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Composer  

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Romantic

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Jurgis Karnavicius was a Lithuanian composer who lived from 1884 to 1941. He was born in the small town of Kudirkos Naumiestis, which was then part of the Russian Empire. Karnavicius showed an early interest in music and began studying piano and composition at a young age. He later attended the Warsaw Conservatory, where he studied with some of the leading composers of the time. After completing his studies, Karnavicius returned to Lithuania and began working as a composer and music teacher. He quickly established himself as one of the leading figures in Lithuanian music, and his works were performed throughout the country. Karnavicius was particularly interested in folk music, and he incorporated elements of Lithuanian folk music into many of his compositions. One of Karnavicius's most famous works is his opera "Birutė," which tells the story of a legendary Lithuanian queen who falls in love with a fisherman. The opera premiered in 1927 and was an immediate success. It has since become one of the most beloved works in the Lithuanian operatic repertoire. Karnavicius also wrote a number of choral works, including his "Lithuanian Mass," which was first performed in 1922. The mass incorporates elements of Lithuanian folk music and is considered one of the most important works in Lithuanian choral music. In addition to his work as a composer, Karnavicius was also a respected musicologist and folklorist. He collected and transcribed hundreds of Lithuanian folk songs, and his work in this area helped to preserve and promote Lithuanian folk music. Despite his many accomplishments, Karnavicius's life was not without its challenges. He lived through a period of great political upheaval, as Lithuania was occupied by both the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany during his lifetime. Karnavicius was a vocal supporter of Lithuanian independence, and his music often reflected his patriotic sentiments. Tragically, Karnavicius's life was cut short by the Second World War. He died in 1941, just as Lithuania was once again being occupied by the Soviet Union. Despite his untimely death, Karnavicius's legacy lives on through his music, which continues to be performed and celebrated in Lithuania and beyond.

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