in the forest is a glance at the history of Lithuania over the last century from the perspective of the archetypal forest covering a large part of the country’s territory. Willingly, and sometimes perhaps superficially, romanticized, the forest is extremely multifaceted from both ecological and historical point of view. Therefore, its image in historical (sub)consciousness conceals a series of visions, three of which served as the starting points for this work. Firstly, there is symphonic poemIn the Forest by M. K. Čiurlionis, which embedded the Dzūkija forest fantasy in our imagination. Meanwhile, the forest in post-war Dzūkija where thousands of resistance fighters died presents a completely different image. And finally, there is the forest of the present day, the survival and biodiversity of which pose a concern not only for ecologists, but also for public organizations and communities. What does this transformation of the identity of the Lithuanian forest from a “nature’s home” to a register of (un)protected areas testify?
in the forest is an oratorio for eight voices and spatial electronics, dedicated to the 150th birth anniversary of M. K. Čiurlionis.
“in the forest” chronologically moves through several historical moments, the images of which were evoked in me by the “forest” concept. These moments are both universal and very personal. Among them are the works of M. K. Čiurlionis, a kind of a riddle in early 20th-century Lithuania, way ahead of their time; also, my grandmother’s stories about her family’s fate in the forests of Varėna after the war and later in Siberia; and the efforts of the Pauliškiai village community to preserve a forest that was deemed “unworthy of protection”. While I was reading Čiurlionis’ letters to his wife Sofija, post-war partisan poems (including Salomėja Nėris’ verses, which were regarded as “folklore”), research by Lithuanian historians on women’s participation in the resistance, Jonas Mekas’ chronicles about the beginning of his emigration, and recording the memories of my family members, I realised that I am bearing witness to the history of Lithuanian identity. “in the forest” is, without a doubt, my most Lithuanian work.
Composer Albertas Navickas
My objective is spatial transformation: by manipulating spatial electronics and live vocals, using them as a dramatic or even psychedelic tool, I aim to bring listeners closer to a ritualistic, immersive experience.
Creator of spatial electronics Edvinas Siliūnas
Albertas [Navickas] has proven time and again just how talented he is at writing for the voice, and his In the Forest has become almost a vocal symphony, whose natural soundscape is expanded by the electronic music created by Edvinas Siliūnas. The complex, rich vocal texture, at times seeming to drift in from sonoristic fantasies, truly embraces the listener like a real Lithuanian forest. This is a work in which beauty and modernity, romanticism and structural thinking skilfully intertwine.
Rasa Murauskaitė-Juškienė, 7 meno dienos
In the Forest by Navickas contributes not only to the Čiurlionis tradition but also to the identity of us all. The oratorio transforms the sonic space from the romantic (with allusions to symphonic poem by Čiurlionis) to the contemporary, ritually embedding the most sensitive words, rippling through multiple voices, as the vocalisation of history and giving meaning to every experience.
Aušra Strazdaitė-Ziberkienė, 7 meno dienos
In the Forest by Navickas and Siliūnas leads the listener through all three <…> modes of experience: comprehending the text, listening to the musical composition, and constructing mental images from the sounds. What makes this oratorio so interesting is that it combines different modes of perception, guiding the listener through a variety of reflections – from an emotionally intense simulation of experience to simple admiration of the birds of the forest. <…> Distinct individual parts capture the essence of a walk in the woods with remarkable precision: the key is not to cover the entire boundless expanse, but to notice the most beautiful vistas.
Jurgis Kubilius, muzikosantena.lt
The sonic interaction between the human voice and recordings of forest sounds, as well as the semantic parallel between humanity (culture) and nature, reveal the core of the work – an attempt to overcome the divide between humanity and nature.
Miglė Markulytė, 7 meno dienos