UFO

CD Lithuanian Music in Context III. Experimental Ventures. - Vilnius, Lithuanian Music Information and Publishing Centre LMIPCCD071-072, 2013

Jurgis Juozapaitis worked as a sound engineer for the Lithuanian State Television and Radio, which enabled him to experiment with sound equipment at his leisure.

The ‘Unidentified Flying Objects’ that lent a name for his first tape composition bear no direct reference to the popular Sci-Fi image, but rather an allegory of the ‘otherwordly’ reality, as a certain alternative to the oppressive reality of the Cold War and stagnation. For many years the listeners could have only guessed what sound sources the composer employed to produce such piece: sine tone generators, synthesiser, Theremin, or some other gadget? A well kept secret was revealed just recently: the composer confessed it was the vibraphone struck with the double bass bow, which suited best to evoke a desirable mood. Instead of the spine-chilling and dissonant tones, normally used to conjure up ‘the world of otherwordly creatures,’ he opted for more pacifying and ethereal sonorities.

Linas Paulauskis