Keli XVIII a. LDK bažnytinės muzikos bruožai
On some features of church music of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 18th century

Summary/Abstract: Analysis is given to theoretical treatises on Gregorian Chant, available from manuscripts and printed sources of the 18th-century Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Their local peculiarities, the development of theoretical thought and practical application possibilities are discussed. The author indicates that because of some political and social circumstances (the loss of statehood, belonging to the Gniezno Archdiocese, tsarist occupation), the Catholic Church of old Lithuania was secluded, and its relations with the Catholic cultural centres of Western Europe were limited. Mainly for these reasons Gregorian Chant theory suffered a long-term stagnation based on the guidelines of Guido d’Arezzo’s teaching and the hexaccordum scale system. Manuscript Gregorian Chant hymnal books have preserved rather simple two- and three-voiced Latin chants of unknown authorship. They were produced by band-masters, organists and choristers. Their goal was not only to diversify the church music repertoir, but also to enrich it with new sacral music works of their own composition. The author highlights some features of such chants and presents examples of their notes. Such examples of local creativity were followed also by musicians of the early 19th century, who got some musical education and worked at churches.

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