Migration of song genres: Two typical Lithuanian cases

Rytis Ambrazevičius
Kaunas University of Technology / Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, Lithuania

1. INTRODUCTION DISCUSSION
 Song genres are reconsidered and migrate similarly, in general terms of adaptation no new  Certain (sub)genres change their assign or lose their strict application and dissipate, contrasting
contexts, and differently depending on the certain actor milieus. with the relatively “stubborn” (sub)genres.
 In the present paper, these processes are illustrated applying two examples of changing  There are musical and extramusical causes for such migrations/stability.
Lithuanian tradition.  The revealed processes also suppose reevaluation and migration of the defined “theoretical” genres.
2. MIŠTŪNAI CASE: UNBROKEN TRADITION 3. RASOS CASE: RECONSTRUCTED TRADITION
 Mištūnai: a typical village with still alive singing  Rasos (Midsummer, St. John’s Day):
tradition. a newly (in 1960s) reconstructed
 Sample: field and studio pre-Christian festival; one of the
records. components of folklore movement
and national renaissance.
 Sample: personal experience,
Mištūnai,
internet data.
Šalčininkai Dst.

DISCUSSION
 Rasos song repertoires collect very different genres earlier not used for that occasion.
 However, other songs of calendar cycle are avoided (strict keeping of function, as distinct from the
case with other genres).
 A specific example: the song at  The dominant attribute for incorporation of the certain song into Rasos repertoire is suitable lyrics.
newlywed’s visit to the bride’s parents:
 In the Rasos case, the song genres show significantly more courageous migrations, compared to
 however, in the monophonic performance, the case of unbroken tradition in Mištūnai.
he tonal centre can be reconsidered:
 then the song becomes similar Correspondence:
to the rye harvesting song, Dept. of Audiovisual Arts, Kaunas University of Technology, Mickevičius str. 37, LT-44244 Kaunas, Lithuania
in terms of mode and melody patterns: rytisamb@gmail.com; http://www.personalas.ktu.lt/~rytambr/english