Page 112 - Weiss, Jernej, ur./ed. 2023. Glasbena društva v dolgem 19. stoletju: med ljubiteljsko in profesionalno kulturo ▪︎ Music societies in the long 19th century: Between amateur and professional culture. Koper/Ljubljana: Založba Univerze na Primorskem in Festival Ljubljana. Studia musicologica Labacensia, 6
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glasbena društva v dolgem 19. stoletju: med ljubiteljsko in profesionalno kulturo
land slowed down, while Lithuanians won the respect of foreigners through
music.
Lithuanian Societies in St. Petersburg
At the time when any kind of Lithuanian public activities was banned in
Lithuania, Lithuanian societies began to form in St. Petersburg, the capital
of the Russian Empire. Quite a few Lithuanians lived there: some of them
studied in higher schools, others found better-paying jobs, and all of them
longed for their homeland. Therefore, the desire to communicate with each
other, to support each other, to speak Lithuanian, and to sing and dance
made them come together. In the late 19th century, the first and only legal
Lithuanian organisation all over the Russian Empire, the Charitable Socie-
ty of Lithuanians and Samogitians in St. Petersburg (1892–1918) was estab-
lished. It united people of different social strata: students, workers, land-
owners, and priests. Its main goal was to provide support to students and
people in need and to develop their Lithuanian identity. The main form of
activity were Lithuanian events; four of them could be held per one year.
Their concert programmes included performances and music, afterwards
followed by dances. The first charity concert took place in 1894. Because
no Lithuanian performers had been found, only Russian music was per-
formed, and Feodor Chaliapin, who had just settled in the Russian capi-
tal, also took part in it.13 Later, Lithuanians who studied at St. Petersburg
Conservatory joined the Society. Some of them led choirs, others sang or
played in the performances. On 13 (25) November 1899, Vincas Kudirka’s
“National Anthem” was first performed in a concert, conducted by Česlo-
vas Sasnauskas; later it became the anthem of the State of Lithuania.14
The concert programmes of Lithuanian events had to be printed in
Russian. That was not enough. The Censorship Committee had to be sub-
mitted the texts of the performances and the lyrics of the songs to be per-
formed. Sometimes the posters were printed in two languages, and Gen-
darmes were explained that Lithuanian names were difficult to translate.
Meanwhile, Russian officials were deceived by including some songs in the
programmes, but actually performing some others, newly written ones,
13 Martynas Yčas, Atsiminimai. Nepriklausomybės keliais [Memories. On the Road to
Independence], vol. 3 (Kaunas: Spindulys, 1991), 166.
14 Balys Sruoga, Lietuvių teatras Peterburge 1892–1918 [Lithuanian Theatre in St. Pe-
tersburg in 1892 to 1918] (Kaunas: Humanitarinių mokslų fakulteto leidinys, 1930),
21.
110
land slowed down, while Lithuanians won the respect of foreigners through
music.
Lithuanian Societies in St. Petersburg
At the time when any kind of Lithuanian public activities was banned in
Lithuania, Lithuanian societies began to form in St. Petersburg, the capital
of the Russian Empire. Quite a few Lithuanians lived there: some of them
studied in higher schools, others found better-paying jobs, and all of them
longed for their homeland. Therefore, the desire to communicate with each
other, to support each other, to speak Lithuanian, and to sing and dance
made them come together. In the late 19th century, the first and only legal
Lithuanian organisation all over the Russian Empire, the Charitable Socie-
ty of Lithuanians and Samogitians in St. Petersburg (1892–1918) was estab-
lished. It united people of different social strata: students, workers, land-
owners, and priests. Its main goal was to provide support to students and
people in need and to develop their Lithuanian identity. The main form of
activity were Lithuanian events; four of them could be held per one year.
Their concert programmes included performances and music, afterwards
followed by dances. The first charity concert took place in 1894. Because
no Lithuanian performers had been found, only Russian music was per-
formed, and Feodor Chaliapin, who had just settled in the Russian capi-
tal, also took part in it.13 Later, Lithuanians who studied at St. Petersburg
Conservatory joined the Society. Some of them led choirs, others sang or
played in the performances. On 13 (25) November 1899, Vincas Kudirka’s
“National Anthem” was first performed in a concert, conducted by Česlo-
vas Sasnauskas; later it became the anthem of the State of Lithuania.14
The concert programmes of Lithuanian events had to be printed in
Russian. That was not enough. The Censorship Committee had to be sub-
mitted the texts of the performances and the lyrics of the songs to be per-
formed. Sometimes the posters were printed in two languages, and Gen-
darmes were explained that Lithuanian names were difficult to translate.
Meanwhile, Russian officials were deceived by including some songs in the
programmes, but actually performing some others, newly written ones,
13 Martynas Yčas, Atsiminimai. Nepriklausomybės keliais [Memories. On the Road to
Independence], vol. 3 (Kaunas: Spindulys, 1991), 166.
14 Balys Sruoga, Lietuvių teatras Peterburge 1892–1918 [Lithuanian Theatre in St. Pe-
tersburg in 1892 to 1918] (Kaunas: Humanitarinių mokslų fakulteto leidinys, 1930),
21.
110
