Music Is Very Important
Between 2005 – 2010, Rūta Vitkauskaitė was part of the collaboration ‘Music is very important’ formed by a group of young musicians from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, who aimed to expand the framework of academic professional art performance.
The collective was created by composers Rūta Vitkauskaitė and Albertas Navickas, and included composer Rita Mačiliūnaitė and instrumentalists Marija Grikevičiūtė and Marija Kalvelytė. The collective also collaborated with theatre director Marija Simona Šimulynaitė, scenographer Simona Biekšaitė, poet Julius Žėkas and composers Sigitas Mickis and Mykolas Natalevičius.
The project title was inspired by a phrase from Italian futurist Luigi Russolo’s manifesto, which stood for the ensemble’s motto, its ideological label and the title for their ongoing project annual iterations. The interdisciplinary collaboration aspired to expand and enrich the musical perception of its audiences by proposing a wide spectrum of artistic thoughts. The members of the collective were not concerned with pleasing their audiences, but rather with instilling the idea of art as living, meaningful and necessary.
An integrated blend of music, speech, image, and movement created a unique “edit” of new ideas that examines modern music, visualized through movement and video projections, as well as the relationship between acoustic and electronic sound.
The performances showcased experimental musical works of young contemporary Lithuanian composers, as well as the works of contemporary music classics such as Steve Reich, John Cage, and Arvo Pärt, and of well-known Lithuanian composers like Osvaldas Balakauskas and Vytautas Bacevičius. The programs were always presented in an interactive manner, creating a unique atmosphere through lighting and scenography, as well as incorporating notable 20th-century music philosophy ideas, all reinforcing the message of Luigi Russolo’s words, which serve as the title of the project: “I must say – we must expand and enrich our musical perception, because music is very important“.
The collective has produced 11 annual contemporary music projects in Vilnius and other Lithuanian cities, as well as abroad.
Music is very important (September 2007)
The musical project brings to life the thoughts and music from composers from Lithuania and abroad, including Vytautas Bacevičiaus, Steve Reich, and Osvaldas Balakauskas. All of them, recognising the significance of music in our lives today, have testified this in their diaries, which serves as the foundation for the project.
The project organisers have taken a modern approach to the interpretation of these works, incorporating live video projections and theatrical elements to create an immersive experience for the audience. This fusion of sound, words, images, and movement has become the hallmark of the project, drawing the audience into a dynamic and intriguing synthesis of artistry. The premiere of the project took place on September 13, 2007 at the Lithuanian Composers’ Union.
Performed by Rūta Vitkauskaitė (violin, piano); Albertas Navickas (piano); Marija Kalvelytė (actor); Marija Grikevičiūtė (actor); Rita Mačiliūnaitė (announcer/actor); Rimas Sakalauskas (video).
Programme included Albertas Navickas ‘Music of a long autumn’ for tape and two pianos; Steve Reich ‘Violin phase’ for tape and violin; Arvo Pärt ‘Fratres’ for violin and piano; Vytautas Bacevičius, ‘Septieme mot’ for two pianos; Osvaldas Balakauskas ‘Rain in Warsaw’, and Rūta Vitkauskaitė ‘Double gaggi’ for violin and piano. All works were accompanied by especially created video projections.
Duration: 90 minutes
Format: concert of live music, and video projection
Performers: 5 (two pianos, violin, voice)
Photo: Rimas Sakalauskas and Tomas Terekas
Music is very very important (February 2007)
A musical performance showcasing the unique work of seven contemporary young Lithuanian musicians, acting, playing, singing and reciting performers, distinguished by their specific performance style.
The musical experiments of Viktorija Rimėnaitė, Rita Mačiliūnaitė, Albertas Navickas, and Rūta Vitkauskaitė were created specifically for this project, alongside an interactive presentation that was enhanced by unmistakable lighting, scenography, and the incorporation of some of the most famous 20th century music. The philosophical thoughts on music have contributed to create a special atmosphere and gave meaning to Luigi Russolo’s words, which also serve as the title of the entire project: “Music is very important.” The premiere of the event took place on February 12, 2007 at the New Theater of Riga, Latvia.
Music is very very very important (July 2008)
This project continued the ideas explored in previous years, by bringing together the works of renowned foreign composers such as Steve Reich, Osvaldas Balakauskas, Arvo Pärt and John Adams alongside creators of the project, composers Albertas Navickas and Rūta Vitkauskaitė. Similar to their previous performances, the entire production was united by the use of the composers’ thoughts in the form of quotations, which appeared as both acoustic and electronic sounds. The synthesis of light, video, and live movement elements represented a crucial aspect of the performance. The premiere of the project took place on December 5, 2008, at the L. Rėza Gallery in Juodkrante, Lithuania. Performed by Rūta Vitkauskaitė, Albertas Navickas; Marija Kalvelytė.
Duration: 60 minutes
Format: concert of live music, and video projection
Performers: 3 (piano, violin, acting)
Music is very very very very important (July 2008)
This project continues the ideas of the collective, this time through an exploration of the genre of contemporary experimental music with a focus on violin sounds, language and intonation, influences from the elements of Fluxus. The program was comprised almost entirely of works from the newest generation of Lithuanian composers and was organically interwoven with live improvisational dance, movement, and drawing. The premiere of the project took place on December 6, 2008, at the A. Montys Gallery in Palanga, Lithuania. Performed by Rūta Vitkauskaitė, Albertas Navickas; Marija Kalvelytė.
Duration: 30 minutes
Format: concert of live music, and video projection
Performers: 3 (piano, violin, acting)
Music is very very very very very important (September 2008)
The project showcases the creators’ favourite forms of interdisciplinary manipulation: a combination of music, words, images, and movement exploring the authors’ thoughts on creativity and contemporary music. The project renders creative visualizations of music through movement, video projections and the balance of acoustic and electronic sounds. Alongside works by renowned contemporary composers such as Steve Reich, Arvo Pärt, Osvaldas Balakauskas, and John Adams, the program also features music by young Lithuanian composers, as well as pieces created specifically for this project. Performers include Rūta Vitkauskaitė on violin and acting, Albert Navickas on piano and harpsichord and acting, Marija Kalvelytė on piano and drums and acting, Marija Grikevičiūtė on piano and acting, Rita Mačiliūnaitė as mezzo-soprano and acting, Victoria Rimėnaitė as soprano and acting, Justinas Mačys on flute and acting, and Vytautas Jančauskas on lighting. The pieces for visualization were created by Rūta Vitkauskaitė, Albertas Navickas, Rita Mačiliūnaitė, and Viktorija Rimėnaitė. The project was performed at festival ‘Vilniaus Veidai’.
Duration: 60 minutes
Format: concert of live music, and video projection, with light design
Performers: 8 (piano, violin, acting)
Photos: Estera Rozovskaja
Music is very very very very very very important (June 2009)
For this project, the musicians participated in the ‘ART IS ALIVE’ project of the Druskomanija Festival, held in the home-museum spaces of Antanas Montys, which consisted of an exhibition of undergraduate paintings showcasing various styles ranging from traditional landscape paintings to impressionism, expressionism, dadaism, abstract art, and beyond. This provided a brilliant back-drop for designing another iteration of the ‘Music is Very Important’ performance, which took place at the Montys Gallery, Palanga, Lithuania. The performers of the project were Marija Kalvelytė (piano, drums, clapper/actor), Marija Grikevičiūtė (piano, clapper/actor), and Rita Mačiliūnaitė (mezzo-soprano, drums/actor), performing music pieces for visualisation by composers Rūta Vitkauskaitė, Albertas Navickas, Rita Mačiliūnaitė, Steve Reich, John Adams, and Miklos Maros.
Duration: 40 minutes
Format: concert of live music, and video projection
Performers: 3 (piano, voice, percussion, acting)
Music is very very very very very very very important (September 2009)
The collective performed a selection of their previous repertoire as part of the ‘Let It Be Night’ initiative in Vilnius, aimed at allowing unrestricted musical performances in all public spaces, streets, and yards throughout the night. Their performance space, called ‘Sounding Bridge’, was designed by Simona Biekšaitė, who then joined ‘Music Is Very Important’ collective until the group’s closure in the following year. During this performance, the group placed two upright pianos in the middle of the bridge across the river Vilnelė, serving as a barrier and preventing people from crossing from either side. Performers and creators: Rūta Vitkauskaitė, Albertas Navickas, Marija Grikevičiūtė and Rita Mačiliūniatė.
Duration: 60 minutes
Format: concert of live music with stage design
Performers: 4 (piano, violin voice, percussion, acting)
Music is very very very very very very very very important (August – October 2009)
This performance was one of the last works by the collective, which had greatly evolved in terms of choreography, acting, and visuals. The visuals included a toilet placed in the centre of the stage, a conductor dancing in a ballet dress, a violinist playing whilst lying on the floor, people rolling on the ground and shaking their legs in the air, while serious classical music is being performed. The piece culminates with a performer being carried across the stage and having his head dipped into the toilet, accompanied by a serious contemporary music performance. This was one of the most radical works of the festival and received high appreciation from the audience, who referred to it as the “toilet opera”.
It was performed at The Rokiškis Classical Music Festival, Music Laboratory Network The PROCESS, Professional Union Palace (Vilnius), Audiovisual Poetry Festival “AVASP” at Kablys. Performed by Rūta Vitkauskaitė (violin, voice, video/actor); Marija Kalvelytė (piano, voice. drums/actor); Marija Grikevičiūtė (piano, voice/actor); Rita Mačiliūnaitė (mezzosoprano, drums/actor); Sigitas Mickis (pianica, piano, voice/actor); Mykolas Natalevičius (voice, conductor/actor); Julius Žėkas (poetry, voice/actor); Ričardas Šumila (sound engineering); Simona Biekšaitė (scenography), Marija Simona-Šimulynaitė (act directing. Music pieces for visualisation by – Rūta Vitkauskaitė, Albertas Navickas, Rita Mačiliūnaitė, Sigitas Mickis, Mykolas Natalevičius.
Duration: 60 minutes
Format: audiovisual theatre-music performance
Performers: 10
Music is very very very very very very very very very important (November 2009)
As part of the VIRUS Art Festival (Šiauliai, Lithuania), the collective returned back it its roots, and created a compilation of new music performances, accompanied by video projections and a minimalistic scenography created by Simona Biekšaitė. The performers used the stage space creatively, positioning themselves in different locations for each piece, which added to the unique and captivating experience.
The event featured Rūta Vitkauskaitė (violin, voice, video/actor), Albertas Navickas (piano/actor), Marija Grikevičiūtė (piano, voice/actor), Rita Mačiliūnaitė (mezzo-soprano, guitar, drums/actor), Sigitas Mickis (pianica, piano, voice, sound engineering/actor), Mykolas Natalevičius (voice, conductor/actor), Ričardas Šumila (conductor, guitar/actor), Julius Žėkas (poetry, voice/actor), and Simas Gineika (video). The music pieces for visualization were created by Rūta Vitkauskaitė, Albertas Navickas, Rita Mačiliūnaitė, Sigitas Mickis, and Mykolas Natalevičius.
Duration: 60 minutes
Format: audiovisual music concert with video projection and movement
Performers: 9
Music is very (x10) important (December 2009)
The piece was performed as part of the final party of ‘Vilnius European Capital of Culture 2009’ and consisted of a short, visually stimulating performance of Steve Reich’s ‘Clapping Music’, performed by four people dressed in white, one a white stage, clapping, while the scenographer and choreographer are jumping across a red string to the rhythm of the claps. This was followed by a performance of Arvo Part’s piece ‘Spiegel Um Spiegel’. The event featured Rūta Vitkauskaitė (violin, clapper), Albertas Navickas (piano, clapper), Rita Mačiliūnaitė (clapper), Ričardas Šumila (clapper); Simona Biekšaitė (scenography, costumes, video/acting), Marija Simona-Šimulynaitė (dancer/acting). The music pieces for visualisation were created by Arvo Part and Steve Reich.
Duration: 25 minutes
Format: audiovisual music concert with scenography and movement
Performers: 6
Music is very (x11) important (August 2010)
The final performance of the collective, returning to ‘May It Be Night’ in Vilnius, featured a coming together of diverse performers. The evening began with a composition by L. Lapelytė, specially constructed by architect M. Sauja for the string instrument “Karl L” and performed by L. Lapelytė and R. Vitkauskaitė. The night continued with the audio-visual electroacoustic project ‘Music is very x11 important’ featuring works by S. Reich, A. Part, O. Balakauskas, A. Navickas, R. Mačiliūnaitė, and R. Vitkauskaitė, where the performers were placed amongst the dining audience, in the elevator, on staircases, and at the entrance, dressed in colourful costumes, glasses, and hats. After midnight, there was music for flute solo, electronics, and video projections by J. Mačys, music for percussion, electronics, and video projections by A. Gecevičius, followed by dance music and an acoustic improvisation performance by DJ Z, L. Lapelytė (violin), R. Vitkauskaitė (violin), A. Gecevičius (percussion), and J. Mačys (flute).
Duration: 4 hours with breaks
Format: music performance, costumes, movement
Performers: 6