February 22, 2012

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Music in Lithuania

March 4, 2011 By admin

Lithuanian culture includes a long musical tradition in both folk and classical genres. 

Folk Music
Sutartines  are unique Lithuanian examples of traditional music dating back hundreds of years.  These usually take the form of two or three part polyphonic forms with simple melodies.  Originally these would have been sung by women, particularly in the North-Western part of Lithuania with instrumental versions played by men.  Expressive and with clear rhythms (typically syncopated) these songs were performed at social occasions such as weddings.  A lot of the Sutartine repertoire was written down in the 19th and 20th centuries and are still performed by Lithuanian Folk groups today.

Lithuanian folk songs also include references to wars throughout their history.  Documents from the 16th century refer to songs about the heroic deeds of those who fell against the Teutonic Knights.  There are also many religious songs associated with particular festivals such as Easter and Christmas. 
Another popular form of Lithuanian folk music is that of Work Songs.  Some of these appear to be of great age and the rhythms of some are even suggestive of the rhythm of the work being done as they are sung.   There are herding songs, often sung by children and though to be a way of calming the animals.  Haymaking and harvesting songs, milling and spinning songs and even laundry songs have been recorded.
Instrumental dance music is also an important part of Lithuanian culture, performed using a variety of instruments including violins, clarinets and accordions.  If visiting Lithuania look out for its many folk festivals held throughout the year.

Classical Music
Perhaps Lithuania’s best known composer is Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis.  Born in 1875 in Varena, Ciurlionis studied piano and composition at the Warsaw Conservatory followed by a spell at the Leipzig Conservatory.  Although he died in 1911 aged only 35 in 1911, his body of work includes around 200 pieces of music including th symphonic poems, “In the Forest” and “The Sea” both of which were first performed posthumously.
Vytautas Miskinis, born 1954, is a popular Lithuanian composer and choir director who has written more than 400 secular and 150 religious works.

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Pagan Lithuania

February 18, 2011 By admin

Other than a brief mention by the Roman writer Tacitus, the first written reference to Lithuania as a nation is in 1009AD.  This reference is found in the annals of Quedlinburg monastery.
 
In the 11th century, Lithuania was included in the number of lands paying taxes to Kievan Rus (an area covering parts of modern day Russia, Poland and Ukraine.) By the 12th century, however, the tables had turned and the Lithuanians were themselves plundering their neighbouring territories.  Such military activities started a struggle for power which was eventually to lead to the formation of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

By the early part of the 13th century, Lithuania was still a very much pagan country.  This led to it becoming threatened by groups of crusaders from Germany with the Knights of the Sword trying to forcibly convert those in the north and the Teutonic Knights doing the same to the south.  Tribal chiefs manage to resist this invasion but do seem to have considered the potential advantages of adopting either of the neighbouring religions, i.e. the Catholicism of Germany or the Orthodox church of the Russians. 

In 1251, Mindaugas, a Supreme Chieftain decides to become Catholic and he and his family are baptised.  However, he and his two sons are assassinated two years later by the strongly pagan opposition.  Still Pagan, Lithuania thrives under the rule of Gediminas from 1315.  It is at this point the Vilnius is made the country’s capital.  Gediminas extends his territory so much that by the time his grandson, Jogaila, inherits in 1377,Lithuania stretches through Belorussia and as far as the city of Kiev in the Ukraine.

It is under Jogaila that the problem of which religion to adopt is finally solved.  In 1385 He reaches an agreement with Polish ambassadors that Lithuania, Belorussia and Kiev become linked to the Polish crown.  In return, he agrees to marry the 11 year old Polish Queen and becomes the King of Poland.  The following February, Jogaila travels to Cracow where he is baptised in the Catholic cathedral, adding the Polish name Wladyslaw to his own.  Three days later he marries Jadwiga and is finally crowned on March 4th 1386 as Wladislaw II, thus marking the end of the last remaining wholly pagan kingdom in Europe.

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Lithuanian Art and Literature

February 13, 2011 By admin

It is sometimes said that culture is the main-stay of Lithuania’s survival.  Despite its history of occupation, the main Lithuanian ethnic group managed to preserve their cultural identity and allow the flowering of new creative forms of modernism and post-modernism.  After the end of Russian occupation in 1990 the largest Cultural Congress in Lithuania’s history took place in the capital, Vilnius.

Lithuania is home to over 50 museums and art galleries.  Modern fine-art in the country is thought to begin with Mikolojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis (1875 – 1911.)  His symbolic type of art mixes modern and folk themes together.  His paintings can be seen in the museum named after him in Kaunas.  Also in Kaunas,at the Mykolas Zilinskas Gallery, is Lithuania’s most valuable collection of works of art.

Lithuania has a long tradition of sculpture and many impressive statues can be seen in the country’s cities and towns.  During Soviet occupation many of the old monuments were destroyed although some have been renovated since the restoration of independence.  Some of the statues and sculptures from that time can be found in the Park of Soviet Sculpture (Grotto Parkas) near Druskininkai.  Some of the latest, post-independence paintings and sculptures can be seen in hotels and offices as well as in museums.

Literature, like art, has also seen a re-birth since 1990 brought independence to Lithuania once more.  The first acknowledged Lithuanian book is Catechismus by Martynas Mazyydas which was published in 1547.  Secular literature was initiated by Kristijonas Donelaitis (1714 -1780 and, ironically, a priest) who is the author of the poem “Metai” (the Year.)

During Soviet occupation in the late 19th century, Russia initiated a 40 year ban on printing in the Lithuanian language.  This led to printing being done in East Prussia and books in Lithuanian being smuggled into the country.  After the ban was lifted in 1904, literary movements such as symbolism and expressionism that existed elsewhere in Europe began to influence Lithuanian writers.  One outstanding literary figure from this period is Vincas Kreve-Mickevicius who was both a novelist and playwright.  Also popular from this time is Zemaite (1845 – 1921) who published short stories celebrating the joys and hardships of Lithuanian village life.  She is commemorated by her image being printed on the 1 Litas bank note.

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