Res Humanitariae

The article examines the songs of Prussian Lithuanians collected by Ludwig Rhesa in the early 19th century, their publication and translation history, and practices of revival, applying theories of cultural memory and performativity. The editorial principles of editions and translations reveal the continuous adaptation of texts in different cultural contexts. Based on an analysis of audio and video recordings, publications, and the long-term activity of 11 folklore ensembles (1970–2025), three directions of Rhesa’s song interpretation are identified: historical-ethnographic, ethnomusicological, and mixed. Song performance is understood as a creative-performative process, in which interpreted texts acquire new meanings. This unique source of sung folklore is presented as a dynamic phenomenon of the cultural memory, combining continuity with constant change.