WHAT IS LAMENT?

Lament is a universal practice, a global genre of traditional music, found in some form in all ancient cultures and continues to live and evolve today despite centuries of suppression. From the islands of Greece, to the Middle East, among the indigenous cultures of the Amazon and across Africa, to Romania, Karelia to Papua New Guinea lament traditions remain intact. We are living in times of revival of these traditions too, in Finland, Karelia and Ireland, for example, whereas in some parts of the world the suppression continues.

Lament is musical expression carried by emotion; combining melody, poetry and natural tears. The crying is not forced but liberated as we craft laments from topics that already have a strong emotional charge. We can craft laments from anything we know makes us cry.

Lament and Rites of Passage are intrinsically interwoven. Traditionally, of course, at Death but also, for example, at Marriage. At both these thresholds the community faces the loss of a member and, as such, there are multiple Rites of Passage happening at the same time. For all things born anew there must first be a death; for all things gained require first a letting go; as the individual transcends in their moment of transformation, so the community must also process the change in state. Traditionally specific ritual laments took place in order to ensure a safe and healthy passage through the turbulence of transition.

Laments are also used outside of communal ceremony. All of us live through the cycles and seasons of personal rites of passage and lament has been used to assist in these times as well; for example recovering from trauma, releasing emotional burdens and gaining new perspectives to difficult situations.