Res Humanitariae

Based on archival material, data on ethnic instrumentology expeditions suggests that, while exchanging the traditions of ethnic musicianship and the typical originality of old music (polyphony and prevailing multinational European musical instruments), fiddles and bellows instruments had a significant impact on the kanklės music of the west Aukštaičiai and Žemaičiai. The change and nature of the repertoire were determined by the dance music performed on multinational instruments of the second half of the 19th and the first half of the 20th century, dance fashions, and the geographical position of Lithuania. The repertoire consisted mainly of European multinational dances. The harmonium and other bellows instruments prevailing in the 20th century have once and for ever changed the peculiarities of kanklės ethnic music, while ethnic music has influenced the traditions of folk music of bellows instruments and fiddles. The strongest influence from Central Europe was experienced by west Aukštaitija and Žemaitija.