Overview
This book shows how the people of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania confronted a military superpower and achieved independence in the Baltic ""Singing Revolution"". When attacked by Soviet soldiers in public displays of violent force, singing Balts maintained faith in non-violent political action. As an inspiration to all nations, the non-violent Baltic independence movement revolutionised each country through singing and smiling. The ""Singing Revolution"" is indeed the essence of the Baltic way, and began in 1987 as a public revolt against Soviet restrictions on free speech and assembly. The revolutions and following elections in 1990 resulted in three separate governments and a declaration of independence from the Soviet Union. The book seeks to answer questions such as why the struggle for Baltic independence came to be called the Singing Revolution? What did they sing? And what role did singing play in the Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian campaigns of political mobilisation and non-violent action? Furthermore, and uniquely for this publication, it explores, in great depth, the songs that gave the revolution its name, translating and interpreting over 110 choral, rock, and folk songs in their poetic, cultural, and historical context.
Full Product Details
Author: Guntis Smidchens
Publisher: Museum Tusculanum Press
Imprint: Museum Tusculanum Press
Dimensions:
Width: 15.50cm
, Height: 2.20cm
, Length: 23.00cm
Weight: 0.730kg
ISBN: 9788763541480
ISBN 10: 8763541483
Pages: 456
Publication Date: 01 February 2014
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Available To Order
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Reviews
The Power of Song serves not only as the quintessential study of what constitutes the heart of the remarkable and inspiring movements of the Baltic people, it will stand as a distinct contribution to the study of civil resistance movements overall. -Peter Ackerman, founding chair of the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict and co-author of Strategic Nonviolent Conflict and A Force More Powerful An excellent and thorough work and a significant and important addition to our understanding of the role that folklore and popular culture play in shaping political events. - Timothy Tangherlini, UCLA A monumental study addressing a sorely neglected aspect of one of the last centurys most dramatic geopolitical upheavals. This book will stand, for years and even decades to come, as the standard, authoritative source on its topic. - Kevin C. Karnes, Emory University
"The Power of Song serves not only as the quintessential study of what constitutes the heart of the remarkable and inspiring movements of the Baltic people, it will stand as a distinct contribution to the study of civil resistance movements overall. -Peter Ackerman, founding chair of the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict and co-author of Strategic Nonviolent Conflict and A Force More Powerful ""An excellent and thorough work and a significant and important addition to our understanding of the role that folklore and popular culture play in shaping political events. - Timothy Tangherlini, UCLA A monumental study addressing a sorely neglected aspect of one of the last centurys most dramatic geopolitical upheavals. This book will stand, for years and even decades to come, as the standard, authoritative source on its topic. - Kevin C. Karnes, Emory University"
Author Information
Guntis Smidchens is the Kazickas Family Endowed Professor in Baltic Studies in the Scandinavian Studies Department at the University of Washington.
