Samba Lacrimarum by Faustas Latėnas

Faustas Latėnas is known, first of all, as a composer for theatre and film. His close and sustained relationship with the theatrical world may account for the presence of the pervasive spirit of drama in many of his non-theatrical works, as well as for a special penchant to put up different 'masks', 'under the guise of which he can astonish, shock, or simply entertain his audience' (Živilė Pipinytė).

Thus 'theatricality' and communication seem to be main keywords describing Faustas Latėnas’ concert music. In many of his works, vivid musical images serve as a backdrop to a musical drama, in which themes, timbres and striking rhythms act as invisible characters, engaging listeners into the plot of an illusory sound world. Frequent references to various musical genres, catchy tunes and evocative timbre effects raise well-nigh palpable associations and stimulate visual imagination.

A formal approach to music is antithetical to Faustas Latėnas’ style; he relies more on emotional impulses and recognisable musical elements that come from his diverse musical experience. Novelty does not altogether seem to be his musical objective, even though his music does sound contemporary – as one written by the composer who tries to escape the fatigue of destructive cacophony by minimising his musical vocabulary. 'My direction is towards general reduction – a kind of return to dyads, to triads, to thirds', says Latėnas. 'For the music to be internally suggestive it is not necessary to put together as many notes as one can, and these utterances must not be verbose and intricate. Everything can be put in simple and familiar terms – in three notes, in simple harmonies'.

Laima Slepkovaitė

A niche label, covering the diversity of Lithuanian art music, ranging from extreme experiments to contemporary classical innovations and practices.

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