Revitalizing and Innovating Tradition: The Individual Motivations behind New Songs in the Slovácko Region
Revitalizing and Innovating Tradition: The Individual Motivations behind New Songs in the Slovácko Region

Summary/Abstract: This study focuses on new songs based upon the folklore tradition. It evaluates field research in the Slovácko region carried out over several years. The study analyses the role played by the individual as a creative figure, who builds upon the region’s song tradition and folklore studies in the latter half of the 20th century. Three specific cases are used to demonstrate individuals’ varying motivation, their personal creative input, and the various ‘compositional’ approaches. Further, the article discusses the difference between maintaining the cultural heritage and innovating tradition. The author highlights conflicts between the urge to preserve the cultural heritage and to innovate traditional forms. The presentation of folklore in the mass media over time, for instance, has resulted in a large cross-section of the public preferring well-established, familiar versions of some songs—the so-called ‘correct’ versions. Songs codified in recognized songbook additions are also taken to be correct. By contrast, innovation of tradition, including new songs, is rejected. The effort to preserve folklore, as a result, has erected a barrier that stands in the way of further development of the tradition.

• Details
• Contents