotions in Karelian Laments. In: S. Pritzker, J. Fenigsen & J. M. Wilce (eds) The Routledge Handbook of Language and Emotion, 203–222. London & New York: Routledge.

Stepanova, A. (2012) Karjalaisen itkuvirsikielen sanakirja. Vantaa: SKS.

Stepanova, E. (2014) Seesjärveläisten itkijöiden rekisterit. Tutkimus äänellä itkemisen käytänteistä, teemoista ja käsitteistä. Joensuu: Suomen Kansatietouden Tutkijain Seura.

Wilce, J. M. (2009) Crying Shame: Metaculture, modernity, and the exaggerated death of lament. Wiley-Blackwell; West Sussex (UK).

23. August 2023
https://doi.org/10.48233/111
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