While women wove on the loom, they had time to think about their dreams and to sing about their destiny. They were singing songs called SUTARTINĖS (from the word sutarti – to be in agreement). It is a form of polyphonic music performed by female singers in Lithuania. The songs have simple melodies mimicking the process of weaving, during which the threads (melodies) are diving through each other: they rise to the surface and hide again.
After the marriage women had to cover their hair under the scarf. It became a symbol of the future and past, marking two different periods of woman‘s life.
Sutartinės have hypnotic effect , which is related to the monotony of the rhythm, the constant repetition of the lyrics and melody, which is rotating as if it has no end. The scarf wraps around the head and shoulders creating a circle around you, a circle that lets to be and to agree with yourself.
