Conductor Domininkas Ramašauskas: I worth newbie choirs greater than skilled choirs Tradition

The third interview of the cycle is with LMTA conducting pupil Domininkas Ramašauskas. The creator of the interview sequence, musicologist Lukrecija Stonkutė, speaks.

– For what causes did you select choral conducting research on the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater?

– Love, dedication, enthusiasm and the will to steer influenced the choice to decide on choral conducting research. Once I was 4 and a half years previous, my dad and mom introduced me to the Kaunas boys’ choral singing college “Varpelis”, which turned my second residence. She developed a love not just for music, but additionally for numerous fields of artwork.

The concept saved spinning in my head: on the Babtų Gymnasium, I initiated the creation of movies for historical past competitions, I performed the organ on the Babtų St. within the parish church of Peter and Paul the Apostles, I wrote poems for particular individuals to me, I attended a portray studio. I’m extraordinarily grateful to the artist Aleksandra Mitrikaita, who taught me a brilliant reminiscence, planted in my coronary heart a honest love for the world and God, which I need to categorical to others as a choir conductor.

– Why is the specialty of a choir conductor vital at the moment?

– The occupation is designed to handle, arrange, and train others. Conductors who’ve discovered politics and a little bit of oratory would have the ability to run a state very properly. After all, with out choir conductors, there can be no performers of fantastic choral music.

Private archive photograph/Dominikas Ramašauskas

– What position does the choir conductor play not solely within the Lithuanian choir group, but additionally within the common society? Does the choir conductor affect the formation of the latter?

– An actual artist, on this case the conductor, is the guardian of the nation, defending its tradition and customs. One usually hears questions and phrases: “who’s the conductor for?”, “he simply stands and waves”. I’ll object, as a result of a choir conductor isn’t just an individual who stands in entrance of the choir and scares away flies.

Quite the opposite, he’s a partisan, a dissident, a common, however he doesn’t combat with an axe, spear or gladium, however with phrases and the sounds of music. Music softens individuals’s hearts, promotes empathy, and the inventive ambitions and ideas of a choir conductor conveyed via music may cause revolutions.

– Who’s your best inspiration within the artwork of conducting a choir? Academics, choirs, or possibly composers of choral music, their works?

– I’ve sufficient sources of inspiration: lecturers, historic figures, actions. Maybe crucial are two giants of Lithuanian music artwork – Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis and Juozas Naujalis. Additionally the lecturers of Kaunas boys’ choral singing college “Varpelis”: Renata Mišeikienė, Ksaveras Plančiūnas, Reda Dapšauskienė, Aurimas Petravičius – apparently there aren’t any pedagogues extra devoted to younger individuals. Additionally, fairly lately, my trainer Professor Povilas Gylys turned one of many authorities.

– The Union of Lithuanian Choirs included you within the motivational program for college students majoring in choir conducting, providing you with the chance to enhance your expertise as a choirmaster, achieve data and observe whereas working with the Lithuanian Ministry of Agriculture’s blended choir “Dobilas” (conductor Ignas Garla). Share your impressions, joys, challenges whereas making ready an newbie group.

– On the very first rehearsal, I used to be greeted by heat, type faces and souls inviting me to sing. Whereas working on this choir, I noticed that working with an newbie group and the educational course of is a bit longer than working with professionals. Nonetheless, I used to be pleasantly shocked by the keenness of the choristers for the tune and the fellowship. On the identical time, they gave me confidence and the will to dive deeper into the world of artwork

– Many LMTA choir conducting college students dream that after graduating, they may instantly take the positions of conductors and choirmasters of the nice Lithuanian skilled choirs. Nevertheless, the fact is considerably totally different – you encounter and work with newbie choirs. Does it contain unhappiness or pleasure? Why?

– I worth newbie choirs greater than skilled choirs. Amateurs, in distinction to professionals, don’t earn a penny from choir actions – they go to the choir as if it had been a vacation. It is no secret that generally newbie teams sing even higher than skilled choirs.

– Your hometown Babtai. What are the initiatives of the newbie choirs there? Maybe you your self contribute or intend to contribute to their actions?

– There are two newbie choirs in Babtau: Babtų St. the parish choir of the apostles Peter and Paul and the ladies’s choir “Gynia”. I supplemented the Babti cultural life by taking part in the organ within the church. I haven’t got huge targets in Babtau, however I need all residents of this city to listen to as a lot skilled music as attainable. So every now and then I shall be again there with new concepts to make individuals glad.

– What do you assume it could take for younger individuals to decide on choral conducting extra confidently? How would you encourage them your self?

– Uncertainty plagues nearly all of younger individuals when selecting the sphere of their skilled life. The specialty of choral conducting raises much more questions, the most typical of that are: “will I discover a job?”, “how will I stay?”, “will there be a minimum of bread?”. The reply is straightforward – if a musician has a burning need to conduct or play music, has concepts – it is not going to be tough to “make” cash. On this case, I guarantee you, there shall be not solely bread, but additionally butter with smoked sausage. Subsequently, when selecting the specialty of choir conductor, I want you dedication and dedication.

– How would you assess the final state of affairs of choral artwork in Lithuania at the moment?

– Choral music is usually imagined as “a village choir whose members miss the notes and minimize their voices in excessive tessitura”. After all, we’ve got a various palette of singing teams in Lithuania – from pretty weak to high-quality ones that meet expectations.

– Why is it value being a choir conductor?

– Many journeys in Lithuania and overseas nations, acquaintances not solely with individuals, but additionally with different cultures.

– What do you do in your free time and what are you interested by apart from music?

– Presently, I create compositions for the choir, organ, write verses, get entangled within the political and social lifetime of the group, study Spanish, learn historic books, I’m particularly within the interwar and historic durations of Kaunas. And in my life, I observe the considered Hannibal Barkas, the Carthaginian commander of the traditional occasions: “both I’ll discover a approach, or I’ll make one.”