Brass Ensembles and Brass Bands in the Traditional Culture of Samogitia Region, Lithuania

Résumé

In this article, the primary focus is the tradition of brass bands and orchestras in the lifestyles of Samogitia’s towns and villages in the 20th–21st century. This music-making from
Lithuania’s western region (Lith. Žemaitija) is no doubt related to the development of Lithuania’s musical culture as a whole. Therefore, on the basis of historical sources, the author briefly covers the development of ensembles in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The formation of brass ensembles’ tradition was particularly impacted by the celebrations of Catholic Church holidays and solemn processions (particularly in the 17th–18th century), and later – manor orchestras and music schools (end of the 18th–19th century). It was in Samogitia that music-making with brass instruments thrived until the very beginning of the 21st century. The author, on the basis of data collected mainly during fieldworks, reveals the role of brass bands in this region’s folk piety, family and community customs, this tradition’s changes.