A Musical wave: Lithuanian musicians of the beginning of the 20th century

ENThe process of the development of art is uneven: periods of rapid rise alternate with stagnation and decline. The beginning of the 20th century in Lithuania was characterized by a rapid rise in musical culture. Several musicians born in Lithuania became world-famous. The first was Jascha Heifetz. The beginning of his career took place in Vilnius. The years spent in Vilnius, and the influence of this city, predetermined all the subsequent events. The question naturally arises: why only Heifetz; weren’t there others? The artistic and spiritual formation of an artist is impossible without a creative environment, and this environment consists of specific people, interaction with whom enriches and sets a great example. Heifetz had this, but perhaps next to him there were other talented children and youth who experienced similar influences and received the same impetus towards a great musical career. The magic aura of Vilnius of that time, which gave so much to Heifetz, could have affected others as well. First of all, there are the brothers Mischa and Sasha Schneider, violinist and cellist, the younger contemporaries of Heifetz. Being also from Vilnius, they studied at the same music school, and their abilities became evident already in their childhood. They continued their studies in Germany and won worldwide acclaim while playing with the brilliant Budapest Quartet.Another musical pair of siblings was Nadia and Clara Reisenberg (Clara gained fame as Clara Rockmore after marrying). The Hofmekler brothers are yet another example. The violinist, conductor and composer Moishe Hofmekler became a notable figure in the musical life of interwar Lithuania. The pianist and conductor Leib Hofmekler was a wonderful accompanist and one of the leading Lithuanian conductors of the interwar years. Their names are indelible in the history of Lithuanian music, while their historically tragic fate places them in the pantheon of world musical figures of the 20th century. All these musicians (and not only them) seemed to grasp the direction of historical development, rushed alongside, and led the rest. This topic has not been well studied, and we should fill this gap. Keywords: Lithuanian musicians, the beginning of the 20th century, performing arts, artistic environment, predictability and randomness in art.