Songs of the Northern Lights E-Book

Maher Asaad Baker

• Herausgeber: tredition
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

"Songs of the Northern Lights" guides readers into a musical exploration of the rich Baltic State musical environment. Through this book, readers discover how music functions as both a cultural foundation and an instrument of resistance in the historical contexts of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. This book traces Baltic music from its prehistoric forest and shoreline rituals to its integration with Christian spirituality. Through this book, you will understand how traditional songs developed into instruments of rebellion against foreign occupations before leading to the historic Singing Revolution that achieved independence. The book examines how Baltic music shapes global music scenes by exploring the diaspora's efforts to keep traditions alive with their music and how digital platforms help restart communities' connection to their folk heritage. You can help us celebrate the everlasting spirit of Baltic music while understanding its power to define both the heritage and destiny of the Baltic region.

Leseprobe

Maher Asaad Baker

Songs of the Northern Lights

© 2025 Maher Asaad Baker

ISBN Softcover: 978-3-384-51041-9

ISBN Hardback: 978-3-384-51042-6

ISBN E-Book: 978-3-384-51043-3

This work, including its parts, is protected by copyright. The author is responsible for the contents. Any exploitation is prohibited.

Cover image designed by Freepik

Contents

Introduction

The Roots

The Evolution

Cultural Encounters

Musical Liberation and Identity

Music and Society

Cultural Memory

Globalization

Preservation and Future

Disclaimer

About the Author

 

Introduction

The Baltic States, also known as the Baltic Republic, are three tiny yet beautiful yet culturally endowed countries slumbering in the forefront of the Baltic Sea geological interface and Russia, in Northern Europe. While these countries are small, they have a deep, complex past, a wide cultural panorama, and a pronounced national self-consciousness.

The Baltic States have had a history of migrations, of invasions, of cultural exchange, of a tapestry. The area has been inhabited by the indigenous peoples of that region (Balts and Finno-Ugric peoples) for thousands of years. It was only in the 13th century, when German crusaders began arriving in the area, bringing along Christianity and establishing the Livonian Order there, which would keep much of the area under its thumb until the 16th century.

In what followed, the Baltic States became part of the empires of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Swedish empire and the Russian empire. Each of these empires had their mark on the region, leaving their languages, cultures and architectures on the Baltic peoples.

The Baltic States underwent a lot of upheaval in the 20th century. After World War I, the three countries gained independence and then enjoyed some sovereignty that was interrupted by the Soviet occupation during World War II. Repression and Russification characterized the Soviet period, but Baltics people never tired of the idea of independence. In the late 1980s, the Baltic States led the charge for independence in the dying Soviet Union, and regained independence in 1991.

The Baltic States’ cultural heritage is a mixture of the native and the foreign, but also the legacies of the empires that ruled still. However, the three countries of Korea share a common history and yet are each a discrete cultural entity.

Estonia is a country, with its natural heritage and an extensive cultural heritage, which is the result of its geographical position on the East - West border of Europe, lying in the maritime areas of the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. Estonians are a Finno-Ugric people, the mother tongue of which is very close to Finnish and Hungarian. Estonia’s folklore institutions such as storytelling, folk music and traditional crafts are innately part of our cultural identity.

Folk music of Estonia is marked for its runo singing, epic style of improvisation, nello (guttural style of singing) and polka; the strongest aspects of the folk culture, which is so picturesque. Estonian identity may not be so much as illustrative of Runo, as Runo is illustrative of Estonian identity: Runo singing is an integral part of the Estonian identity, which has been recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage.

Of course, it also boasts a rich literary tradition of its own, in Estonia. The national poet is Lydia Koidula and the novelist Jaan Kross.

Estonia's tradition of handicrafts besides literary and musical, includes pottery, weaving, and woodcarving. Estonian folk art is recognizable by intricate patterns and motifs, shaped by the country’s natural world and its historical legend.

Estonia, like Latvia, has a wonderful complex of its folk traditions, which are deeply rooted into rich cultural heritage of the country. The Latvians are a Baltic people and their language is related to Lithuanian. Understanding the people and place of Latvia means understanding its history of invasion and occupation, as the Baltic state sits at the crossing of Eastern and Western Europe.

The kokle is a type of zither, and dūcīte a small stringed instrument in use in Latvian folk music. Despite being rather new to Latvian cultural heritage, folk songs, or dainas, are important, being passed down through generations. Many of these songs tell stories of everyday life, love, and the natural world.

Latvia also has its rich tradition of folk dancing. Latvian folk dances are a big part of cultural celebration and are frequently performed at festivals and also at various public events. The pictures reflect the region traditions while the dances are marked by the footwork and colourful costumes.

The cultural heritage of the Baltic States has also benefited from Latvian literature. Latvian writers include the poet Jānis Rainis and the novelist Astrid Lindgren, better known for her children’s books than for her adult books.

Latvia has a rich tradition of folk art in weaving, embroidery, but also woodcarving. This foliate art, characterized by the use of bright colours and intricate patterns is an obvious reflection of Latvian landscape beauty.

Of the Baltic States, Lithuania is the largest and its cultural heritage is steeped in a history that was a powerful mediaeval kingdom. Lithuanians are a Baltic people, and their language an Indo-European one of the oldest surviving. It is a country in the process of receiving its cultural identity influenced by its history of resistance against foreign invaders, its geographical position at the junction of Eastern and Western Europe.

The kanklės, a zither of sorts and the skudučiai, which are sort of panpipes, are two traditional instruments of Lithuanian folk music. There is an important part of Lithuanian cultural heritage which is passed down for generations and which are called folk songs – dainos. And typically, these songs are tales about historical events, mythology and the natural world.

Lithuania has a long tradition of folk dancing. Lithuanian cultural celebrations wouldn’t be complete without folk dances, which usually participate at festivals and other public events. The foot work and the colourful costumes involved are all a facet of traditional dances which are found in various portions of the country.

Baltic states cultural heritage has also been enriched with Lithuanian literature. The best-known Lithuanian writers include the poet Kristijonas Donelaitis and the novelist Vincas Krėvė-Mickevičius.

Lithuania has had a long tradition of literary and musical arts and a wealth of folk arts, including weaving, embroidery and wood carving. Folk art in the country is characterized by exploiting natural materials and intricate patterns, reflecting in beauty the landscapes of Lithuanian.

The Baltic States are culturally tied to music. The musical heritage of the region is rich, for it includes tradition folk music, classical music, and modern rock, pop.

All three Baltic States are important for traditional folk music for their cultural heritage. Folk music is also played at festivals and weddings and in cultural settings as it is in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Its instrumentation is dominated by modern and traditional instruments, such as the kokle, kanklės, and skudučiai, and it includes use of folk songs and dances.

Polyphonic singing is one of the most distinctive traits with which Baltic folk music marks itself. This is a particular characteristic of Estonian runo singing by means of drone tones with rhythmic chanting.

The region’s history of migration and cultural exchange also affects the region’s folk music, as well. In many cases, neighboring countries such as Russia, Poland and Germany have also had an effect on Latvian folk music, and Lithuanian folk music has been influenced by the Belarusians and Poles.

The contribution of the Baltic States to the world classical music cannot be denied. Among other things, the region has produced many notable composers, including the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, whose minimalist pieces are becoming increasingly internationally acclaimed.

Of all the living composers of the Baltic States, perhaps the most famous is Arvo Pärt. Sacrifices of his works, often incorporating sacred and mediaeval polyphonic figures, have been performed around the world by orchestras and choirs. His music is simple and spiritual, and has been a real influence on the modern classical world.

Additionally, names to mention other than Borodin include the Latvian composer Jāzeps Vītols and the Lithuanian Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis. Largely preoccupied with Latvian folk music, Vītols was a major figure in the Latvian National Romantic movement. However, Čiurlionis was a composer and a painter who was influenced by Symbolist movement in art and literature.