Paper short abstract:

Concentrating on few main folk poem collections of the 19th century, the paper examines perceptions of folk lyric, especially of nationally double disregarded lyric, rhymed folk lyric, in the making of transcribed oral songs visible and celebrated as Finnish cultural heritage.

Paper long abstract:

Publishing folk poem collections started in Finland in early decades of the 19th century. However, it was not until the first version of the Kalevala epos by Elias Lönnrot was published in 1835 when the importance of folk songs for Finnish language and history was recognised. Kalevala-metre folk poems mainly indicated celebrated epic songs while other genres, though transcribed and also published, remained in the shadow.

By focusing on perceptions of folk lyric, my paper will shed light on disgraced lyric material either included in or excluded from the publications. I will reflect on to what extend and what part of the folk lyric was labelled as representation of Finnish folk poem tradition. Furthermore, folk lyric will be examined in respect of the Kalevala and epic in the context of textualization practices. A special attention will be given to rhymed folk songs that were nationally double disregarded as having no value for cultural heritage.