lauluperinnettä

Lauluperinnettä is a Finnish term referring to the living practice of singing that has been transmitted within Finnish communities across generations. It encompasses a wide range of repertoires and settings, including folk songs, work songs, lullabies, children’s songs, religious hymns, game songs, and regional chants. The concept also covers participatory choral singing and other performance traditions that survive in families, villages, parishes, schools, and folk events.

Transmission of lauluperinnettä occurs mainly through participation and social learning rather than formal instruction. Songs are learned by listening, imitation, and communal practice in everyday contexts such as gatherings, celebrations, and ceremonies. Repertoires are often tied to regional identities, language, seasonal cycles, and local history. Academic study in ethnomusicology and folklore, together with archiving and cultural programs, supports the documentation, preservation, and study of this singing heritage. Efforts commonly involve fieldwork, community collections, and public activities that make the repertoire accessible to new generations.

In modern Finland, lauluperinnettä continues to evolve while maintaining continuity with past practice. New arrangements and interpretations emerge alongside traditional forms, and school and community choirs, festivals, and local events provide ongoing platforms for transmission. The concept highlights the social and cultural functions of singing—fostering language use, group belonging, and shared identity—while navigating contemporary challenges such as urbanization, globalization, and changing entertainment formats. It remains a central reference in discussions about cultural policy, education, and the preservation of intangible cultural heritage in Finland.