He got his first knowledge of music in the organist courses of Juoz Naujalis in Kaunas. Since 1898 he was an organist in Jonava for a short time, and from 1900 - in the Catholic church in Liepaja and led the choirs.
in 1903 went to Riga, where he learned to play the organ at the Egert Music School and worked as a musician in Lithuanian parishes. Until 1909 attended the Riga department of the Imperial Music School, where he studied organ, composition, piano, singing and music theory with prof. Bergneri, Kreicberg, Kazankova, J. Žilinskaitė, Skleri and other pedagogues.
Actively participated in Lithuanian cultural life. He led the choir of the "Kanklių" society, the "Vilties" ensemble of Riga Polytechnic Institute students, the men's quartet and sextet, staged Miko Petrauska's and his own operettas, sang solo, accompanied, acted and created music for various performances, harmonized folk songs. He sang Krivio's aria in his drama "Duke of Pilėnai". In 1907, he sang the first Lithuanian records with the "Vilties" ensemble (over 20 songs - solos, duets, sextets, etc.)
.in 1911 had gone to Warsaw, where he worked as a teacher and accompanied in concerts. After returning to Riga, the organist St. Albert Church, 1916-1919. studied singing at the St. Petersburg Conservatory (in the classes of E. Sonkė and I. Prianišnikov), led Lithuanian choirs and organized concerts. After the death of Česław Sasnauskas, he took the place of organist and choir director at St. Catherine's Church.
1920 after returning to Lithuania, he settled in Kaunas and became involved in active musical activities. in 1921 He adjusted the bells in the garden tower of the War Museum and took care of their maintenance. After joining the music section of the Society of Lithuanian Artists, he organized the Lithuanian Opera with other artists, taught piano and solfeggio at the Kaunas Music School, and led the schoolboy choir. 1920-1921 led the choir of the "Dainas" society, for some time he taught Gregorian chanting at the Kaunas Priests' Seminary and led the clerical choir. in 1923 studied solo singing in Warsaw, Vienna and Rome
.in 1924 organized the "Lithuanian musicians - artists" society and was its chairman. It was 1924. a member of the organizing committee of the first all-Lithuanian song festival, he taught at the choral conducting courses organized by this committee. In order to raise the artistic level of church and secular music, in 1925 organized by St. Cecilia Society of Organists and was its chairman, participated in the activities of the Philharmonic Society. There were also 1925 and 1932. teacher of summer courses for organists. For several years, he taught church choir at the Metropolia Seminary and was an organist at the cathedral. in 1939 elected to the organist section of the Lithuanian Music Society.
in 1928 In Kaunas, he organized a mixed choir of song lovers. He taught him complex pieces, organized concerts with him. 1930 the choir performed with great success in Riga and Tallinn. As an organist, he organized concerts in the Kaunas Crew and Jesuit churches.
in 1941 He formed the "Perkūnas" choir in Kaunas, and in 1948 – Kaunas Republican Hospital choir. 1933-1947 He taught piano and singing at the Kaunas Conservatory. in 1942 was awarded the title of professor, but later not recognized - from 1946 e. professor position.1948-1957 - He taught music theory disciplines at the Lithuanian State Conservatory, was a member of the Lithuanian Composers' Union.A. Kačanauskas was one of the first organizers and soloists of the Lithuanian Opera Theater, he contributed a lot to the establishment of various music societies and the improvement of their activities, the organization of choirs and concert life in Lithuania and abroad. He created several hundred different works - solo and choral songs, hymns, motets, masses for children's choir, cantatas, instrumental works, the operetta "The Young Widow", collected and harmonized Lithuanian folk songs.
Since 1924 wrote in the press on various music issues, wrote music theoretical works and memoirs. His songs "Vasaros naktys", "Where Šešupė is running", hymns "Prayer for the Motherland" and others became popular.His daughter Aldona Kačanauskaitė-Zaborienė contributed a lot to the publication of A. Kačanauskas' work; in 1992 her memoirs "Aleksandras Kačanauskas" was published.
