Bajoras Feliksas, *7 October 1934 Olita, Lithuanian composer. He began studying music in Kaunas under Vincas Bacevičius (father of G. Bacewicz). He graduated from the Lithuanian Conservatory in Vilnius, where he studied violin with A. Livontas (diploma in 1957) and composition with J. Juzeliūnas (diploma in 1963). In 1957–58, he worked as a violinist in the philharmonic orchestra, and in 1958–63 in the radio and television orchestra in Vilnius.
From 1965 to 1984, he was the musical director at the Youth Theatre in Vilnius. From 1984 to 1988, he lived in the United States. From 1990 to 1993, he was the musical director at the Lithuanian Drama Theatre in Vilnius. Since 1992, he has been teaching composition at the Vilnius Academy of Music. He is the winner of several prestigious Lithuanian music awards, including the National Award (1981), the B. Dvarionas Award (1989) and the J. Švedas Award (1990). Bajoras’ works have been performed at many music festivals, including in Lithuania, Poland, Finland, Germany, the United States and Japan.
Bajoras’ work is a synthesis of 20th-century compositional technique and Lithuanian folk song; however, the national character of Bajoras’ music does not mean reconstruction or stylisation. Folk song became the basis for Bajoras’ individual style. His instrumental works do not contain literal quotations from folk music, from which the composer borrowed its idiom: intonations, scale arrangements, type of expression, as well as ideas of “world perception”. Bajoras’ work covers various musical genres: from lapidary songs and instrumental miniatures, through works for various instrumental ensembles and symphonic works, to opera and oratorio. In the 1990s, the idea of the sacred became central to Bajoras’ music, alongside the idea of folk music.
Literature: M. Janicka-Słysz “Muzyka dla Sandomierza” Feliksasa Bajorasa…, in: W kręgu muzyki litewskiej, collective work, ed. K. Droba, Krakow 1997.
Instrumental:
orchestral:
Symphony No. 1 1964, 2nd version 1970
Symphony No. 2 “Stalaktitai” (“Stalactites”) for string orchestra, 1970
Symphony No. 3 1972, 2nd version 1976, 3rd version 1978
Legends, symphonic poem, 1962, 2nd version 1965, 3rd version 1969
Rondo 1976, 2nd version 1977
Diptych 1984, 2nd version 1993
Exodus I 1995
Exodus II 1996, performed in Krakow 1996
for string orchestra:
Veiksmažodžių siuita (“Suite of Verbs”) 1966
Intermezzo 1966
Prelude and toccata 1967
Ballade 1968
Postlude 1970
chamber:
Music for Seven, suite for classical and folk instruments, 1975
Variations for double bass and string quartet, 1968
Four Sketches for string quartet, 1968
Vilnius Quartet – diptych, 1975
Trio for oboe, violin and organ, 1961
for violin and piano:
Sonatina 1960
15 works 1973
Prabėgę metai (“Years Gone By”), sonata, 1979
Laukimas (“Waiting”) – Muzyka dla Sandomierza 1989, performed in Sandomierz 1989
Pulvis Fiat for double bass and percussion, 1997
works for solo instruments, including:
Piano Variations No. 2, 1970, No. 3, 1975
14 piano works, 1975
Oboe Elegy, 1974
Alias for accordion, 1980
Vocal and vocal-instrumental:
Paslaptis (“The Secret”), 2 sacred songs for mixed a cappella choir, text by J. Gutauskas, 1984
numerous songs for voice and piano, including:
Diptych, text by S. Geda, 1968
Sakmių siuita (“Suite of Tales”), folk text, 1969
Žvangučiai (“The Bells”), text by R. Skučaite, 1977
Karnavalas (“Carnival”), text by M. Vainilaitis, 1977
Saulutė nusileido (“The Sun Has Set”), folk text, 1986
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Amžinoji ugnis (“Eternal Fire”), poem for soprano and violin, text by R. Skučaite, 1977
Vestuvinės dainos (“Wedding Songs”), 5 folk songs for voice and folk instruments, 1977
Triptych for voice, flute, violin, cello and piano, text by M. Martinaitis, 1981, 2nd version for voice and piano 1982, performed in Lusławice 1983
Dzūkų dainos “Songs of the Dzūkai”), cycle of folk songs for voice, flute, oboe, cello and piano or harpsichord: 1. Darbo dainos (“Work Songs”) 1983, 2. Meilės dainos (“Love Songs”) 1984, 2nd version 1996, 3. Kalendorinės dainos (“Calendar Songs”), 1981
Missa in musica for voice, trombone, double bass and piano, 1993, 2nd version 1996
Three Sonnets for voice and organ, text by R. Dambrauskaitė, 1993, 2nd version 1994, 3rd version 1995
Žodžiai ir Magija (“Words and Magic”) for voice and trombone, text by Dainius, 1995, performed in Wrocław 1995
Karo dainos (“War Songs”) for voice and string orchestra, folk text, 1978
Ženklas (“The Sign”) for soprano, percussion and string orchestra, text by M. Tomonis, 1996
numerous choral songs, including: Rytas (“Morning”) for mixed choir and folk instruments, folk text, 1979
Mass Hymns for mixed choir and organ, 1988
Varpo kėlimas (“Raising the Bell”), oratorio for soprano, mezzosoprano, tenor, bass, mixed choir and orchestra, text by J. Strielkūnas, 1980
Dievo avinėlis (“Lamb of God”), opera, libretto by. R. Šavelis with poetry by M. Martinaitis and S. Geda, 1982
theatre and film music
