Listening with your eyes shut

Vidas Pinkevicius (1949-2012) "Pieta", 1992.

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Is it possible with the help of the mysterious sounds of the pipe organ to create a musical story on the sufferings of Mary, mother of Christ, under the cross?

This Saturday, February 20 at 6 pm at Vilnius University St. John's church for the first time in Lithuania I will improvise an organ recital "STABAT MATER".

The basis of the concert will consist of musical poem being created on the spot after the themes and text of the Gregorian chant "Stabat Mater".

The lovers of organ music with the help of colorful meditations will be exposed to the musical story which will reveal the poetic world of suffering suitable for Lent.

The largest pipe organ at Vilnius University St. John's church allows me to create real musical canvases during which the listeners can see the scenes in their imagination.

Some of my listeners like to listen to my improvisations with their eyes shut - this way they sort of disconnect from the environment in which the music is being created.

But even with the eyes open, the special lighting of the organ can reveal their carving ornaments which becomes part of the experience keeping in mind that the pews in this church can be turned both sides - to the altar or to the organ.

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​Ausra's Harmony Exercise:

"Thanks very much for adding your harmony lessons to Vidas' organ coachings. I had hoped to start more focused harmony learning this month, but February is now more than half past. But with today's third review of this lesson, I finally get it. In addition it came to me that this is a method for changing from closed voicing to open voicing. Thanks again!" (Leon)

Thanks Leon for taking action and trying out these exercises. I'm not saying it's easy to play a chord progression in 4 parts but over time this skill becomes one of the most important assets an organist can have. Over the next few days look forward for Vidas' story of how he recently experienced the need for harmony in one of the events at Vilnius University and how he literally saved the day because of that.

Do you have a question about harmony for Ausra? You can reach her by email.

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