LITHUANIA: MUSIC AND DANCE

 

Music in Lithuania has its roots deep in Baltic traditions. In Lithuania, music fell into three main categories: vocal music, wind instrument music, and string music. 

 

Vocal music uses several different kinds of harmonization: monophony, homophony, and polyphony. Each style certainly depended on which region was creating it and at what time it was popular. 

As far as instrumental music goes, they used several instruments that were in common with Russian and Baltic music: harmonica, accordion, concertina, balalaika, mandolin, guitar, cornet, and the kankles (a type of zither). 

Folk music was divided between several different styles, and each style was designated for different types of folk songs: sutartines are a main one (multi-voiced songs that are often syncopated and are usually divided between 2-4 performers) and there are also a different number of tasks songs were written for (wedding, hay and rye harvesting, spinning and weaving, berry picking, fishing, etc.). 

Classical music was mainly dominated by Lithuania’s own Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciulionis who was also a renowned painter. In his 35 years, he composed nearly 200 pieces. I listened to several of his orchestral works as well as his piano works, and I really like his style. Most of it sounds similar to typical late 19^th century music. But that’s one of my favorite time periods for music. He’s most widely known for his works In the Forest and The Sea. Osvaldas Balakauskas and Vytautas Miskinis were two more Lithuanian composers of note.

Dance traditions have always been an important part of Lithuanian culture. And every movement serves a purpose and has a meaning, often tied with a specific emotion. Typically, their dance is deeply rooted in their agricultural life. Many of the other types of dances (war dances, hunting dances) have not survived. Some of the polyphonic sutartines actually have dances that go with them. These simple dances are generally danced in a circular or quadrille style dance. There are a number of other circular dances, not to mention paired dances, group dances, borrowed dances from other European dances, and even dance games where the dances follow certain “tasks” in the dance. However, you won’t find much jumping or kicking in Lithuanian dance; it’s more subdued than that. 

There are a number of musicians and bands I came across on Spotify. The first band I listened to is Foje, a band that was popular in the 1980s. It is every bit of 1980s that you can think of. I’m sure it probably comes with a side ponytail, neon colors, and leaded gas. The lead singer of the band was Andrius Mamontovas, who also had his own music as well, which sounds more like acoustic 1990s music.

Antis was another band that has a quasi-1990s-electro sound. I sampled several songs, but I had a hard time finding one that I truly liked. There were a few, but overall, I think I just had to be there. However, I found this video (above), so maybe I just needed to listen to other albums. With the help of Google translate, "debesys musu minys" means "clouds, our thoughts." 

The band Skamp is a quasi-ska/rock band. I like some of the songs I listened to. Most of the songs are sung in English with a few songs in other languages (French, maybe? And maybe Lithuanian?)

I liked some of what I heard from Happyendless. It still has a 1980s rock feel to it, but it’s done in a way that I like. Dramatic, to say the least. It’s completely sung in English.

Ten Walls is a group (or maybe it’s just a DJ) who makes electronica music. I love what I was able to listen to. It’s the perfect music to listen to. And as a trance music lover, I recommend it, even if it’s not fully trance. 

I highly enjoyed listening to Jurga as well. Her music was a cross between being ethereal and electronica and indie rock. It is also something good to listen to while I work. 

I'm confused when it comes to Jazzu. What I listened to seemed a little farther out there for me -- kind of a hardcore electronica/drum-n-bass type of music (sort of). There were a few songs I liked, but some others were just too industrial for me. However, what I found on YouTube was acoustic piano with a female vocalist, which I liked much better. 

And finally, my favorite of what I listened to: Freaks on Floor. I think people should know this group. Definitely an indie rock band and definitely talented. I listened to most of the album Life and most of Hello Girls! I really like their style. Like, really. Like when my tax check comes in the next couple of weeks, I’m thinking of getting these albums.

Up next: the food

LITHUANIA: ART AND LITERATURE

In Lithuania, both art and music have their ties to one guy: Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis. As an artist, he made significant contributions to symbolism and art nouveau and is often considered one of the prominent figures in European abstract art. As both an accomplished artist and musician, Ciurlionis is one of the most influential figures in Lithuanian cultural arts. In fact, a number of buildings have been named for him as well as an asteroid. I like his work; it almost seems like they all come from a fantasy story.

"King's Fairy Tale" by M. K. Ciulionis

There are a number of different art museums spread across the country. The Palanga Amber Museum houses about 28,000 pieces of amber, some as jewelry, some as part of artwork, and some that include specimens of insects and plants from prehistoric eras (think Jurassic Park).

The Vilnius Guggenheim Hermitage Museum houses media art that includes film archives and Fluxus art. Fluxes art refers to a group of international artists during the 1960s who merged a wide variety of mediums into their art, from performance art to urban planning.

If I ever get to Lithuania, I’d have to check out the Lithuania Museum of Ancient Beekeeping. I have a thing for odd museums, and I think this one definitely fits in my list. This museum centers around the history of beekeeping and is part of the Aukstaitija National Park.

Early literature in Lithuania was written in Latin, the language of the church and of scholars. It wasn’t until the 16^th century when works began being published in the Lithuanian language, which was The Simple Words of Catechism. The vast majority of published works at this time were religious texts, but more secular texts, like histories and dictionaries, began being published during the 18^th century. Poetry and other forms of literature began to emerge during the early part of the 19^th century, but when Russia took over, they banned all Lithuanian culture including publishing works in their language. Any publishing in Lithuanian was done in East Prussia (the capital was Königsburg, present-day Kaliningrad) and smuggled back over the border. 

Even though printing Lithuanian literature was difficult for much of the late 19^th century and into the 20^th century, Lithuanian writers still managed to prevail. They utilized literary styles such as symbolism, expressionism, and impressionism. A rebellion against traditional literary styles took place; poetry became more politically and socially influenced and stretched the constraints of form, bringing in forms that were popular throughout Europe and other areas during that time.

Writers of note include Vincas Kreve-Mickevicius (novels, drama), Zemaite (short stories), Kazys Binkis (poetry), Oskaras Milasius (novels, short stories, collections), Vytaute Zilinskaite (children’s lit, poetry), and Tomas Venclova (poetry, essays). Several authors have emigrated from the country and have written from abroad.

Up next: music and dance