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Nuo anekdotų iki nekrologų: muzikinio gyvenimo atspindžiai žurnale „Margutis“
Author(s)
Petrauskaitė, Danutė |
Title
Nuo anekdotų iki nekrologų: muzikinio gyvenimo atspindžiai žurnale „Margutis“
Other Title
From jokes to obituaries: reflections of musical life in “Margutis” magazine
Is part of
OIKOS: lietuvių migracijos ir diasporos studijos, 2010, nr. 1(9), p. 103-113
Journal Title
Journal Issue Title
Date Issued
Date Issued | Issue | Start Page | End Page |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | 1(9) | 103 | 113 |
Abstract
Margutis, published from 1928 to 1965, was one of the most popular periodicals in the Lithuanian- American community ever. Antanas Vanagaitis, its publisher, editor, and the author of many articles, paid especially great attention to music.
A former church organist, actor, and song writer, he made every effort to foster Lithuanianism with the help of music. He did it in two ways: by publishing jokes and easily digestible material (anecdotes, funny stories, musical calendar events, and aphorisms) and by publishing serious educational material (sheet music, historical articles, and concert critiques). If the jokes and aphorisms unexpectedly took the readers into the world of theatre and music, the songs and instrumental pieces, often published for the first time, made them play the music themselves. These pieces, among which there were many humorous songs, dances, and tunes of easy genres, became an inseparable part of Lithuanian musical life. Vanagaitis devoted particular attention to folk music. He encouraged the readers not to forget songs, to collect and to cherish them. Songs were published not only in the magazine but also in separate collections.
Much space in the magazine was allotted to the history of Lithuanian music from the very earliest composers to the young music writers and performers of the time. People could read various biographical works, reviews of historical periods and the activities of music institutions, and also exhaustive obituaries the authors of which tried to evaluate the musical heritage. Because of the great demand for information, Margutis in 1932 established its own radio station; and beginning in 1934 it began organizing annual concerts. So the magazine not only presented information but also educated, taught, trained, and entertained its readers. Its activity in the music field was especially intensive in the period from 1928 to 1949, when the magazine was edited by Vanagaitis. Thanks to him, generations of Lithuanian-Americans of the interwar years and later periods grew up surrounded not only by folk songs but also by the sounds of Lithuanian “jazz” which gave young people a push towards music and encouraged them to cherish the Lithuanian language.
After his death in 1949, new Lithuanian immigrants came to the U. S., and the functions of promoting and publishing music were gradually taken over by other periodicals and organizations.
A former church organist, actor, and song writer, he made every effort to foster Lithuanianism with the help of music. He did it in two ways: by publishing jokes and easily digestible material (anecdotes, funny stories, musical calendar events, and aphorisms) and by publishing serious educational material (sheet music, historical articles, and concert critiques). If the jokes and aphorisms unexpectedly took the readers into the world of theatre and music, the songs and instrumental pieces, often published for the first time, made them play the music themselves. These pieces, among which there were many humorous songs, dances, and tunes of easy genres, became an inseparable part of Lithuanian musical life. Vanagaitis devoted particular attention to folk music. He encouraged the readers not to forget songs, to collect and to cherish them. Songs were published not only in the magazine but also in separate collections.
Much space in the magazine was allotted to the history of Lithuanian music from the very earliest composers to the young music writers and performers of the time. People could read various biographical works, reviews of historical periods and the activities of music institutions, and also exhaustive obituaries the authors of which tried to evaluate the musical heritage. Because of the great demand for information, Margutis in 1932 established its own radio station; and beginning in 1934 it began organizing annual concerts. So the magazine not only presented information but also educated, taught, trained, and entertained its readers. Its activity in the music field was especially intensive in the period from 1928 to 1949, when the magazine was edited by Vanagaitis. Thanks to him, generations of Lithuanian-Americans of the interwar years and later periods grew up surrounded not only by folk songs but also by the sounds of Lithuanian “jazz” which gave young people a push towards music and encouraged them to cherish the Lithuanian language.
After his death in 1949, new Lithuanian immigrants came to the U. S., and the functions of promoting and publishing music were gradually taken over by other periodicals and organizations.
Type of document
type::text::journal::journal article::research article
Language
Lietuvių / Lithuanian (lt)