New international research project of the UNESCO Chair is about collective singing

About the topic

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Singing can present a universal response to social crises. Particularly Scandinavia and the Baltic countries are known for traditions of collective singing as a means of cultural resilience, conflict resolution, and inclusivity promotion (e.g. in war time, in labour camps, among deportees, in exile, or during independence movements).

Such singing traditions provide a locus for the negotiation of social cohesion, cultural identity and cultural heritage in the region. However, despite the apparent similarities, no studies have compared those singing practices.

This research team will investigate collective singing practices in Scandinavia and the Baltics focusing on the range of the potential social outcomes of collective singing in times of social crises. Besides elucidating the intricate connection between collective singing and social crises, the project will explore the role of singing in fostering communal cohesion during crises and its potential to instigate sentiments of exclusion and escalate social discord.

In light of Europe's current challenges, including warfare, the lingering COVID-pandemic, and the rise of digital-induced isolation, advancing our understanding of such practices that possess the potential to enhance social trust and cohesion are paramount.

Working group at the University of Tartu includes:

Janika Oras (PhD) is an ethnomusicologist and folklorist, whose main employer is the Estonian Literary Museum. In addition to her research on older folk song traditions, she has worked extensively on contemporary folklore-based singing practices, focusing on Seto and Finno-Ugric traditions. Recently also on the singing practices of the Estonian Ukrainian community.

Sofia Joons Gylling (PhD) defended her doctoral thesis on the identity formation among Estonia-Swedes in 2024 in Finland (Åbo Akademi). She is also part of a research project on ethnomusicology at the University of Helsinki. He holds a MA in Sociology from the Estonian Institute of Humanities and has extensive experience as a music teacher. Sofia contributes to the project with a survey of singing practice in Sweden, as well as in the diaspora community (both Estonian Swedes and non-Estonians).

In addition to leading the working group, Kristin Kuutma will work on on the field of folk music practices, an historic overview of singing practices and an analysis of collective singing in a broader societal context. She will also be the link to other project partners, assisted by Kristiina Porila.

MA students Mia Marta Ruus (EFRA programme) and Lachlan Christopher Bell (Folklore and Applied Heritage Studies) are also involved in project activities.

See also the homepage and Facebook page of the UNESCO Chair on Applied Studies of Intangible Cultural Heritage.