On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, Music Information Centre Lithuania presents a new digital collection of the composer's works for harp, Čiurlionis on the Harp Strings, arranged by harpist Joana Daunytė. The collection of 16 works is now available at the MusicLithuania.com e-shop.

Joana Daunytė is well-known for her talent and skill both in Lithuania and internationally. The Lithuanian harp ambassador has performed in concert halls in Switzerland, France, Norway, Ireland, Germany, the United Kingdom, Russia, the Netherlands, Spain and the United States. Since 2016, she has been teaching harp at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, where she is currently a doctoral student, as well as being a performer in the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra and a member of the unique family ensemble Regnum Musicale.

These scores and the CD Čiurlionis on the Harp Strings, released in 2021, are special because they are the first Lithuanian harp solo music publications. The newly released arrangements offer the opportunity for the famous artist's work to find its place in the world of harp music performers. "I felt that the early arrangements of piano music for harp could be a wonderful tribute to the great Lithuanian artist, taking the dissemination of his music into a completely new form. It is also a great discovery for harpists because of the expanded repertoire of music for harp, enriched with national colour. So I allowed myself to respectfully touch the piano music of M. K. Čiurlionis and give it a different colour, to reveal it in a new light," Daunytė explained.

This collection features harp arrangements of the composer's early piano works - Preludes, Nocturnes, Pastorales, Elegies and others. Interpretations of these works not only enrich the composer's musical legacy but also provide an opportunity for Čiurlionis' works to enter the harp repertoire. The arrangements are characterised not only by high craftsmanship but also by Daunytė's special sensitivity to the spirit of Čiurlionis' music.

"As a harpist, I was looking for ways to get closer to this national classic whose music fascinated me with its emotionality, sincerity, passion, love of nature, purity, and light fairy-tale-like qualities," said Daunytė. Each arrangement has been created to preserve the essence of the composer's music, while at the same time emphasising the subtlety and beauty of the harp.

The Lithuanian Music Information Centre is delighted to present this unique project, which perfectly complements Lithuania's musical heritage and at the same time adds national colours to the harp repertoire. For all of the music by M. K. Čiurlionis published by the MICL (for piano, organ, string quartet, choirs, as well as arrangements for flute, guitar and harp), please visit the online shop MusicLithuania.com.

 

The publication was financed by the Lithuanian Council for Culture, the Programme for the Protection of Copyright and Related Rights, and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania.