The Spanish dimension in Lithuanian composer Jonas Tamulionis's works

Abstract

There are not so many historical connections between two Catholic countries – Lithuania and Spain. Most often the echoes of remote Spain would reach Lithuania via literature, music, and art. Since 1940, when Lithuania was occupied and Spain was under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco, the two countries had lost all contacts. However, despite this difficult historical period in Lithuania, there still were people in Lithuania who managed to learn the Spanish language and to collect enough information about the country’s culture. One of those people was composer Jonas Tamulionis. In 1990, when Lithuania regained its independence, the international cultural, economic, and political cooperation was renewed. People who were interested in Spanish culture were given a chance to visit the country and to establish connections with the Spanish people. Because of the changes in Eastern Europe, the music of Jonas Tamulionis became more widely known. His compositions written in a Spanish manner were performed in Spain and in the Canary Islands on a number of occasions and received highest awards; he had won over 40 prizes for his music presented at various international competitions. However, the bibliography on the composer is not very rich. That is why our article introduces Jonas Tamulionis to the English speaking audience and distinguishes the traits of his compositions which are essentially related to the Spanish culture.