SINGING Polyphonic Songs From Lithuania

Led by Aušrinė Lasytė, Agnietė Baltramonaitytė, Gediminas Plėšnys / OPKA
For all interested

We will explore different regions of Lithuania through songs from different historical periods. The repertoire will include archaic harvest songs, wedding songs, orphan songs, and war songs, polyphonic sutartinės, as well as later humorous and religious songs. We will attempt to reconstruct traditional sounds and singing techniques, while also enjoying a variety of polyphonic singing styles.

Opka is a traditional Lithuanian vocal ensemble founded by ethnomusicology students, specialising in the music of the Aukštaitija region. The core of their repertoire consists of songs from the village of Skuoliai. The singers strive to capture not only melodic variations and melismatic ornamentation, but also the precise pronunciation of the dialect and the subtle nuances of choral singing. Although many of the pieces are light-hearted in nature, this in no way detracts from the artistry of the original performances.
For the festival, the ensemble has invited two musicians (violin and drum), enabling the group to present not only vocal traditions but also instrumental dance music.

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