Regilaulu variatsioonid tänapäeva Eestis. Koodi jätkamine

Variations of runosong in contemporary Estonia: Continuing a code of singing This article provides an overview of the contemporary, largely revitalized, and multi-layered runosong tradition within the context of its historical development, showing how the ancient Finnic song heritage – nearly extinct by the end of the 19th century – began to revive in the second half of the 20th century through earlier documentation, surviving peripheral traditions, and the postmodern re-evaluation of folk music. The focus lies on the social aspects of the 21st-century runosong tradition – its functions, contexts, and social organization. Contemporary runosong performances can be grouped into: (1) tradition-related singing integrated into ritual or other functional contexts; (2) non-ritual participatory singing with alternating lead and responding chorus; (3) unarranged stage performances, often involving audience participation; and (4) arranged performances that merge runosong with other musical styles. These forms influence one another and often draw on shared song sources. Runosong singing represents an alternative to mainstream modern culture and therefore often serves as a vehicle of identity and expression for smaller communities and nations – particularly those centred on the preservation of their culture, language, and environment. As a participatory form of music-making, runosong offers opportunities for distinctive self-expression and aesthetic experience, for transformative or healing engagement, as accompaniment to rituals and movements, and as a means of broadening cultural horizons. As the expressive form and content of runosong have developed in close connection with various aspects of everyday life over a long period, the style has retained its ability to adapt to changing conditions. Thus, runosong can be understood as a code – a framework shaped by its performers and tradition-bearers, characterized by variable structural and semantic features and capable of conveying multiple layers of meaning. Its presence in both participatory and staged forms demonstrates the vitality and continued significance of singing traditions in contemporary Estonia.