The year 2023 is special for the entire Dzūkija region, because the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania declared it the year of Dainava, in order to mark the 770th anniversary of the first mention of Dainava’s name in historical sources. Dainava land (lot. terra Deynowe) was first mentioned in 1253. in the donation deed of King Mindaugas to the Livonian Crusaders. on the 15th at 5 p.m. In the Jurgis Kunčinas Public Library of Alytus (Seirijų St. 2), this special occasion will be commemorated with the presentation event of a solid, two hundred-page publication about the brass bands of the Dzūkija region, in which its authors Rimantas Jočys and Justina Jočytė-Orinienė, prof. Dr. Aldona Vilkelienė, chief conductor. lieutenant Ramūnas Valaitis and other honored guests of the evening. Musical interludes will be performed by young performers from the Alytus School of Music (clarinet trio and saxophone quintet).
The material collected over many years, the stories of living witnesses, a documented press review, and the memories of the authors themselves have been carefully put into the publication. The book is illustrated with 160 illustrations – authentic photos, copies of documents, so many brass band participants will be able to see not only themselves, but also their youth colleagues in the book. The history of brass bands in Varëna.
The authors of the book are well known not only in the cultural world of Alytus, but also among Lithuanian musicians. Rimantas Jočys, an expert teacher at the Alytus School of Music, started leading the wind orchestra of the Alytus House Construction Combine in 1985, and his pedagogical activities in 1977. During these decades, new orchestras were founded: the city wind orchestra “Gaida”, the orchestra of the Grand Duchess Birutė’s uloni battalion, and later he took the lead of the Music School’s wind orchestra. Rimantas Jočys has won the Alytus City Culture Prize (2009) and the Alytus City Municipality Prize on the occasion of International Teachers’ Day (2021). The co-author of the book, Justina Jočytė-Orinienė, completed violin and flute programs at the Alytus School of Music, bachelor’s and master’s programs at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater, and studied for one year at the Higher School of Music and Theater in Hamburg. After her studies, Justina returned to work at the Alytus Music School, actively participates in musical life, is the conductor of the brass band and the head of the brass band of the “Svajonė” symphony orchestra.
The work done by Rimantas and Justina Jočiau is a truly significant contribution to the history of the region and culture of Dzūkija, and their love and dedication to their profession is perfectly reflected in 2022. at the end of the book that saw the light of day, whose presentation event and meeting with the authors and other participants promises to be warm, musical and very informative. We kindly invite you to spend the coming Wednesday evening together!
Alytus Jurgis Kunčinas Public Library