THE PROGRAMStasys VAINIUNAS (1909-1982)Trio for violin, cello and piano (1945)Music for two pianos and string quartet (1982)

World-renowned pianist, Vytautas the Great University professor Alexander Paley presents a program of chamber works by one of the most famous Lithuanian composers, representative of Lithuanian modernism, Stasios Vainiūnas (1909-1982).
The personality of Stasios Vainiūnas is particularly interesting in that he was both a talented performer and a great composer. He often played his compositions, was their first performer. Vainiūnas created the first piano quintet in Lithuanian music. His features as a performer are very noticeable in his work.
The most important instrument of Vainiūnas' creative laboratory is the piano, and the major part of his work consists of instrumental works. The composer created about 30 compositions for solo piano, 14 orchestral compositions (with and without piano), 6 works for chamber ensembles of various composition, about 40 solo and choral songs.
During the occupation, Vainiūnas was accused of "formalism", he had to create under conditions of ideological oppression. According to the composer's daughter, pianist Birutė Vainiūnaitė, "Vainiūnas passed this exam honorably, he did not write any cantatas for Stalin. Now it is hard to imagine those times - today's youth cannot even comprehend it." In his subsequent work, the composer consistently sought - as far as the era allowed - the individuality of style, he regarded modernism as the path of musical progress and the source of his creativity.