Playing the modified type of Suvalkija kanklės in Aukštaitija

Straipsnyje, remiantis muziejų eksponatais, etnoinstrumentinių ekspedicijų bei rašytinių šaltinių duomenimis, nagrinėjamos modifikuotos suvalkietiškojo tipo kanklės, kaip savitas etninės kultūros reiškinys, nuo XX a. pirmosios pusės paplitęs Aukštaitijoje. Tyrimo, atlikto pasitelkus analitinį, lyginamąjį ir aprašomąjį metodus, išvados rodo, kad XX a., nykstant vyrų kankliavimo tradicijai, trečdalį kanklininkų sudarė moterys, kurios skambino suvalkietiškojo tipo instrumentais. Kanklės meistrų Stanislovo Rudžio, vėliau ir Juozo Lašo pastangomis buvo modifikuotos bei platintos visoje Lietuvoje. Daugiausia – Aukštaitijos regione. Muzikavimas suvalkietiškojo tipo kanklėmis iš esmės mažai kuo skiriasi nuo suvalkiečių kankliavimo, nes iš jų, šiek tiek modifikavus, ir buvo perimtas.In addition to the traditional kanklės in Lithuania there was played and so called modified kanklės, which has all three types of signs. Modified type of Suvalkija region kanklės was spread throughout the territory of Lithuania, even in Dzūkija, which for centuries has been found no such instrument as kanklės. In northern (in Panevėžys, Pasvalys, Utena, Anykščiai, Kupiškis, Rokiškis districts) and north-western (Radviliškis, Pakruojis districts) Aukštaitija on expeditions was recorded Suvalkija type of modified kanklės. The bodies of the modified Suvalkija type of instruments used in the traditional culture are also fastened together with glue. Occasionally an unusual double-body joining can be found. The bottom is largely flat. The wider end finishes with a huge or small horn, and the narrow end is rather rounded. The strings holders are metal and fixed in place from the top though other examples exist. Strings at the narrow end are fixed to a metal bar which is placed into supports. The typical number of one-fold strings is 14 to 16, and for two-fold it numbers 16. The body is decorated mostly with resonance hole carvings having an oval or flower shape of 5 to 7 petals, patterns from textiles with folk motives, oak leaves, symbol of Duke Gediminas, tulips, or various ornamental drill holes. The bottom of the kanklės has three legs for support. Kanklės is usually painted dark, bright brown or yellow, and can have beautiful ornamentation. The largest number of modified Suvalkija type of instruments that were widespread in Lithuania in the first half of the 20th century were produced by the Aukštaitija masters Stanislovas Rudys, Juozas Lašas and Jonas Liuima. Kanklės of this type are still popular today. The examples examined indicate that there was a big wave of kanklės modification in Lithuania between the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, whereby the body and the number of strings became larger. The ornaments changed moderately, although the shape of the instrument was more or less preserved. The sound system of the modified kanklės as well as the instruments of the other regions depends on the construction of each instrument (D major, F major, G major tones). The Suvalkija type of modified kanklės with 10, 12, 20 to 24 one-fold, or 16, 17 to 24 two-fold string type can be used in a wide variety of situations because of its wide-ranging sound system. They are tuned diatonically, beginning with the second string. The first string („bass“) is tuned with the sixth string (dominant) at one octave or duodecima below it. In this case, the fifth string is the main one. While playing, the fingers of the left hand cover the strings that are not needed for accords and the strings are strummed with a pick held between the thumb and index fingers of the right hand away from oneself. One, two or three strings are then strummed in this way. While accompanying singing, the melody is mostly played in thirds and accords. The ornamentation of the melody and short sounds are generated by a strumming or plucking towards oneself or by the left hand fingers. Sometimes the first string („bass“) is plucked in the direction towards oneself. Having surveyed the archived and written sources, and the materials collected from ethnomusicological expeditions, we can state that kanklės players in Aukštaitija played in songs, church songs, dances, and improvisations had an important part in this repertoire. The tradition of the male kanklės player disappeared by the 20th century: one third of the kanklės players were women, who played the Suvalkija type of kanklės in Aukštaitija region