The beginning of the article discusses phenomena related to the perception of music (specifically, the perception of pitch, musical scale and intonation) that can lead to misinterpretation. The result of the intersection of two emic systems (for example, the original tone system and 12-tone equal temperament) can be perceived as chromaticisms and ‘Greek modes’. Performance rules determine slight variations in intonation, depending on the melodic and harmonic context. This can also be misinterpreted as chromaticisms. The notations of the melodies of the songs of Lithuania Minor (from the collections of Christian Bartsch and Ludwig Rhesa) are analysed below, revealing manifestations of the aforementioned phenomena. The fact that chromaticisms and modulations in these notations arose due to misinterpretations is evidenced by the notators’ comments on the singers’ peculiar intonation, as well as by comparisons with the results of measurements of sound recordings of other musical dialects.
Journal:Acta Historica Universitatis Klaipedensis
Volume 26 (2013): Kristijono Donelaičio epochos kultūrinės inovacijos = Cultural Innovations of the Epoch of Kristijonas Donelaitis, pp. 112–125
Abstract
The article presents the first programme of publishing Lithuanian secular literature in Prussian Lithuania proposed and carried out by Martin Ludwig Rhesa, professor of Königsberg University. The first publication of Donelaitis’ poem The Seasons prepared by Rhesa will be discussed by assessing Rhesa’s contribution to it: the editing, translation, and provision of the scientific part (a research study-article and scientific comments). The first reviews of The Seasons which started appearing in Königsberg and Germany in the period of 1818 to 1820 will be examined.