Musikcirkelrörelsen 1930–1960.

Om amatörmusicerande som folkbildning

Abstract

Amateur Music as “Bildung” – A Popular Movement 1930–1960
Music could be found in Swedish adult education occasionally since the late 19th century. Often it had an entertaining function, but it could also be part of lectures on musical subjects or concerts especially aimed towards the working class people. From the 1930s though, organizations of adult education chose a new way to pro- mote musical cultivation among people: organizing study circles for amateur music playing. Playing an instrument in a music circle became very popular. Within two decades, music had expanded to be one of the largest areas of study for the adult education organizations. At the same time, music became a central subject of debate in the journals of adult education. In this article, the aim is to analyze ideas and values shown in the press debate. Certain questions are being addressed: How should musical cultivation best be achieved? What was the dominating view of music in adult education of the time, and which ideals were promoted? What happened to the original idea of “Bildung” when the traditional activities in adult education met the new more practical music circles?