{"id":3955,"date":"2015-09-15T11:29:12","date_gmt":"2015-09-15T17:29:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/?p=3955"},"modified":"2016-03-07T19:27:13","modified_gmt":"2016-03-08T01:27:13","slug":"a-song-festival-to-be-long-remembered","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/a-song-festival-to-be-long-remembered\/","title":{"rendered":"A Song Festival to Be Long-Remembered"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Rimas Cernius with photos by Jonas Kuprys and Arvydas Zabulionis<\/p>\n

\"2015-09-15-LHERITAGE\"<\/p>\n

Lithuanian song festivals in North America are special and rare events. The first one took place in Chicago\u2019s Coliseum in 1956. This year the 10th Lithuanian Song Festival took place at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago on July 5th. It was a truly festive event. Memories of the festival will linger with singers and audience members alike for a long time. Thanks to photographers Jonas Kuprys and Arvydas Zabulionis, here are some memorable moments from a very special song festival. You can view a 90-minute extract filmed by Lithuanian Radio and Television at this link: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=k8eT1XCTzz0<\/a><\/p>\n

\"The
The children\u2019s chorus took an active part in the Festival. Dressed in tee-shirts with the mascots of the Festival\u2013orange and yellow birds nicknamed Melody and Rhythm\u2013the children let their voices be heard (Photo by J. Kuprys)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"All
All rise as the flags of the United States of America, Canada and Lithuania enter the UIC Pavilion. (Photo by A. Zabulionis)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Close
Close to 1,400 singers from a total of 65 choral groups came to sing at the Festival. They traveled from all parts of the United States and Canada, plus there was one group from England and five groups from Lithuania. The audience was able to get a closer look at the singers thanks to a large screen that showed streaming video of the performers. (Photo by J. uprys)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Two
Two soloists from Lithuania brought their artistry to the song festival. Shown here, singer Rasa Serra and musician Saulius Petreikis perform a Lithuanian folk song “Vaik\u0161tin\u0117jo T\u0117vulis” (“My Dear Dad Was Walking”)(Photo by J. Kuprys)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Soloists
Soloists Rasa Serra and Rima Birutien\u0117 join the chorus for the song \u201cLek\u2019 Gerv\u0117\u201d (“The Crane”). (Photo by A. Zabulionis)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Conductor
Conductor Raimondas Katinas from Lithuania leads the chorus in the song “Padainuosim Mes Sustoj\u0119” (“We Will Sing Standing Up”). Here he commands the chorus (and the audience too) to lie down like little birds. This was one of several songs where the audience was able to sing along. (Photo by J. Kuprys)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"The
The Festival honored partisans who gave their lives fighting for Lithuania\u2019s freedom. The chorus sang the song “Partizano Mirtis” (“Death of the Partisan”). The music was by Faustas Strolia, a beloved choirmaster who passed away last December. Violinist R\u016bta Pak\u0161tait\u0117- Cole, accordionist Rimas Polikaitis and recorder player Saulius Petreikis accompanied the song. (Photo by J. Kuprys)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"The
The second part of the Festival showcased the world premiere of a five-part cantata Dainuojanti Revoliucija: “Lietuva, Tu Prisik\u0117lei su Daina!” (The Singing Revolution “Lithuania, You HaveArisen with a Song!”). The composer was K\u0119stutis Daugirdas. The words were by Rugil\u0117 Kazlauskait\u0117. The cantata was illustrated with live choreography and scenes projected on the jumbotron screen. Here, conducted by K\u0119stutis Daugirdas, the cantata begins by depicting a major public anti Soviet meeting that took place in Lithuania on August 23, 1987, next to the monument to Adam Mickiewicz in Vilnius. (Photo by A. Zabulionis)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"The
The art of accordion playing was alive and well at the Festival. Sister Ign\u0117 Marijo\u0161i\u016bt\u0117 welcomes a parade of accordionists who accompanied the chorus in a medley of camp songs. (Photo by J. Kuprys)\u00a0<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"The
The cantata honored the 14 Lithuanians killed on January 13, 1991, when Russian soldiers and tanks tried to suppress Lithuanian independence. (Photo by J. Kuprys)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"The
The cantata commemorated the Baltic Way. On (August 23, 1989) almost 2.5 million people joined hands to form a human chain that stretched from Lithuania through Latvia and Estonia – a living symbol of Baltic solidarity in their struggle for freedom. As the Festival chorus sang, dancers and stage actors joined hands to form their own Baltic Way in the UIC pavilion. (Photo by J. Kuprys)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

DAINUOJANTI\u00a0 REVOLIUCIJA<\/strong>
\n\u201dLietuva, Tu Prisik\u0117lei su Daina! \u201c<\/p>\n

K\u0119stu\u010dio Daugirdo muzika
\nRugil\u0117s Kazlauskait\u0117s \u017eod\u017eiai<\/p>\n

I. Tiek met\u0173 kent\u0117ta 1987m . rugpj\u016b\u010dio 23d.<\/strong>
\nTiek met\u0173 kent\u0117ta galv\u0105 nulenkus,
\nTiek met\u0173 tamsoj gyveno tauta.
\nBaim\u0117 duris buvo u\u017etrenkus,
\nBet tyliai bunda laisv\u0117s dvasia.
\nLigi gelmi\u0173 suvirpa m\u016bs \u0161irdys,
\nTen dar kraujoja t\u0117vyn\u0117s \u017eaizda, t\u0117vyn\u0117s \u017eaizda , t\u0117vyn\u0117s \u017eaizda.
\nApie t\u0117v\u0173 kan\u010di\u0105 ir mirt\u012f lai nesudreb\u0117s ant l\u016bp\u0173 tiesa.
\nV\u0117jai skraidina pirm\u0105 dain\u0105,
\nMarija, tu \u0161vieti auk\u0161tai i\u0161 dangaus.
\nPer giesm\u0119 sutraukytos melo grandin\u0117s,
\nMarija, apgink mus nuo prie\u0161o baisaus, nuo prie\u0161o baisaus.
\nTiek met\u0173 kent\u0117ta, tiek met\u0173 kent\u0117ta.<\/p>\n

II. \u012e rytoj\u0173 keliame akis 1988 m. rugpj\u016b\u010dio 23d.<\/strong>
\n\u0160iandien i\u0161 \u0161ios i\u0161degintos \u017eem\u0117s naujai u\u017eaugo \u0105\u017euolai, Tylin\u010dioj, priespaudos men\u0117j, tylin\u010dioj, v\u0117lei suskambo m\u016bs\u0173 balsai.
\n\u012e rytoj\u0173 keliame akis, tikime baigias, baigias jau naktis , Ir t\u0117vyn\u0119 v\u0117lei atradau savo \u0161irdy.
\nT\u0173 gele\u017eini\u0173 sien\u0173 galyb\u0119 dr\u0105si daina gal\u0117t\u0173 nuverst.
\nSkaud\u0173 istorijos lap\u0105 laikas art\u0117ja am\u017eiams u\u017everst.
\n\u012e rytoj\u0173 keliame akis, tikime baigias, tikime baigias jau naktis,
\nIr t\u0117vyn\u0119 v\u0117lei atradau savo \u0161irdyj.
\n\u012e rytoj\u0173 keliame akis, tikime baigias, baigias jau naktis,
\nIr t\u0117vyn\u0119 v\u0117lei atradau savo \u0161irdyj.
\nLigi gelmi\u0173 suvirpa m\u016bs \u0161irdys, tariame vard\u0105 Lietuvos.
\nLietuva, Lietuva, Lietuva, Lietuva, Lietuva.
\nLaikas art\u0117ja, laikas art\u0117ja, nei\u0161siginsim\u00a0 savo dalios.
\nVisas pasaulis tegirdi: Kelias \u012f laisv\u0119\u2013tautos valia!<\/p>\n

III .Baltijos kelias 1989m. rugpj\u016b\u010dio 23d.<\/strong>
\nBaltijos kelias, kelias \u012f laisv\u0119.
\nBaltijos kelias, kelias \u012f laisv\u0119.
\nBunda jau Baltija,
\nBaltijos kelias, kelias \u012f laisv\u0119.
\nBunda jau Baltija, rankoje ranka.
\nBunda jau Baltija, rankoje ranka.
\nBroli, sese, stovim u\u017e laisv\u0119.
\nStovim u\u017e laisv\u0119, stovim u\u017e laisv\u0119, laisv\u0119, laisv\u0119,
\nBaltijos kelias, kelias \u012f laisv\u0119.<\/p>\n

IV. Tu prisik\u0117lei 1990m. kovo 11d.<\/strong>
\nTu prisik\u0117lei, T\u0117vyne Lietuva, pra\u017eydusi ieva.
\nPakirsta, su\u017eeista, kaip pavasaris balta.
\nTave i\u0161vydau, tu liejiesi upe, galinga ir \u0161venta,
\nAtkovota, sulaukta , trispalv\u0117 v\u0117liava!
\nPragydo tauta didyb\u0117s \u0161viesoje, \u0161viesoje.
\nA\u0161 giedu tavyje, atgimus Lietuva, Lietuva.<\/p>\n

V. Tik\u0117kime vienas kitu 1991 m. sausio 13 d.<\/strong>
\nTamsus debesis apgaub\u0117 dang\u0173, baim\u0117 u\u017etvind\u0117 gatves.
\nNejaugi su dundan\u010dia armija tank\u0173 t\u0117vyn\u0119 atims i\u0161 man\u0119s?
\nBeginkl\u0117 ant sniego prie\u0161 v\u0117tras nakties \u012f aik\u0161tes i\u0161eina tauta.
\nPrie\u0161 aidin\u010dius \u0161\u016bvius tik \u017eod\u017eiai giesm\u0117s, prie\u0161 tank\u0173 pab\u016bklus malda.
\nPrapl\u0117\u0161ia nakti\u0328 mirtis klykdama, sniega\u0328 nuda\u017eo krauju. Broliai stov\u0117kit kaip stovi tauta, tik\u0117kime vienas kitu, tik\u0117kime!
\nLietuva, Lietuva, Lietuva, Lietuva…
\nTik\u0117kime, broli, tik\u0117kime, sese, tik\u0117kime, tik\u0117kime vienas kitu.
\nLietuva, Lietuva, tu prisik\u0117lei, tu prisik\u0117lei.
\nTe stiprybe\u0328 semia tavo s\u016bn\u016bs i\u0161 praeities, i\u0161 praeities.
\nT\u0117vyne Lietuva, t\u0117vyne Lietuva, tu prisik\u0117lei, galinga \u0161venta!
\nTu prisik\u0117lei, tu prisik\u0117lei, tu prisik\u0117lei su daina. Su daina!<\/p>\n

SINGING REVOLUTION<\/strong>
\n\u201cLietuva, You Have Arisen with a Song!\u201d
\nMusic: Ke\u0328stutis Daugirdas Lyrics: Rugile\u0307 Kazlauskaite\u0307; Translation: Jonas Daugirdas<\/p>\n

I.Suchlongyearsoftorment August23,1987<\/strong><\/p>\n

Such long years of torment, heads bowed in suffering, In darkness and fear the nation survived,
\nDoors locked up tightly, everyone frightened,
\nNow softly roused by liberty\u2019s cry.
\nDeep in our hearts comes a trembling,
\nThere where still bleed the motherland\u2019s wounds, The motherland\u2019s wounds, the motherland\u2019s wounds. The death and demise of our mothers and fathers, A truth frozen cold and stopped on our lips.
\nBut on the wind aloft a song is turning,
\nMarija, your radiance streams from Heaven above.
\nThis hymn rends asunder the chains forged from false- hoods,
\nMarija, protect against this terrible foe, this terrible foe.
\nSuch long years of torment, such long years of torment.<\/p>\n

II. To the morrow in hope we lift our gaze<\/strong>
\nAugust 23, 1988
\nIn earth scarred by fire and ruination, oak trees growing once again.
\nGagged and stilled, in oppression once silenced, gagged and stilled,
\nVoices ring no longer constrained.
\nTo the morrow, in hope we lift our gaze,
\nWaiting for morning, to sweep the night away,
\nAnd our homeland, we feel her once again, a joy in our heart.
\nA fence of steel, a wall made of iron, are overturned by valiant song.
\nThe time has come to bury forever, this page of history unduly prolonged.
\nTo the morrow, in hope we lift our gaze,
\nWaiting for morning, to sweep the night away,
\nAnd our homeland, we feel her once again, a joy in our heart.
\nDeep in our hearts comes a trembling
\nAs we give voice to our fatherland\u2019s name,
\nLietuva, Lietuva, Lietuva.
\nThe moment is near, the time fast approaching,
\nFor each one of us to take up our role.
\nAll the world\u2019s countries must know this:
\nPathway to freedom\u2212our solemn goal!<\/p>\n

III. Balts on a pathway to freedom<\/strong>
\nAugust 23, 1989
\nBalts on a pathway, pathway to freedom,
\nBalts on a pathway, pathway to freedom.
\nWake from sleep, o Baltija.
\nBalts on a pathway, pathway to freedom,
\nBaltija, arm in arm, hand in hand, arm in arm.
\nWakening, o Baltija, hand in hand, arm in arm. Brother, sister, stand up for freedom.
\nStand up for freedom, freedom, freedom. Balts on a pathway, pathway to freedom.<\/p>\n

IV. You have arisen, our homeland Lietuva<\/strong>
\nMarch 11, 1990
\nYou have arisen, our homeland, Lietuva, a tree in glorious bloom.
\nAxed and tarred, bent and scarred, like springtime, white anew.
\nI felt you streaming, a river\u2019s surging flow, so sacred, proud and strong.
\nAnd our flag, battled for, long awaited ours once more. Erupting in song, in greatness and in light.
\nI sing as part of you, reborn, o Lietuva, Lietuva.<\/p>\n

V. Let\u2019s believe in each other January 13, 1991<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gloom and black clouds, roll over the sky and terror floods into the streets.
\nDon\u2019t tell me this thundering convoy of tanks,
\nWill be taking my country from me!
\nUnarmed in the snow in the dark stormy night, Comes the nation defending the square.
\nWith brave songs and hymns against whirling black shells, and with prayers against turrets of tanks.
\nThe night air is rended with screeches of death,
\nThe snow painted scarlet with blood.
\nBrothers, stand up, as one nation arise;
\nBelieve in each other again, believe we can!
\nLietuva, Lietuva, Lietuva…
\nBelieve, O brother; believe, O sister;
\nBelieve in each other again,
\nBelieve we can, believe we can…
\nLietuva, Lietuva, you have arisen, you have arisen. From your past, your sons draw strength.
\nOur homeland, Lietuva, our nation, Lietuva,
\nYou have arisen, sacred and proud!
\nYou have arisen, you have arisen, with a song. With a song!<\/p>\n

\"The
The chorus, dancers, and conductors congratulate the two men most responsible for putting together the Festival:Artistic Director Darius Polikaitis (left) and Creative Director Vytas \u010cuplinskas (right). (Photo by J. Kuprys)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Kristina
Kristina Klioryt\u0117 from Montr\u00e9al conducts the song “A\u0161 Negaliu Sustot Dainuot” (“I Can\u2018t Stop Singing”). (Photo by J. Kuprys)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"The
The Festival conductors line up to join the chorus in the song “M\u016bs\u0173 Dienos kaip \u0160vent\u0117” (“Our Days Are like a Festive Holiday”). Pictured from left to right (only a part of the conductor group is shown) are Darius Polikaitis, Nijol\u0117 Benotien\u0117, Jurat\u0117 Grabaliauskien\u0117, K\u0119stutis Daugirdas, Rimas Kasputis and Ksaveras Plan\u010di\u016bnas. (Photo by J. Kuprys)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Rimas Cernius with photos by Jonas Kuprys and Arvydas Zabulionis Lithuanian song festivals in North America are special and rare events. The first one took place in Chicago\u2019s Coliseum in 1956. This year the 10th Lithuanian Song Festival took place at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago on July 5th. It was a truly festive …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3956,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[68,66],"tags":[133,194,78,195],"class_list":["post-3955","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-events","category-folk-songs-dance","tag-cernius-r","tag-kuprys-j","tag-lith-heritage","tag-zabulionis-a"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3955","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3955"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3955\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3956"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3955"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3955"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3955"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}