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SONGS: Wartime-Historical Songs

        Chronicles and historical documents of the 13th through 16th centuries contain the first sources about songs relating the heroics of those fallen in battle against the Crusaders. Beginning in the 16th century historical documents also provide fragments of historical songs and more detailed accounts of their origins. Later, during the 17th and 18th centuries, attention to historical songs was quite scant. Interest was rekindled during the 19th century when historians resumed their interest in Lithuanian history. Wartime historical songs were again written down and discussed. The most valuable sources of wartime historical songs are the folk song collections of 19th century ethnographers, such as A. Juðka, S. Daukantas, J. Basanavièius, G.H.F. Nesselmann, Chr. Bartsch and others.
        Numerous song variant texts found in publications and archives point to events of the early 17th century. Many mention the Swedes, there are frequent references to Ryga and Kirchholm (Salaspils) in Latvia. Songs collected in the first half of the 19th century mention battles with the Tatars.
        There are numerous wartime historical songs in the song collections of Lithuania Minor, although these are of relatively late origin. Earlier songs from this region sing of the seven-year war (1756-1763), seeing off a soldier to battle (in Austria, Bohemia or Silesia), farewells to loved ones, gruesome battle scenes, all in traditional poetic imagery. Historical events from the Napoleonic wars are depicted quite accurately.
        The early 20th century war between Russia and Japan did not inspire a large repertoire of wartime historical songs. However, the events of World War I, especially the four year occupation by the German Kaiser, were much more widely remembered in song. Songs from uprisings and revolutions, as well as partisan and exile songs are also classified as wartime historical songs.
        Many wartime historical songs were written down without their melodies, and the melodies that are known do not have stylistic characteristics singular to the genre. In general, the character of these songs is not march-like, but more lyric or epic. In time many wartime historical songs became war ballads, a unique genre all its own, which is alive and well to this day.

Compiled by Skirmantë Valiulytë

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