G4 Doctoral dissertation (monograph)
Kansakoululaisen lauluaarteisto : jälleenrakennusajalta tutut laulut ikäihmisten laulukokemuksissa ja muistoissa (2022)
The song treasure of elementary school children : familiar songs from the years of rebuilding in elderly’s singing experiences and memories

Tammela, A. (2022). Kansakoululaisen lauluaarteisto : jälleenrakennusajalta tutut laulut ikäihmisten laulukokemuksissa ja muistoissa [Doctoral dissertation]. Jyväskylän yliopisto. JYU dissertations, 481. http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-39-8993-4

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Tammela, Annika

eISBN: 978-951-39-8993-4

Journal or series: JYU dissertations

eISSN: 2489-9003

Publication year: 2022

Number in series: 481

Number of pages in the book: 1 verkkoaineisto (315 sivua)

Publisher: Jyväskylän yliopisto

Place of Publication: Jyväskylä

Publication country: Finland

Publication language: Finnish

Persistent website address: http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-39-8993-4

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Abstract

This dissertation explores the significance given to childhood songs by older Finnish adults. The investigation focuses specifically on the cultural generation known as ‘the children of the years of rebuilding,’ who attended elementary school in Finland after the Second World War, between 1945 and 1959. Many of the past school songs are still popular singalong songs among Finnish elderly, but these may represent values that contradict the current values of modern society. This research helps to clarify, how the aged people understand the songs they have sung and heard during their early years and what kind of memories these songs evoke for them. The ethnographic qualitative research data was collected in 2019 from 20 elderly participants living in senior housing units in Central Finland, who were cognitively fit. Participants gathered in small groups to sing, listen to, and reminisce music from their school years. The primary data comprises videotaped singalong and reminiscence sessions in small groups, and paper questionnaires. The supplement data consists of audiotaped individual interviews. The analysis focuses on the participants’ verbal, bodily and written expressions. The methods and framework are based on oral history and holistic human perception. Analysis also applies theories of social inclusion and agency. According to the research results, familiar songs from early years are relevant to the participants because the songs are linked to one’s individual and collective identity and to strong emotional memories. Most participants felt that singing familiar songs from their childhood is important. The values expressed by the songs were mainly perceived as natural, and the participants still want to maintain them. Also, people who were not musically oriented felt participating in the reminiscing focus group was pleasant. Singing and reminiscing together with peers enabled experiences of inclusion and agency, which are key factors for the well-being of the elderly. It is there-fore important for younger generations, who work with the elderly, to know this song repertoire and its relevance to the older adults.

Keywords: childhood; singing; primary school (folk school); children's songs; older people; music; experiencing; postwar period; rebuilding (construction); generational experiences; memories (mental objects); oral history; work with the elderly; doctoral dissertations

Free keywords: song memories; 1940s; 1950s; childhood memories; elementary school songs; the years of rebuilding; oral history; cultural senior work; agency; social inclusion; identity; reminiscence group

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Related projects

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2022