The opening of Unda Maris season 6

By Ausra Motuzaite-Pinkeviciene (get free updates of new posts here)

Yesterday Vilnius University organ studio "Unda Maris" met for the first time this year. It's the start of the 6th season.

We had 8 new members joining in - 5 of them were students and 2 - alumni, and one - member of the staff of the university.

The range of majors was diverse - from filology to history, from law students to future mathematicians, from chemistry department to medics.

In the beginning we introduced ourselves, then Vidas gave a brief intro about this organ. Then everyone got to play the largest pipe organ in Lithuania with their hands and feet.

Some of the students could read music, some of them couldn't. But all of them were excited.

Those who haven't played the instrument before, improvised, those who knew some piano pieces, tried to play their versions on the organ.

I explained to everyone when do we use toes in pedal playing and when - the heels.

We heard some very interesting improvisations, Vidas remarked he will steal some of their ideas in his upcoming improvisations..

At the end I took a group picture. That's why you don't see me in the above photo.

Vidas gave everyone his usual assignement - to choose 4 pitches and improvise something interesting for 10 minutes usuing any octave, any texture, any rhythm, any stop combination in the hands and pedals.

Now that Vidas and I know the abilities of our new members we will discuss some new repertoire and exercise possibilities for them next week.

It's going to be an exciting year!