The aftermath of World War II sent thousands of Estonian refugees into
Europe. The years of Estonian independence (1917-1940) had given them a
taste of freedom and so relocation to displaced person (DP) camps in
post-war Germany was extremely painful. One way in which Estonians dealt
with the chaos and trauma of WWII and its aftermath was through choral
singing. Just as song festivals helped establish national identity in
1869, song festivals promoted cultural cohesiveness for Estonians in
WWII displaced person camps. A key turning point in hope for the
Estonian DPs was the 1947 Augsburg Song Festival, which is the center
point of this book. As Estonian DPs dispersed to Australia, Canada,
Europe, and the United States these choirs and song festivals gave
Estonians the resilience to retain their identity and to thrive in their
new homes. This history of Estonian WWII DP camp choirs and song
festivals is gathered from the stories of many courageous individuals
and filled with the tenacious spirit of the Estonian singing culture.
This work contributes to an understanding of immigration, identity, and
resilience and is particularly important within the field of music
regarding music and healing, music and identity, historical musicology,
ethnomusicology, and music and politics.