Resilient Voices

This work contributes to an understanding of immigration, identity and resilience and is particularly important within the field of music regarding music and healing, music and identity, historical musicology, ethnomusicology and music and politics.

The aftermath of World War II sent thousands of Estonian refugees into Europe. The years of Estonian independence (1917-1940) had given them a taste of freedom and so relocation to displaced person (DP) camps in post-war Germany was extremely painful. One way in which Estonians dealt with the chaos and trauma of WWII and its aftermath was through choral singing. Just as song festivals helped establish national identity in 1869, song festivals promoted cultural cohesiveness for Estonians in WWII displaced person camps. A key turning point in hope for the Estonian DPs was the 1947 Augsburg Song Festival, which is the center point of this book. As Estonian DPs dispersed to Australia, Canada, Europe, and the United States these choirs and song festivals gave Estonians the resilience to retain their identity and to thrive in their new homes. This history of Estonian WWII DP camp choirs and song festivals is gathered from the stories of many courageous individuals and filled with the tenacious spirit of the Estonian singing culture. This work contributes to an understanding of immigration, identity, and resilience and is particularly important within the field of music regarding music and healing, music and identity, historical musicology, ethnomusicology, and music and politics.

"A must-read showing the power of choral music to provide hope and unity even in the darkest of days. Dr. Holmes has preserved an important part of Estonians' lives as refugees in displaced persons camps in Germany that would otherwise have been lost." Liina Teose, Estonian American National Council 2016 Outstanding Achievement award recipient

Autorentext

Ramona Holmes is Professor Emerita at Seattle Pacific University where she taught ethnomusicology and music education for twenty-five years. She plays violin, sings, and dances as part of the Seattle and Portland Estonian communities.

Inhalt

Chapter 1: Estonian Self-Determination through Music: the "Time of Awakening"

Chapter 2: We Will Go Home Soon: Estonian Displaced Persons Camps in Post War Germany

Chapter 3: "So We Decided to Start a Choir": Forming Choirs in the DP Camps

Chapter 4: Welcome to the Singing Party!: The 1947 Augsburg Song Festival

Chapter 5:" First I Chose Songs that Everyone Knew": Choir Directors, Scores, Repertoire, and Composers in Estonian Displaced Person Camps

Chapter 7: Song Festivals and Resilience: Singing Toward a Brighter Future

Appendices:

A: Choral Music Timeline

B: Maps

B.1 Map of Estonia with locations mentioned in book.

B.2 Map of Estonian DP Camps in Germany 1945-1952.

C: List of Repertoire from Camps

D: Handwritten Scores Used in the Camps:

D.1-D.9 Aino Mgi scores,

D.10-D.20 Inno Salasoo scores