Research Catalogue

activities

• Doctor of Arts (2011-2015) connected to: Polifonia
  Degree: Doctorate, Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (Lithuania), recipient: Jurgis Juozapaitis
  
• Development of Viola Art in Lithuania: School Formation and Possibilities for Interpretation in Works for Viola by Lithuanian Composers
  Polifonia project, Principal Investigator: Jurgis Juozapaitis
  Through the discussion of the development of viola art in Lithuania, this research project seeks to reveal the circumstances in which the Lithuanian viola school was built and its prospects as well as to outline the possibilities for interpretation in the works for viola by Lithuanian composers. The analysed period which spans from the second half of the 20th century to the start of the 21st century confirmed the assumption that this was the time of formation and establishment of the Lithuanian viola school with all the features characteristic to an artistic school. The thesis reminds that the initial stage in the development of viola players in Lithuania relates to Klaipėda School of Music where students, in addition to other specialty subjects, also took viola classes in 1924–1930. The year 1949 marks the beginning of the Lithuanian viola school when the viola class was set up at the Lithuanian State Conservatory. Based on the fundamental characteristics of a “school” concept defined by musicologist Algirdas Ambrazas, the paper reveals the possibility for the existence of the instrumental (viola) school. The family tree of Lithuanian viola teachers and their students helps look into and supports the totality of characteristics of a “school”. This suggests that the Lithuanian viola school has matured since 1949 which is a testament to its independent existence. The paper identifies the most accomplished viola teachers (E. Satkevičius, J. Fledžinskas, P. Radzevičius), highlights the crucial role of Jurgis Fledžinskas, the founder of the viola school, and provides an assessment of the first viola teaching school system in Lithuania created by him and currently successfully continued and developed by the LAMT. The paper describes the impact of viola interpreters (J. Fledžinskas, D. Katkus, A. Pšibilskienė, R. Romoslauskas) which triggered the creation of works for viola, expansion and dissemination of their repertoire. A systemised genre-based catalogue of works for viola by Lithuanian composers divided into four chapters (works for solo viola, for viola and piano, viola and orchestra, chamber compositions involving the viola) made it possible to select the most outstanding works for research and evaluation. The key selection criterion was the artistic value of works. To fill the gap in the knowledge of Lithuanian viola music, the most valuable works for viola are prepared for concert performance, which makes it possible to place the works for viola by Lithuanian composers within the Lithuanian context of string instruments in the second half of the 20th century and early 21st century as well as show the growth in the repertoire of viola compositions and their artistic value.