Daina
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A daina is a traditional form of music or poetry in the Baltic.
Latvia
Latvian dainas often feature pre-Christian themes and legends, drone vocal styles and Baltic zithers (kokle).
Dainas are very short, usually only one or two unrhymed stanzas, unrhymed and in a four-footed trochaic metre. Lyrically, dainas concern themselves with native mythology but, in contrast to most similar forms, does not have any legendary heroes. Stories often revolve around pre-Christian deities like the sun goddess Saule, the moon god Meness and, most notably, the life of people, especially its three most important events - birth, wedding and death (including burial). The first collection of dainas was published between 1894 and 1915 as Latvju Dainas by Krišjānis Barons.
Lithuania
With the rise of Lithuanian nationalism, several organizations committed to promoting and maintaning Lithuanian folk traditions were formed. The most prominent of these was called Daina (song in the Lithuanian language), formed by composer Juozas Naujalis in 1899. Daina was registered with the Russian government in 1905, with the official purpose of being a church choir. Singers from Daina travelled across Lithuania, singing and communicating with like-minded Lithuanians.
Daina's staging of America in the Bath-House and the choir's performance of several nationalist songs was a great cultural event that gave momentum to the nationalist movement, and Daina spread across the country. Violinist Mykolas Leskevicius was a part of Daina during this time.
After suppression by the German authorities in 1915, Daina ceased all activities. Only a year later, however, J. Naujalis and Stasys Simkus revitalized the society. Opera singers like Antanas Sodeika and Kipras Petrauskas performed during this time.