Muzikos kritika ir publicistika Lietuvoje XIX a. antrojoje pusėje
Musical criticism and publicistic writing in Lithuania in the 2nd half of the 19th century

Summary/Abstract: The research object is musical criticism and publicistic writing in Lithuania in the 2nd half of the 19th century. The article is a continuation of the topic previously undertaken by the author (see Vida Bakutytė, Muzikos kritika XIX a. Lietuvoje (iki 7-ojo dešimtmečio) / The 19th- Century Musical Criticism in Lithuania (before the 1860s), Lietuvos muzikologija / Lithuanian Musicology, vol. II, 2001, p. 91–102). In the absence of a special publication dedicated to music related problems, the evolution of musical criticism in Lithuania was associated with the development of periodicals of general interest. Once they were supplemented by such columns as Music and Theatre, Theatre and art, the reviewing of music events gained a more systematic character. Musical problems were addressed in the writings of different forms of expression: reviews of concerts and musical performances, feuilletons, overviews of cultural (including musical) life, letters to the editor and other genres of journalism of that time. As soon as greater importance was placed on the educational purpose of reviewing, such activities acquired educational characteristics. Musical criticism brought forward the problem of professionalism and responsibility of reviewers; it posed questions on the purpose and evaluation criteria of criticism. As the 19th century was nearing its end, the reviewing of music events gained peculiar features, it became more professional, and an attempt could be seen to highlight the specificity of the art of music. The article reveals the tendencies and changes of critical thought, the type of reviewing of concerts and musical performances, the shift of evaluation criteria and the aspects of top priority. The publication introduces new data on the authors of reviews and publicistic articles; the authorship of more prominent publications is identified.

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