Intensive course in the Viena Karelian cultural heritage house, of the Hietajärvi folklore village on the 1st - 2nd July 2008.

Liisa Matveinen (Master of Music), one of the most active reviver of the lament tradition in Finland, will guide the course participants in the secrets of lamenting (or dirges). Liisa Matveinen has examined dirges since the 1980's and has passed the keener tradition over to the new generations with piety, both by performing old laments and composing new ones, based on her personal torments.

As an introduction to the course, the participants will be acquainted with the essence and stylistic means of a lamenting voice with the aid of taped and video recordings. The course continues by studying a couple of old lament tunes, with the help of which, the participants of the course will seek out their own lament tune, welling from their innermost.

The participants are encouraged to compose their own personal lament, the theme of which they may decide in advance. According to Lauri Honko, the lament song is a common wailing of all nations. The lament is not all about personal troubles, but about the universal, collective sorrow that touches many people, such as massive evacuation or death. However, it is sometimes easier to practice through a personal grief, although it is a lot harder. After the subject has been chosen, various metaphors or paraphrases concerning that subject or person are searched for. By using metaphors, it is easier to approach the subject and create personal alliterative lyrics for the lament.

At the end of the course, the self-made laments will be sung to the other participants of the course.

The course will take place 90 km north-east of Kuhmo, in the idyllic village of Hietajärvi, glowing with creativity and ancient traditions. Hietajärvi is one of the three Viena Karelian villages, which remained within the Finnish borders after World War II and where old traditions are visible and alive even today. Accommodation is organised in Kuivajärvi, three kilometres from the course premises, the home village of a famed rune and lament singer of the last century, Domna Huovinen. Both villages have a significant role in the cultural history of Finland, particularly due to their strong traditions of rune singing and laments. In Hietajärvi, the rune singing tradition is still kept alive by Jussi Huovinen who has learnt his runes from his mother and grandmother.

Cost of the course: 150 e (incl. accommodation and catering in Kuivajärvi).
The price also includes entrance to the seminar on laments in Kuhmo on the 3rd July 2008. The lecturers of the seminar are the leading researchers of the field, Eila and Santra Stepanova and Liisa Matveinen.

Registration by 6th June 2008 to:
Maximum number of participants: 15 persons. The participants of the course are accepted in the order of registration.
salla.seppa (a) runolaulu.fi
Telephone: +358 (0)44-250 1391

Additional information at:
http://www.runolaulu.fi/sommelo08/
http://www.neta.fi/matveinen/itkut.html (in Finnish)
http://www.juminkeko.fi/viena/en/kuivajarvi.html