VILNIUS, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Lithuanian anthem was performed by railway locomotives in a video clip released by Lithuanian Railways on Wednesday.
The performance was aired publicly as a present for the country's upcoming celebrations of centenary of restoration of its independence to take place on Feb. 16. For the first time in the country's history, the Lithuanian anthem was performed by railways locomotives.
"We wanted to deliver an original present and to create what had never been done before to congratulate Lithuania with its anniversary," Mantas Bartuska, the chief executive of Lithuania Railways, was quoted in a press release.
Eight different cargo and passenger locomotives are seen in a video published by the state-controlled railway company performing Lithuanian National anthem using their sirens. The song was orchestrated by professor Donatas Katkus, one of Lithuania's most prominent conductors.
"We had to pick the locomotives equipped with signals of different tonalities. The result has surprised us," said Bartuska.
According to the Lithuanian government, around 760 different activities attended by more than 6.5 million participants are scheduled to take place in Lithuania and throughout the world to mark the 100th anniversary of the country's restored independence.
On Feb. 16, 1918, 20 elected members of the Council of Lithuania signed the Act of Independence of Lithuania.
