Luminous Tale
for singing violinist
2023

It's a fairy tale that everyone understands without words—a story that everyone has heard, and even if they haven't, they still know it. When this tale is told, all listeners feel the same emotions. As they listen, the surroundings begin to change; sometimes, it's the time of day, but most often, a calm twilight envelops the scene. Even though the sky is clear, the sun is not visible, yet there is just enough light around. The colors shift rapidly; if you close your eyes for a moment and then open them again, everything will appear different. If you think you see something in a wave, you mustn't blink, for in that brief moment, it will vanish, and you'll see something entirely new.

In the distance, mountains emerge, clouds drift, and the shapes of mountain-clouds and cloud-mountains intertwine. They change with each slide of the otter towards the cave, where the sweet aroma of chocolate cake lingers, guarded by a Tibetan dog. This dog enjoys the sound of incense sticks crackling and the passing herons but dislikes being stared at. When someone looks at him, he barks, and in that instant of blinking, the colors of the cloud-mountains shift once again. You find yourself watching, waiting for a gust of wind from the wings of an eagle to lift you into the air.

Premier: Jauna muzika festival "Švytinti pasaka"
Vilnius 2023 04 29

Performed by Lora Kmieliauskaitė

Listen:

At the end of 2022, Dominykas Digimas and Lora Kmieliauskaitė embarked on a two-week residency in the Fleinvaer archipelago, located in the northern part of Norway. During the polar winter, the artists had only a few hours of daylight to explore the island, record environmental sounds, and study the vibrant nature and rapid climatic changes around them. Inspired by the surrounding landscape, they experimented with the sounds of the violin and voice, aiming to create a wordless fairy tale through Dominykas' music.

The result of their residency is the piece "Luminous Tale," which was recorded back in Lithuania and released on Lora Kmieliauskaitė's vinyl record, "Nerti." The title stems from their performances as an experimental music duo. Using soundscapes recorded in the north along with fragments from "Luminous Tale," they crafted two improvised compositions for electric violin, voice, handmade instruments, and electronics.

Another expression of this residency culminated in a performance at the "Jauna Muzika" festival, where they merged the aesthetics of their duo's music with the visual and sonic materials gathered during their time in the north.

Watch where it was writen:

Nerti II