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LITHUANIAN FOLK
SONGS, DANCES AND
      GAMES


         Inga Sabutytė and Kotryna Rudelytė
           Klaipėda Gedminai Main School
                        2012
Lithuanian folk songs
   Lithuanian folk songs is a part of Lithuanian
folk music culture. Songs represents the majority
of Lithuanian folklore alongside instrumental
music and dance.
Lithuanian folk songs are characterized by
tenderness, lyrical and sometimes sadness.
   Songs’ storyline reflect images of nature, animals
and birds’ life. It is also sung about the tragic fate of
orphans, the hard life of farmers, and gentle feelings of
the young. There are a lot of comparisons in the
songs: human life is compared with the life of plants,
especially trees, birds and beasts asking for help.
Lithuanian folk dances
   Lithuanian traditional choreographic heritage
consists of dances, round dances and games. Most
of them are for entertainment, but there are some
interesting ritual roundelays and dances, which are
related with the calendar, work and wedding
ceremonies. Many of them are common in
Lithuania, but some ethnographic regions have its
own characteristics.
Many Lithuanian dances consists of two
parts: the first one is slower and the second
one is faster. The first is characterized by a
sophisticated and unique choreography,
often associated with the name of the dance,
the second has mostly polka or waltz’s
steps.
Lithuanian folk songs, dances and games
Lithuanian folk games
    Lithuanian folk games, roundelays and
dances are the part of the Lithuanian folklore. In
ancient villages the newborn child was thrown
into the world of folklore as the using of
traditional songs, fairy tales and games was very
common in these days.
Lithuanian folk games

1. Didactic games, developing child's
  senses.
2. Mobile folk games.
3. Traditional games - popular
  Lithuanian games, which are linked
  to the national traditions, customs,
  rites, calendar holidays and etc.
Lithuanian folk songs, dances and games
„Jurgelis meistrelis“

   Players go round in a circle, and one of them
(Jurgelis) stands in the middle. While walking
round players sing:
     „Jurgeli, meistreli, mokyk savo vaikus,
      Jurgeli, meistreli, mokyk savo vaikus.“
  Jurgelis shows some actions and all players in
the circle repeat his actions singing the words:
    „O jūs, vaikai, taip darykit kaip Jurgelis daro.
     O jūs, vaikai, taip darykit kaip Jurgelis daro“.
 After that Jurgelis is replaced by another player.
Lithuanian folk songs, dances and games
While playing Lithuanian folk games,
children develop their personality,
physical, intellectual, and social skills.

More Related Content

Lithuanian folk songs, dances and games

  • 1. LITHUANIAN FOLK SONGS, DANCES AND GAMES Inga Sabutytė and Kotryna Rudelytė Klaipėda Gedminai Main School 2012
  • 2. Lithuanian folk songs Lithuanian folk songs is a part of Lithuanian folk music culture. Songs represents the majority of Lithuanian folklore alongside instrumental music and dance.
  • 3. Lithuanian folk songs are characterized by tenderness, lyrical and sometimes sadness. Songs’ storyline reflect images of nature, animals and birds’ life. It is also sung about the tragic fate of orphans, the hard life of farmers, and gentle feelings of the young. There are a lot of comparisons in the songs: human life is compared with the life of plants, especially trees, birds and beasts asking for help.
  • 4. Lithuanian folk dances Lithuanian traditional choreographic heritage consists of dances, round dances and games. Most of them are for entertainment, but there are some interesting ritual roundelays and dances, which are related with the calendar, work and wedding ceremonies. Many of them are common in Lithuania, but some ethnographic regions have its own characteristics.
  • 5. Many Lithuanian dances consists of two parts: the first one is slower and the second one is faster. The first is characterized by a sophisticated and unique choreography, often associated with the name of the dance, the second has mostly polka or waltz’s steps.
  • 7. Lithuanian folk games Lithuanian folk games, roundelays and dances are the part of the Lithuanian folklore. In ancient villages the newborn child was thrown into the world of folklore as the using of traditional songs, fairy tales and games was very common in these days.
  • 8. Lithuanian folk games 1. Didactic games, developing child's senses. 2. Mobile folk games. 3. Traditional games - popular Lithuanian games, which are linked to the national traditions, customs, rites, calendar holidays and etc.
  • 10. „Jurgelis meistrelis“ Players go round in a circle, and one of them (Jurgelis) stands in the middle. While walking round players sing: „Jurgeli, meistreli, mokyk savo vaikus, Jurgeli, meistreli, mokyk savo vaikus.“ Jurgelis shows some actions and all players in the circle repeat his actions singing the words: „O jūs, vaikai, taip darykit kaip Jurgelis daro. O jūs, vaikai, taip darykit kaip Jurgelis daro“. After that Jurgelis is replaced by another player.
  • 12. While playing Lithuanian folk games, children develop their personality, physical, intellectual, and social skills.