Changing meanings of folk instruments in folk music revivals: why members of Lithuanian folklore ensembles do not like "skudučiai"?

• Daugpilio universitetas: leidinio tekstas

ENThe Lithuanian folk instrument "skudučiai" has been revived since the beginning of the 20th century and has gained attention in several Lithuanian folk music revival movements of the 20th –the beginning of the 21th century. The instrument is also revived in the Lithuanian folklore ensembles movement. However the instrument is unpopular and unattractive in the ensembles. Having in mind that musical instruments can be perceived as “social” objects, the meanings of which are constructed, the reasons of unattractiveness of "skudučiai" are considered in this paper. It seems that this unattractiveness is mostly determined by the use of the instrument in earlier or other currently active folk music revival movements. The instrument is associated with boyishness, compulsory playing practices (in the secondary school), artificiality of stylized folklore and plastic instruments. In the folklore ensembles these associations overshadow potentially powerful meanings of the instrument as being something archaic, rural, ethnic, etc. This case illustrates how influential earlier revival practices can be to contemporary revivers and their social constructions and meanings even if contemporary revivers try to distance themselves from their predecessors. Key words: skudučiai, folk music revival, meaning of the instrument. [From the publication]