Ingrian Laments/Inkerin Itkuvirret

The lament, the song of sorrow improvised from traditional language and melody, is an ancient folklore genre known as a ritual form of grieving throughout the world. The laments of Ingria represent a Balto-Finnic women's tradition whose other branches include the laments of the Karelian, Vepsian and Setu peoples. This volume contains nearly 700 lament texts recorded mostly in writing between 1841 and 1975, here presented in their original language with English translations and commentary. The book also includes samples of lament melodies.