Šiaurės rytų aukštaičių muzikavimas tradicinėmis kanklėmis (XIX a. antroji pusė – XX a.)

Abstract

Five strings kanklės were widespread in Northeast Aukštaitija (Highlands) (Biržai, Rokiškis and Kupiškis districts). As the presenters no longer possess this kind of instruments, it is possible to discuss them only on the complainants’ stories, museum exhibits, the inter-war period and the data of ethno instrumental expeditions. Change in social model, in various ethno cultural processes, the first type kanklės were eliminated from the traditional consumption culture in the middle of the 20th century. The status and image of kanklės and kanklės players changed beyond recognition, after the collapse of the cultural environment in the second half of the nineteenth century – the 20th century. Many instruments have been destroyed; the other part of the exhibit has become a museum and private property. Northeast Aukštaičiai (Highlands) kanklės purpose was ritual, magical, and then – meditative. That means that they played for themselves and for their families, kanklės instrument was a purely domestic musical instrument. Folk traditions, language, religion, customs and rituals for thousands of years has played a significant role in the social forms of human spiritual and cultural development. These are constituents of human and nation spiritual consciousness. According to J. Kudirka, without it a nation would disappear. Traditions in some way touches all people, combine them, refer the matter forming the overall activity. According to this the reconstruction of human consciousness is developed. Almost all of the popular culture, especially verbal and artistic achievements, firmly established in customs and rituals, which, with a little change was passed down from generation to generation. Custom fields are different: it is morality, the concept of beauty, attitude to work, parents, homeland, national symbols and values. Traditions, customs, rituals and folk culture are the preservers of the past. As a very stable, they can be used as a historical source. According to R. Apanavičius 1986 classification of traditional kanklės northeast Aukštaičiai (Highlanders) kanklės are assigned to the first type. Its most archaic, skiff or coffin-shaped, sculpted or carved from a single piece of wood. Carcass usually is six sided, sometimes semicircular, the front tip much higher than the tail with a small slope angle. It has a little protruding chump. Kanklės are painted black, has a 5, rarely – 4, 8 or 9 strings. Main repertoire consisted of instrumental contractual. Kanklės were tuned ‘by ear’ in accordance with chanted contractual – mostly doubles and four lines corpus. Harmonic series consisted of an unspecified amount of large and small seconds, and the volume of sound vocabulary – mostly quint. Kanklės were played exclusively by men.