The Temporal Structure of Estonian Runic Songs (Phonology and Phonetics [Pp])

The topic of the book is the structure of Estonian folksongs looked at from three aspects: the prosodic structure of the language, the metric structure of the verse, and the rhythmic and melodic structure of the songs. In particular, we are investigating the ways in which these three aspects interact: the way in which the language is adapted to the requirements of the metre (and, conversely, the way in which the metre reflects the prosodic structure of the language), and the way in which the metre interacts with the musical structure of the folksongs. The methodology employed consists of acoustic analysis of recorded spoken and sung texts exemplifying the interaction of the three systems. Phonology and Phonetics have had a tumultuous, if not always unequivocal, relationship in the past. This relationship between natural partners is now being invigorated from both sides and novel research techniques and methodologies are fostering new interdisciplinary questions. Consequently, a major issue today is whether it is necessary to draw a line between phonology and phonetics at all. This series aims to stabilize and strengthen the rapport and, by facing the big challenges, to ensure that phonetically grounded phonology and phonologically informed phonetics will have a sound future. The series is intended as a forum for the interaction of phonology and phonetics within linguistics. It welcomes joint phonological-phonetic ventures as well as initiatives from either discipline, as long as they are made with a view of the other. To discuss your book idea or submit a proposal, please contact Natalie Fecher. The Kalevala, or runic, songs is a tradition at least a few thousand years old. It was shared by Finns, Estonians and other speakers of smaller Baltic-Finnic languages inhabiting the eastern side of the Baltic Sea in North-Eastern Europe. This book offers a combined perspective of a musicologist and a linguist to the structure of the runic songs. Archival recordings of the songs originating mostly from the first half of the 20th century were used as source material for this study. The results reveal a complex interaction between three different processes participating in singing: speech prosody, metre, and musical rhythm. Preface Chapter 1. Introduction Chapter 2. Estonian old folksongs: history, tradition, collections and availability Chapter 3. Estonian Prosody Chapter 4. The metrical structure of Estonian folksongs Chapter 5. Estonian folksong as musical performance Chapter 6. Realization of the prosodie structure of Estonian in sung folksongs Chapter 7. Realization of prosodic structure in recitation and laments Chapter 8. Conclusions Appendix Notes References Index