When forming the ensemble it was decided to upgrade the ancient Lithuanian folk instruments and form a folk instrument orchestra. The concert practice called for development of timbrally rich, technically flexible, acoustically strong and modally broad instruments. It was offered to includekanklės (zither) and its modernized version klaviklės, skudučiai (panpipes), mediniai trimitai (wooden trumpets), daudytės (pipes), lamzdeliai (recorders), birbynės (folk clarinets), tošelės (reeds), pūslinė (a bow made from a pig’s bladder filled with dried peas), skrabalai (cow bells), tabalai (gongs) and other rattles, as well as certain shepherd instruments.
The orchestra of the ensemble uses three types of improved reed-pipes: high (soprano), tenor and double-bass. The mouthpiece has an attached reed. Tenor reed-pipe is longer than the high one, slightly thicker, its sound is dark, warm. The timber of the double-bass reed-pipe reminds of the sound of contrabassoon. The high reed-pipe is the main melodic instrument of the orchestra, and their group makes the basis of the orchestra. Programs of the ensemble includes group of reed-pipes – a quintet, a reed-pipe may often be heard as a solo.
National instruments of the type kanklės (plucked string musical instrument) are found in the entire Baltic region. There are three types of traditional kanklės in Lithuania that originate from Northeast part of Aukštaitija, Western part of Aukštaitija and Žemaitija, and Western part of Žemaitija and Suvalkija. In the second part of the 20th century there were many musical schools established with departments of national instruments, the joint orchestra of kanklės may be heard in national song festivals. Kanklės were first time mentioned by J.Bretkunas in 1580. The orchestra of the ensemble uses three kinds of modified kanklės: the high, the bass and the double-bass. Kanklės help to maintain harmony and rhythm in the orchestra of national instruments, sometimes it is used for guiding the melody.
Skrabalai (Wooden bells)
Traditional skrabalai – are small wooden trapezoid-shaped troughs with wooden clappers inside of them. Some wooden bells do not have clappers. The pitch of the sound very much depends on the size of the trough. The ensemble uses the type two skrabalai made of 27 troughs, arranged in seven lines. The frame of skrabalai is put into sheathes on the sides of the stump (drum). Skrabalai is used by the orchestra since 1947.
Skudučiai is a musical instrument popular in Northeast Aukštaitija. It is a set of 5-8 pipes, used for playing instrumental glees.
Molinukai – little dogs, birds and horses, made of clay with several sound holes covering of which allows producing several tones reminiscent of flute – are used only occasionally in the orchestra. Their diapason is g-e2.
Skudučiai, most popular in northeastern Aukštaitija, is a set of 5 – 8 pipes used for performing instrumental sutartinės. The ensemble uses a set of 29 skudučiai, covering diapason of c1– e3.
Labanoro dūda also called dūdmaišis (bagpipe) is known in many European countries. It consists of four parts: leather windbag (air reservoir), chanter, drone and blowing pipe. Instrument’s name comes from Labanoras town. The drone of the instrument, used in “Lietuva”, plays g1, and chanter can play within c – c1.
Ožragis (goat-horn) is popular in neighbouring countries as well. Traditional type has 2 – 6 sound holes. Instrument, used in “Lietuva”, has birbynė’s mouthpiece, and its diapason covers the interval of fourth – ožragis in D: d1-g1; ožragis in G: g1-c2.
Daudytės (pipes) were used in northeastern Lithuania for performing instrumental sutartinės. These are straight wooden pipes (140 – 230 cm length) providing 4 – 5 natural tones. The ensemble uses daudytės in C, in D, in F and in G.
Ragas (horn) is also used in performing sutartinės, however it only produces 1 – 2 tones. The ensemble is in possession of seven ragai.
Tabalai (percussion), a set of boards (50 – 90 cm), is used as a signal instrument. The ensemble uses five tabalai covering the interval of fifth (g-d1). Džingulis (bell) is a stick hung all over with metal jingles and used as an ancillary rhythmic instrument.
Būgnelis (snare-drum) consists of skin stretched over a rounded frame. Sometimes jingles are attached to the frame. Recently, the orchestra’s rhythmic group was enlarged with drums of various sizes, other rhythmic instruments.