Lietuviška daina ir giesmė Mažosios Lietuvos katalikiškoje spaudoje (XIX a. pab.-XX a. pr.)

Abstract

Based on the published Catholic periodicals, the paper attempts to reveal the significance of Lithuanian songs and Catholic hymns as an important part of regional musical culture for Lithuanian culture history of Lithuania Minor. Having disassociated themselves from a universally spread Lutheran tradition, Lithuanian Catholics from Lithuania Minor are said to have chanted Catholic hymns during the service at their parish churches, which they had not many in the Lithuanian language; moreover, almost all these hymns were marked by a Polish and Russian spirit implanted in Lithuania Major for centuries. Evangelical Lutheran press and its advocated ideas are said to have been unacceptable to the Catholic community of Lithuania Minor; therefore, the main and only Catholic newspapers of Lithuania Minor were “Tėvynės sargas” and “Žinyčia”, both published in Tilsit. Their editors mainly popularised Lithuanian songs and hymns. Their examples with melodies and content analysis are presented. The hymns published in Catholic periodicals were almost the only irreplaceable source of Catholic chanting in both Lithuania Minor and Lithuania Major until the ban on the press was lifted. The paper concludes that sparse Catholic press of Lithuania Minor significantly contributed to the defence of church rights, Catholic faith and culture, dissemination of Lithuanian songs and hymns, preservation of the Lithuanian Catholic spiritual world and moral values, and helped to withstand the assimilation and Germanisation of the Lithuanian nation.