Antanas Sabaniauskas "Siuntė Mane Motinėlė" 1933

"Mother Sent Me on an Errand"
Antanas Sabaniauskas Lithuania's leading pop tenor, whose music was played throughout Europe, a wonderful and big-hearted man who died in obscurity, reviled by his government. The tragedy of Sabaniauskas life, parallels the tragedy of Lithuania. Occupied by the Russians with the collaborator Lithuanian government, Lithuania's greatest talents were judged by their love of freedom, rather than talent. When the war ended, Sabaniauskas was able to work as a singer in the Lithuanian National Opera chorus. In 1947, when the Communists found out who he was, he was fired. For the rest of his days he eked out a living doing menial jobs barely able to support himself and his family. In the 70s he was finally allowed to sing in clubs. Like so many things in our lovely little country, who knows how his life would have turned out, and how many people in the world might have enjoyed the singing of this amazing vocalist, had Lithuania remained free.

The last occupants of this riverside home perished deported to Siberia. The father died from eating boiled tree bark as a slave laborer in the Gulag, his wife perished soon after, and only his daughter survived to return to a newly-independent Lithuania.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Lithuanian
• Music
• Antanas
• Sabaniauskas
• pre-WWII
• 1930s

[jurek46pink]

Another great video.

One thing that I would criticize is that "old film trembling" effect is applied too much. If(!) I could advice you - do not make it so often; after a few minutes it is difficult to watch and pity, because material is so interesting. -

My best wishes !

[DamnKimPhilby]

Hi Jurek. Hehehe (about the old video effect)--you are SO right! I am tired of it myself :)

[gramophoneshane]

What a great tune! Beautiful!! It just goes to show it wasn't just the USA & UK pumping out fantastic stuff in the 1930's. Its just a shame english subtitles cant be added for non-bilingual aussies like me ;) Thanks for posting

[DamnKimPhilby]

Thanks for the kind words. Send money, I am running low on foster's:) The next film I'll make, I promise to add the subtitles:) Cheers!

[gintaraszal]

Thank you for commenting and listening. I just trid to imagine subtitles...It is almost impossible to translate text precisely - the specific Baltic Lithuanian uses a lot of deminutives which unfortunately are not available in English

[kostgian]

ANTANAS SAB has a sweet,pathetic voice enough emotional and leaving a profound grieviness and melancoly ...a man who suffered much...