Singing the Right Way
Orthodox Christians and Secular Enchantment in Estonia
Jeffers Engelhardt
Reviews and Awards
"Engelhardt does excellent work in analysing the secular enchantment of Orthodoxy, effected by national ideologies and identities and political endeavours, and the reflexivity of identity and singing the right way at different historical and political moments." - Jooa Sotejeff-Wilson, Journal of the International Society for Orthodox Church Music
"Singing the Right Way is a cutting-edge ethnography opening new areas of research on the stylistics of music in Orthodox Estonia. This book will quickly assume pride of place on many bookshelves." - Gregory Barz, Alexander Heard Distinguished Professor, Vanderbilt University
"Engelhardt contributes a detailed ethnography of Estonian Orthodox singing to further our understanding of music and religion in a post-socialist European context. It highlights the importance of singing in liturgical experience and charts musical, religious and political transitions." - Tina K. Ramnarine, Professor of Music, Royal Holloway University of London
"The book is handsomely produced in all respects, filling a gap with enthusiasm about its subject." - Musical Times
"Engelhardt has studied Estonian Orthodox singing with the utmost care and dedication, including, significantly, the lived faith of Orthodox believers the everyday rituals that Orthodox Christians in Estonia practice. Magically, Engelhardt's work makes the transformations of congregations and singing in the Orthodox Church of Estonia visible and audible to readers, opening up the different worlds and ideologies of a small community under a microscope's lens." - Andreas Kalkun, Res Musica