Sutartinės, Lithuanian polyphonic songs
These polyphonic songs were inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible
Cultural Heritage of Humanity in November 2010.
Sutartinės (from the word sutarti – to be in concordance, in agreement) is unique traditional
Lithuanian folk music that has retained its ancient form of polyphony, a combination of music, text and motion.
They are commonly sung by women, while men perform instrumental versions on the skudučiai
pan-pipes), daudytės (a kind of horn), kanklės (psaltery) and other instruments.
Their characteristic feature is simultaneous performance of different melodies and texts.
The European theory of music considers sutartinės a paradox: the harmony is achieved by a consonance of discordant intervals, the seconds.
Sutartinės found their place among the brightest symbols of the Lithuanian cultural identity already in the beginning of the 20th century. They provide inspiration to many modern composers. Abroad, sutartinės have become a kind of Lithuania’s trademark.