Šarūnas Nakas
Encyclopedia
Šarūnas Nakas is a Lithuanian composer
of contemporary classical music
, essayist,
conductor, performance and video artist, organiser of contemporary music festivals and presenter of radio programmes.
A student of Julius Juzeliūnas at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre
, he graduated in 1986 before going to Poland for further study between 1988 and 1991; he has also worked at the IRCAM
in Paris (1998).
In 1982, Nakas founded the Vilnius New Music Ensemble, with which he has toured in 15 European countries and Canada for eighteen consecutive years. Nakas was also artistic director of the Gaida contemporary music festival (1996) and Musica Ficta festival (1997), both in Vilnius. In 2001 he wrote a textbook on contemporary music, the first of its kind in Lithuania. Between 2000 and 2007 he was a musical editor of the cultural monthly Kultūros barai in Vilnius. Between 2002 and 2009 he hosted programs about contemporary music on Lithuanian radio.
Since 2005 he has worked on multi-channel video installations, using his own music as soundtrack.
Nakas was awarded the Lithuanian National Arts and Culture Prize
in 2007, and has received numerous other awards for his work.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
of contemporary classical music
Contemporary classical music
Contemporary classical music can be understood as belonging to the period that started in the mid-1970s with the retreat of modernism. However, the term may also be employed in a broader sense to refer to all post-1945 modern musical forms.-Categorization:...
, essayist,
conductor, performance and video artist, organiser of contemporary music festivals and presenter of radio programmes.
A student of Julius Juzeliūnas at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre
Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre
The Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre in Vilnius, Lithuania, is a state-supported conservatory that trains students in music, theatre, and multimedia arts.-History:...
, he graduated in 1986 before going to Poland for further study between 1988 and 1991; he has also worked at the IRCAM
IRCAM
IRCAM is a European institute for science about music and sound and avant garde electro-acoustical art music. It is situated next to, and is organizationally linked with, the Centre Pompidou in Paris...
in Paris (1998).
In 1982, Nakas founded the Vilnius New Music Ensemble, with which he has toured in 15 European countries and Canada for eighteen consecutive years. Nakas was also artistic director of the Gaida contemporary music festival (1996) and Musica Ficta festival (1997), both in Vilnius. In 2001 he wrote a textbook on contemporary music, the first of its kind in Lithuania. Between 2000 and 2007 he was a musical editor of the cultural monthly Kultūros barai in Vilnius. Between 2002 and 2009 he hosted programs about contemporary music on Lithuanian radio.
Since 2005 he has worked on multi-channel video installations, using his own music as soundtrack.
Nakas was awarded the Lithuanian National Arts and Culture Prize
Lithuanian National Prize
The Lithuanian National Prize , established in 1989, is an award granted for achievements in culture and the arts. It has been awarded annually in six categories since 2006...
in 2007, and has received numerous other awards for his work.
Selected compositions
- Merz-machine for virtual orchestra (1985)
- Ricercars for 7 amplified instruments (1985)
- Motet for 5 voices (1985)
- Arcanum for viola and organ (1987)
- Sarmatia for organ (1990)
- And this Tranquillity for voice, singing violinist, singing trombonist and singing pianist (1991)
- Fluctus semigallorum for actress, soprano, bass, viola and trombone (1991)
- Crypt for percussion and double-bass (1996)
- Chronon for 6 instruments (1997)
- Vilne for tenor, 4 horns, 2 pianos and percussion (1998)
- Ziqquratu-II for percussion, chamber ensemble and electronics (1999)
- Aporia for 3 chamber groups (2001)
- Drang nach Westen. A New Sermon to the Barbarians for large ensemble (2003)
- Eyes Dazzled by the North for chamber ensemble (2004)
- Nude for large orchestra (2004)
- Crown for wind orchestra (2005)
- Dreamlike Venice, a Flammable Hurricane of Love for violin, soprano, baritone, 2 actors and chamber orchestra (2006)
- Reliquary for voice, electric zither and oboe (2008)
- Icon of Fire for chamber ensemble (2008)
- Resistance for large orchestra (2009)
Multimedia works
- At Heaven's Door performance (2000)
- Falling Portraits, Broken Hearts, Eternal Victims performance (2002)
- Sanguis Is Blood performance (2003)
- I Was Shot performance (2003)
- Painting on Sky installation (2005)
- Aporia 3-channel video and music installation (2006)
- The Gospel According to Blacksmith Ignotas 7-channel video and music installation (2007)
- 100 hi-STORIES: The National Museum of Musical Legends multimedia installation with series of short movies (2008-ongoing)
- Čiurlionis as Composer: Soundscapes educational multimedia installation (2009)