Lithuanian ethnic music of the 17th–20th cc. in the context of world ethnic music: ancient means of communication between “this world” and the beyond

Straipsnyje tyrinėjama lietuvių etninės muzikos, kaip seniausio ryšio tarp „šio“ ir „ano“ pasaulio priemonės, paskirtis lyginant pasaulio priemonės, paskirtis lyginant pasaulio etninės muzikos ir jos atlikimo papročių duomenis. Ryšio tarp „šio“ ir „ano“ pasaulio priemonėmis galėjo būti lietuvių etninių muzikos instrumentų pavidalai, dainų, ratelių ir žaidimų mitiniai įvaizdžiai, magiškieji veiksmai, garsus ir rėksmingas muzikavimas, muzikos instrumentai kaip apeiginės kaukės. Visi šie įvaizdžiai gali siekti pirmykštės bendruomenės laikus, o iki mūsų dienų išlikti dėl savo magiškumoEthnic musical instruments express certain images by their shape in various cultures of the world. These instruments look like canoes, boats, ships, urns, scoops, which have been used for the rituals as well for travelling to the “other” world” since olden times. The relics of those rituals have been preserved in the customs of using these instruments, and numerous musical instruments have been conferred the same status as the ritual mask, especially in so-called “exotic” cultures. Stringed instruments shaped like canoes and fishes were used in Lithuania and other Baltic countries. The traditions of their use could be connected with the rituals of “travelling to the “other” world” and with ancient totems. A picture of a drum shaped like an urn was given by A. Vitauskas in 1942. This drum was being used in the Šiauliai district of Northwestern Lithuania. Drums shaped like urns are widely used in various cultures. The remains of such drums dating from the 5th–7th Mill. B. C. were found in the Czech Republic, Poland, from the 1st Mill. B. C. in Altai Mountains, and from the 5th c. B. C. – 1st c. A. D. in South-East Asia. All of them are related to ethnographical drums used in various cultures not only for the purposes of music performing and signaling but for the rituals as well. Traditions of using drums are related to the rituals of burial in various cultures, also in Lithuania. The wind instruments of Lithuanians look like the birds and animals. Most probably the shapes of these whistles could correspond to the images of ancient totems.[...]Vytauto Didžiojo universiteta