Aquarelle (Justė Janulytė)
The piece is written in the style of pure repetitive minimalism, the texture based on the counterpoint of regular pulsations. The choir is split into four micro-ensembles by regulating the texture clarity-density level and interpreting the old tradition of cori spezzati. The harmony is based on the slow sequences of diatonic scales, imitating overlaps of watercolour hues without distinct beginning/end outlines. The piece does not contain verbal text, only mormorando and vowels; hence there are no sound attacks paralleled with consonants of the verbal text. The only gesture in this piece is the sound emerging and submerging into silence, as if a tip of the iceberg revealing only a small part of what the hearing cannot grasp, but may be able to imagine.
Justė Janulytė
The piece was commissioned by the Gaida festival and written for the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, conducted by Paul Hillier. In June 2009 Aquarelle won the 1st Prize (in the category of composers under 30) at the UNESCO International Composers’ Rostrum in Paris; selected for the World New Music Days 2009 in Sweden and performed by the Danish Radio’s chamber choir DR Vokalensemblet, conducted by Fredrik Malmberg, Växjö Cathedral (Växjö). The recording was released by the Lithuanian Music Information and Publishing Centre in 2008 in Zoom-in 7: New Music from Lithuania.
