The forms of liberty on the eve of reform movement: the phenomenon of “Jauna Muzika”

Abstract

The aim of the article is to look closer at the series of four editions under the title “Jauna muzika” (Young Music) (1987–1990), issued as a particular manifesto of young Lithuanian composers (born in late fifties and early sixties) on the eve of Sąjūdis (Reform Movement) (1988–1990). The series accompanied the annual music festival “Jaunimo kamerinės muzikos dienos” (The Days of Chamber Music by Young Composers), which was held in 1985 for the first time and in 2000 was renamed to “Druskomanija”. The content of the editions reflects the need of Lithuanian composers, philosophers, musicologists and poets to encode the resistance against the authorities and to demonstrate their spiritual alliance with Western culture. Almost the same aspirations were characteristic of the contributors of Lithuanian magazine “Keturi vėjai” (Four Winds), issued in 1924–1928. “Jauna muzika” could be considered as particular form of freedom, stipulated by the specific principle of habitus, defined by Pierre Bourdieu. The analysis of poetical texts by the composers reveales the feelings of despair and emptiness and the expectations to regain the ability to be sincere. The power of habitus proved out: the contributors of “Jauna muzika” opened new perspective to the restricted thought.