Chordos Quartet
The birth of the string quartet CHORDOS in 1997 was given a warm reception in Lithuania - the first concert of the quartet became its birthday. Over the last four years of its existence, the quartet has matured and developed its own artistic style.
The quartet performs music of different styles and even genres. Its members pay special attention to the authenticity of interpretation. CHORDOS is one of the first quartets to play older music and its interpretations are based on the research of specialists in this sphere. In the concerts of the quartet we can hear new attitude toward the performance of music of the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, as well as Baroque and Classicism. In the repertoire of the quartet we find new music by Lithuanian composers (a few works were written especially for the ensemble), rarely performed works by contemporary foreign composers. Although the interpretation of each work is characterized by the sensitivity and ideas of the composer, at the same time the is the mastership of a young ensemble, delighting its listeners, and upholding the beautiful tradition of quartet music. Jonas Vilimas
CHORDOS quartet actively giving concerts in Lithuania and taking part in other events and projects. It has participated almost in all the main music festivals in Lithuania - Gaida (Note), Vilnius Festival, Jauna muzika (Young Music), Kopa (Dune), Marių klavyrai (Claviers of the Sea) and others. Chordos recorded several works by Lithuanian contemporary composers for the Lithuanian Radio. Some recordings are released on a CD Lithuanian New Music Year. In 2000 with great success CHORDOS Quartet participated in the Buckower Begegnungen and Ückermärkische Musikwochen festivals in Germany.
The quartet took part in various projects with the choirs Jauna muzika and Brevis, as well as with the leading Lithuanian rock musicians e.g., Andrius Mamontovas and the group Lemon Joy. The concert partners of the ensemble have been the leading Lithuanian musicians: pianists Ž. Karkauskaitė and S. Okruško, saxophonist D. Praspaliauskas and oboist J. Rimas, singers G. Skerytė, J. Leitaitė, A. Rubežius and E. Montvidas-Prudkauskas, etc.
Members of the Quartet:
Dainius Puodžiukas (1st violin)
Ieva Sipaitytė (2nd violin)
Graduated from the Lithuanian Academy of Music in 1987 where she studied violin under Prof. J.Dvarionas. Already during her student years she gave a number of solo recitals in the Grand Hall of the Academy and took part in the Violinists competition in Riga (Latvia). After graduation she was the first violin of the Joint String Quartet. With the ensemble she participated in 1992 in the international Karl Klingler String Quartet Competition in Munich (Germany).
Since 1989 she has been an artist with the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, playing in the group of first violinists.
In 1999 Ieva Sipaitytė became the vice concertmaster of the orchestra.
Robertas Bliškevičius (viola)
Graduated from the Lithuanian Academy of Music in 1991 where he studied with Prof. A.Pšibilskienė. After graduation from the Academy, he continued his postgraduate studies in the field of chamber music with Prof. D.Katkus.While a student he gave a number of solo recitals, took part in the festival of young performers, Atžalynas. In 1987 he participated in the Soviet Union Violists Competition in Lvov (Ukraine) and Kishinev (Moldova).
After a few years he became one of the founders of the Vilnius Chamber Orchestra. With this ensemble he has given many concerts all across Lithuania, also playing as a soloist. Apart from that, he has participated in various projects and recorded a number of new compositions by young Lithuanian composers. Mr. Bliškevičius has also written articles about the understanding and interpretation of early music.
Since 1989 Mr. Robertas Bliškevičius has been with the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra.
Currently Robertas Bliškevičius is the artistic leader of the revived Lithuanian contemporary music festival Muzikos ruduo focusing on Lithuanian regions and programme manager of the event management agency Domus Artis. He teaches viola and quartet at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre and presents his own weekly radio programme Meetings in the Studio (Susitikimai studijoje) for the Lithuanian radio programme Klasika. He helps to organise music projects and participates as a performer in the old music festival Banchetto Musicale, the festival Nepaklusniųjų žemė and chamber ensemble Nepaklusnieji. He is a member of several other chamber ensembles.
Rūta Tamutytė (cello)
FOREIGN COMPOSERS
Thomas Amann "
...deine Welt ist ein Atemschöpfen eine Flocke Zeit dein stillstes Wort" for string quartet (2004)
Grarzyna Bacewicz
String quartet No. 7 (1965)
Jan Bach
Quintet for tuba and string quartet (1978)
Johan Sebastian Bach
"Kunst der Fuge" for string quartet BWV 1080
Bela Bartók
String quartet No. 1, Sz 40
String quartet No. 3, Sz 85
Herbert Baumann
Memento" for guitar and string quartet
Ludwig van Beethoven
String quartet op. 18, Nr. 1
String quartet op. 74
String quartet op. 95
Olav Berg
Quintet for clarinet and string quartet (1999)
Luigi Boccherini
Quintet for 2 violins, viola, violoncello and double bass in C
Aleksandr Borodin
String quartet No. 2
Gavin Bryars
String quartet No. 1 “Between the National and the Bristol” (1985)
Ernest Chausson
Concerto for violin, piano and string quartet op. 21
Frederic Chopin
Concerto for piano and string quartet op.21
Lyell Cresswell
"And every sparkle shivering" for piano and string quartet (1999)
George Crumb
"Black Angels (Images I)" for electric string quartet (1970)
Henri Dutilleux
"Ainsi la nuit" for string quartet (1976 - 77)
Dietrich Eichmann
"Flight for Liudas" for string quartet and improvising saxophone (2003)
Morton Feldman
For clarinet and string quartet (1983)
Graham Fitkin
"A small quartet" (1993)
"Servant" for string quartet (1994)
"Another small quartet" (1996) Jean Francaix "Divertimento" for basson and string quintet Edwin Geist "Der seltsame Abend" for sopran and string quartet
Edward Grieg
String Quartet op.27
String Quartet EG 117
Peter Hansen
„Nephin“ for 3 violins, 2 violas and 2 violoncellos (1994)
Peter Hatch
"Il Cimento dell`armonia e dell`inventione" for 2 string quartets
Joseph Haydn
String quartets op. 2 No. 1 - 6
String quartet op. 9 No. 2
String quartet op. 17 No. 5
String quartet op. 20 No. 4
String quartet op. 42
String quartet op. 77. No. 1
Paul Hindemith
"Melancholie" for sopran and string quartet (1917 - 19)
"Minimax" Repertorium für Militärmusik for string quartet (1924)
Alan Hovhaness
Piano quintet op. 9
Viera Janarcekova
String quartet No. 7 (2007)
Eero Kesti
"The Nights of Queensland" for string quartet (2001)
"Schiarazula - Marazula" for string quartet (2002)
György Ligeti
String quartet No. 1 "Metamorphoses nocturnes" (1953-54)
Magnus Lindberg
"…de Tartuffe, je crois" for piano and string quartet (1981) James MacMillan "Tuireadh" Quintet for clarinet and string quartet (1991)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Divertimenti for string quartet KV 136 - 138
Quartet for flute, violin, viola and violoncello KV 285
String quartet KV 387
String quartet KV 421
String quartet KV 575
Quintet KV 581 for clarinet and string quartet
Quintet KV 617 for glasharmonica and string quartet
Pawel Mykietyn
String Quartet No. 2 (2006)
Frank Nordensten
Quintet for clarinet and string quartet (2005)
Michael Nyman
String quartet No. 2 (1988)
Astor Piazolla
„Four for Tango“
Olga Rajeva
"Empfindung" for string quartet (2004)
Maurice Ravel
String quartet in F
Steve Reich
"Different Trains" for string quartet and tape (1988)
Carl Reinecke
Piano quartet op. 34
Franz Schubert
String quartet op. 161
String quartet D 804 "Rosamunda"
"Salve Regina" for soprano and string quartet
Ervin Schulhoff "
5 Pieces" for string quartet (1923)
Hannes Galette Seidl
„Angst, und der Versuch sie zu verdrängen (großes Solo)" for string quartet (2004)
Jan Sibelius
String quartet "Voces intimaes" op. 56
Carl Stamitz
Quartet for basoon, violin, viola and violoncello in F
Sir Charles Villiers Stanford
Fantasy for clarinet and string quartet
Dmitri Shostakovich
String quartet No.7 op. 108
Karol Szymanowski
String quartet No.2 op. 56
Viktor Ulmann
"Lieder der Tröstung" for soprano and string trio
Roger Vigulf
"Essayez apprecièr le jour" for clarinet and sgtring quartet (2000)
"... a tear is falling from my face" for flute, clarinet and string trio (2007)
Kevin Volans
String quartet Nr. 2 "Hunting: Gathering"
Anton Webern
"Langsamer Satz" for string quartet (1905)
String quartet op. 28
Hugo Wolf
Italian serenade for string quartet (1892)
Long Zhou
"8 chinese folk songs" for string quartet
John Zorn
"Cat o`nine tiles" for string quartet (1999)
LITHUANIAN COMPOSERS
Feliksas Bajoras
"Suokos" for string quartet (1998)
Rasa Bartkevičiūtė
String quartet Nr. 5 „The World“ (2001)
Vidmantas Bartulis
String quartet No. 2 "O, Dahrling" (1993)
"Beads for Maria" for choir and string quartet (2001)
Artūras Bumšteinas
"Heap of Language" for cello, string quartet and tape (2009)
"Five songs" (2009)
Diana Čemerytė
"Lamentation" for string quartet (2003)
Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis
String quartet in c Theme and variations VL 80
Fugues VL 80, 82
Canons VL 216a, 217a
Preludes VL 315, 318, 341 (arr. R.Zubovas)
Music for Pentecost (arr. R.Zubovas)
Justė Janulytė
"Breathing Music" for string quartet, tape, live electronic - air installation (2007)
Antanas Jasenka
"Out of Čiurlionis" for string quartet and live electronics (2007)
Laima Jedenkutė
"Jellyfish" for string quartet (2003)
Vytautas V.Jurgutis
"Elipses" for string quartet (2003
Ričardas Kabelis
"The Mirror" for 3 trombons and string quartet (2004)
Algimantas Kubiliūnas
Music for trompet and 2 string quartets (2007)
Giedrius Kuprevičius
"8 lithuanian folk songs" for string quartet (1969)
Bronius Kutavičius
String quartet No. 2 "Anno cum tettigonia" for string quartet and tape (1980)
Faustas Latėnas
String quartet No. 2 "In Lowing Memory..." (1986)
Laurynas Vakaris Lopas
"Two monograms" for string quartet (2001)
Jurgis Mačiūnas
"In Memoriam to Adriano Olivetti" for cello and string quartet (2001)
Teisutis Makačinas
Concert scherzo for string quartet (version 2005)
“Reflection” for string quartet (1999)
Arvydas Malcys
String quartet Nr. 2 "Four reflections" (1995)
"Saxchord" concerto for saxophone and string quartet (2007)
„Clarichord“ for clarinet and string quartet
Algirdas Martinaitis
String quartet "Dead and the Maiden" (1997)
"The Abduction of Europe from Lithuania" for string quartet (2000)
"Bienenmensch" for 5 folk singers, string quartet and tape (2003)
Rytis Mažulis
Canon mensurabilis" for flute, clarinet, violin, viola, violoncello and piano (2000)
"Sans pause" for string quartet (2001)
“Ajapajapam” for 12 soloists, string quartet and tape (2002)
Egidija Medekšaitė
"Panchami" for string quartet and tape (2006)
Remigijus Merkelys
"Gemma" for saxophone (or clarinet) and string quartet (1999)
“Aquarium” for piano and string quartet (2001)
"Evacuation" for trombone, saxophone, accordeon and string quartet (2004)
Sigitas Mickis
"2 x 2" for string quartet (2004)
Liudas Mockūnas
"Tango" for saxophon and string quartet
"Drops" for saxophon and string quartet
"Stress" for saxophon and string quartet
"Social" for saxophon and string quartet
Ramūnas Motiekaitis
"Light on light" for trombone and string quartet (2004)
Jonas Nabažas
String quartet No. 1 (1932)
Šarūnas Nakas
"Also sprach Balakauskas" for string quartet and tape (2007)
Onutė Narbutaitė
String quartet No. 2 "Open the gate of oblivion" (1980)
String quartet No. 3 “The Drawing for string quartet and returning winter” (1991)
“Melody in the Garden of Olives" for trumpet and 2 string quartets (2000)
String quartet No. 4 "Drappeggio" (2004)
Loreta Narvilaitė
„The Wall“ for string quartet (2000)
„Visby – Bike“ for clarinet, piano, violin, viola and cello (2002)
Arūnas Navakas
„Service book“ for string quartet (2004)
Albertas Navickas
"Habla con migo" for reed and string quartet (2004)
Gintaras Sodeika
“Jujukalimba” for piano and string quartet (2001)
Vaida Striaupaitė - Beinarienė
Canto de capricco" for violin, oboe, string quartet and percussions (2008)
Anatolijus Šenderovas
String quartet No. 1 (1976)
"Four poems by Sigitas Geda" for sopran and string quartet (1978)
String quartet No. 2 with harpsichord and chimes (1986)
"Exodus" for trombone, saxophone, accordeone, string quartet and perussion (2004)
"David`s Songs" for cello and string quartet (2006)
"Cherchez la femme..." for string quartet (2007)
"Der tiefe Brunnen" for soprano, flute, string quartet, piano and percussion (version 2007)
Raminta Šerkšnytė
"Oriental elegy" for string quartet (2003)
Jonas Tamulionis
"Games" for quitar and string quartet (2006)
Nomeda Valančiūtė
"Fragment from the Hospital Park" for singing string quartet (1998)
"Love Border Effect" for string quartet (2004)
Rūta Vitkauskaitė
"Gale" for string quartet (2004)
Concert at the Lithaunian National Philharmonic Hall, April 11, 2010
Grotesque in Music
PAUL HINDEMITH
Suite Minimax (Repertoire for Military Orchestra 'Minimax'), parody for string quartetJOHN ZORN
Cat o'nine tiles for string quartetTEISUTIS MAKAČINAS
Scherzo Concertante for string quartet
Concert in the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Hall, 2007 05 16
Algirdas Martinaitis Eros/Thanatos for flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello and piano four hands (2006)
Osvaldas Balakauskas Combo Zed for flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello and piano (two pianists) (2006)
Linas Rimsa A Bit of Gold, a Bit of Rain for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano and percussion (1998)
Arvydas Malcys Divertimento Land of the Disobedient for flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello and piano (2001)
Roger Arve Vigulf 7 Disobedient Birds for flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello and piano (2006)
THE DISOBEDIENT ENSEMBLE: Roger Arve Vigulf (clarinet, Norway), Andrius Radziukynas (flute), Ieva Sipaityte (Violin), Robertas Bliskevicius (viola), Mindaugas Backus (cello), Sonata Deveikyte-Zuboviene (piano), Rokas Zubovas (piano)
"These musicians don’t seek to display any spectacular virtuosity (though both are masters of their instruments), but strive for a deep connection between content and mood, for inner inpiration, and for a true and warm conversation."
Jūratė Vyliūtė. 7 meno dienos, 1996
"Inner quality of these performers naturally impresses audience. They are really good musicians. We can be luck that we have such performers who can play in the best European concerts halls."
Vytautas Barkauskas. 7 meno dienos, 1998
"Hier stimmt alles. Nicht nur die bekannt angenehme Naturkulisse, die Halbdunkel schattenspendender Bäume für ein besinnliches Stimmungsbild sorgte. Auch die Programmgestaltung, die neben Dvořák und Brahms auch einer Uraufführung galt: einem Stück vom litauischen Komponisten Remigijus Šileika, das auch durch die meisterhafte Beherrschung der Instrumente durch die Künstler zum Erlebnis wurde."
Märkische Oderzeitung, Buckow, 1996
