Festivalis Plartforma

 

Performance: Viktoras Orestas Vagusevičius

Partners: Kirtimai Culture Center, Klaipeda Energy

Duration: 60 min.

 

 

“Anthology of Prepared Piano” is a concert program that introduces the phenomenon of modification of traditional instruments. John Cage’s “Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano” will be played during it – a cult and historically significant cycle. Although the work was created quite a long time ago (1946-1948), the means of expression that are meaningful in it are often found in the works of creators of the world today.

J. Cage (1912 – 1992) is considered one of the most influential artists the evolution of the 20^th century music. He is the pioneer of uncertainty in music, electroacoustic music and non-standard use of musical instruments. A full cycle of J. Cage is an extremely rare phenomenon in Europe. Academic music of this time (1940-60) is rarely presented in Lithuania also. Therefore, the performance of the cycle testifies J. Cage’s universality and relevance in the context of contemporary art.

A prepared piano is an instrument whose sound has been temporarily altered by means of screws, bolts, mutes, rubber erasers, and/or other items placed on or between the strings. Although prepared instruments are more often found in today’s improvisational programs, it is a popular means of expression among contemporary academic music composers such as G. Crumb, R. Saunders, H. Cowell, etc.

 

The performer of the concert is pianist Viktoras Orestas Vagusevičius. He actively creates concert programs that are characterized by thematic integrity and lively moderation during the events. Contemporary music studies in Vienna gave the pianist the necessary competences to prepare instruments and use the acoustic potential of the modified instrument.