Introduction to the Lament Traditions of Ukraine, Lithuania, and Karelia

In this workshop, you’ll be introduced to the historical background of the lament traditions, including the cultural context, sacred nature, and issues with modern revival and practice. Matti and Jurgita will share the technical aspects of melodies, vocal techniques including crying, and the poetic aspect and imagery of the lament texts. They'll demonstrate laments used in various social settings by singing examples from archival sources. They’ll guide workshop participants to write their own laments and present them if they choose to do so.
No previous experience is necessary.

About the Facilitators:

In 2017 Matti Palonen learned of the Lament tradition during a Karelian singing course with Emmi Kuittinen in Finland, and in 2022, Jurgita Žvinklytė participated in a lament workshop with Emmi. In 2023 Matti and Jurgita attended the International Conference of the Lament Tradition in Helsinki where they met additional researchers including Aušra Žičkienė, and presented lament repertoire later that year at the Tranzac in Toronto.

In 2024 they toured in Lithuania, where Aušra gave them additional material about the Lithuanian and Ukrainian lament traditions. They are both avidly researching and exploring the lament tradition, and in light of the current war in Ukraine, are collaborating with their Ukrainian colleagues in Kosa to go deeper into this traditional healing modality.

You may also like the following events from Folk camp:

• Next Thursday, 27th November, 11:00 am, Willow Star Weaving - Bendy Sticks & Bright Stars in Toronto
• Next month, 11th December, 06:00 pm, Kosa Folk Tales Series - Sharing Old Stories from Europe in Toronto
• Happening on, 11th January, 02:00 pm, Introduction to Ukrainian Winter Songs - Celebrating Winter Together. in Toronto

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