The programme in Vytautas Barkauskas symphonies

This article is devoted to the role of the programme in the creative method of Lithuanian composer Vytautas Barkauskas who is considered to be classic of national music. The composer shows a diversity of symphonical programme way of thinking: from one hand there are philosophical ideas of “battle”, “Uroborus” and “Dao” of Second, Sixth and Seventh symphonies, from the other hand— ​scholastic position of the idea of “knowledge” of the Third symphony and the “documental” idea “Technogenic catastrophe” of the Fifth. Lithuanian master forms his concept of symphonic genre which is of primary importance to him relying on the classical composers experience and departing from an extramusical “main idea” where key humanistic ideals such as beauty, spirituality, justice have been strongly articulated.