Čiurlionis: slowed and reveb
for ensemble and wide space
2024

Since around 2017, an increasing number of well-known music tracks have appeared online in "slowed and reverb" versions. These are popular compositions or songs that have been slowed down, with added reverb echo effects, and uploaded to music and video platforms. Slowing down a track alters its tonality, lowering the pitch. In pop culture, songs are often modulated upwards to create a brighter feel, but in these slowed and reverb versions, the opposite effect occurs—the music becomes deeper and quieter, with sounds flowing as if through a fog.

A sub-genre of this approach involves dramatically extending the duration of a composition, giving the impression that it dissolves in time. Examples include Brian Eno's iconic Windows 95 startup sound, originally seven seconds long, stretched to six minutes, or Erik Satie's Vexations theme, which typically lasts around four minutes but has been elongated to an hour in such treatments.

In honor of the 150th anniversary of M.K. Čiurlionis' birth, this work offers a reimagined perspective on his piano compositions, as if viewed through a microscope. The chosen piece for this recomposition is Čiurlionis' Prelude in D minor (VL 239), which has been extensively stretched and re-instrumented by the musicians of the Synaesthesis ensemble.


Concept by Simonas Kaupinis
Composer - Dominykas Digimas

Arminas Bižys - tenor saxophone
Artūras Kažimėkas - clarinets
Simonas Kaupinis - tuba
Marta Finkelštein - piano
Monika Kiknadze - viola
Arnas Kmieliauskas - cello

Premiere - 15 05 2024 Vilnius Church of the Saviour (Jonity), Vilnius
The work was written and performed for the first time during the LRT Klasika Residency.

Recorded by LRT Klasika

Listen here:

Excerpts from rehearsal

In honor of M.K. Čiurlionis' 150th anniversary, Čiurlionis. Slowed and Reverb was composed by Dominykas Digimas, concept by Simonas Kaupinis, the tuba player of the contemporary music ensemble Synaesthesis. Drawing inspiration from the "slowed and reverb" trend, where music is slowed and infused with echo effects, the piece transforms Čiurlionis' Prelude in D minor (VL 239) into an extended, immersive experience. The result is a deeper, meditative reinterpretation that invites listeners to explore the music as if through a sonic fog.

This performance was part of Synaesthesis' participation in the LRT Klasika residency and was presented to European national broadcasters visiting Lithuania. The concert showcased the ensemble’s innovative approach and highlighted the seamless collaboration between Lithuanian radio and television teams, leaving a strong impression on the international audience.

Rasa Murauskaitė-Juškienė, LRT Klasika Senior Editor:
"I’m thrilled that, as we approach Čiurlionis' 150th birthday, we’re witnessing such a variety of reinterpretations of his work. I’m equally delighted that we had the opportunity to present both Čiurlionis and Dominykas Digimas, who reworked his music, along with one of today’s most prominent contemporary ensembles, Synaesthesis, to European national broadcasters visiting Lithuania. They were deeply impressed by the smooth and friendly cooperation between our radio and television teams during the concert."

Dominykas Digimas, composer:
"The dome of St. John's Church is a unique acoustic space. Here, sound lingers for nearly 7 seconds and lowers just slightly as it fades. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better setting for the harmonies of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis to unfold. Chord by chord, the space fills completely, making you feel enveloped in sound. In recomposing this prelude, I discovered harmonies and shifts in color that felt deeply personal to me, moments that in the original pass too quickly. In writing this piece, I aim to emphasize the importance of each chord—its every shade—creating a sense of space and natural flow."

Simonas Kaupinis, tuba player and creator of the concept:
"It’s one of those rare concerts where you find yourself immersed in a state that you don’t want to leave. That evening, and the next day, I kept replaying the concert recording in my headphones, watching the world around me in slow motion, immersed in Čiurlionis' metaphysical universe."

Arminas Bižys, saxophonist:
"There’s something very familiar yet new and vital about it. The slowly shifting material draws you into a meditative state, and once the performance is over, you find yourself wanting to experience it again."