Paper short abstract:

The paper considers uses of folk song archives under uncertain conditions in a digital world. An argument will be made for small-scale, curated digitization projects within bigger online collection frameworks on the one hand, and local collaborations on the other, both reaching different audiences.

Paper long abstract:

The proposed paper deals with challenges faced by traditions archives focusing on folk songs: While historical collections are still available on paper (but are scarcely used), the question remains of how to collect folk songs digitally and make collections available in well-curated appealing formats, and for whom. Folk songs, like any 'intangible' cultural expressions, are safeguarded and disseminated by means of technology, e.g., archival systems or wax cylinder recordings. Two examples will be examined, the German Folk Song Archive (DVA, founded in 1914) and the Swiss Folk Song Archive (SVA, 1906). Four approaches can be distinguished that aim(ed) at making the collections accessible to distinctive audiences: (1) book editions for scientific use; (2) digital editions of songs; (3) the archives as a source for alternative movements (folk revival, 'long' 1970s); and (4) folk song collections online. While printed and digital editions (1, 2) represent exclusive scientific aspirations for scientific uses, the latter ones (3, 4) aim at opening the archives for the interested public by using participatory methods, e.g., ethnographically working and collaborating with folk enthusiasts. However, the success of such projects is uncertain due to differing goals and frameworks of projects and archives, as well as scarce resources and nebulous audiences. Further, online editions and participatory approaches call for constant maintenance and community management and they need stable resources. This paper discusses some provisional solutions to this situation based on the German and Swiss Folk Song Archives, focusing on digitization projects and local co-operation.