Motiejaus Valančiaus Psalmyno vertimo ypatumai muzikos sąvokų aspektu
Peculiarities of Motiejus Valančius’ translation of the Psalter in respect of musical notions

Summary/Abstract: The first Lithuanian translation of the Old Testament by Protestants was performed in 1590 (translated by Jonas Bretkūnas from the German version by Martin Luther), whereas Catholic Lithuanians made the first attempt to translate part of the Old Testament only as late as in the second half of the 19th c. The bishop of Samogitia, Motiejus Valančius, translated the most popular part of the Old Testament – the Psalter. Thus, Valančius’ translation of the Psalter is important for the Lithuanian history of Catholic interpretation of the Scriptures.In various books of the Old Testament as well as in the Psalter itself, there are many musical notions, names of musical instruments mentioned. Until now, their Lithuanian interpretations have not been in the centre of attention of scholars. This article is the continuation of the author’s research on relation of Lithuanian musical notions with their biblical originals, which was started several years ago. In the article, after a review of the development of Lithuanian translations of the Bible, the tendencies of interpretation of biblical musical notions in Valančius’ Psalter are being analysed. The general and peculiar features of Valančius’ translations (both poetic and non- poetic) are being evaluated in the aspects of musical terminolog y, semantics of biblical musical instruments, by comparing the instruments mentioned in the original text and in the translation source (Vulgate). This research, performed in the context of other Lithuanian translations, helps to identify the translation of the Psalter by Valančius as a very important written source of the musical terminolog y of our country. The translation of the Psalter by Valančius together with the works done by Jonas Bretkūnas (end of the 16th c.) and Antanas Baranauskas (the very beginning of the 20th c.) should be attributed to one of the most colourful Lithuanian interpretations of the biblical text.

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