Tautos kilmę praskleidžia etnomuzika

Abstract

Refering to latest investigations made by the author, Lithuanians are inhabitants of Northern Europe and ethno instrumental area was formed probably at the time of earliest settlements. "Wind instruments" and "kanklės" (string instruments) cultures were popular in this area (Fig.2). The "wind instrument" culture has links with the traditions of ancient hunting and cattle-rearing tribes, while "kanklės" are a part of cattle-rearing tribes, and are more related to agricultural traditions. The limit of distribution of the "kanklės" culture has divided Lithuanians into two groups: the western and northern "kanklės players* and southern and eastern "blowers" (Fig.4). Homophony is a mote characteristic style of the ethnomusic of "kanklės play ers', while monophony is more popular in the lands of "blowers' in Lithuania and of the neighbouring Slavic nations as well (Fig.5). In the author's opinion the eastern part of "wind instruments " culture was an area inhabited by the ancient Eastern Balts, and the "kanklės" culture - by the Western Balts. Lithuanians according to their ethnomusic are descendants of two related ethnic groups of the ancient Balts. The eastern Balts today may be considered southern and eastern, while the western Balts — northern and western Lithuanians (Fig.7). Thus, the differences of the ethnomusic of Lithuanians can not be explained by the latest ethnocultural influences only. The roots of spreading of the two main styles of ethnomusic, most probably, links with the traditions of different groups of the ancient Balts.