main info
Vykintas Baltakas: Pasaka (1995-97) for piano and electronics
instrumentation: | pno, electronics |
year: | 1995-97 |
duration: | 8' |
text: | excerpts from Indian mythology (adapted by Baltakas) |
publisher: | UE |
realization: | ComputerStudio of InMM (Institut of new Music and Media) at Staatliche Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe |
première: | 26 Jan. 1995 |
dedication: | to Benjamin Kobler |
last revision: | 27/2/2012 |
note*: | While the first half " PASAKA" must never be changed, a second half of the title "a fairy-tale" could be added in the language of the country where the piece is performed. For ex., Pasaka / ein Märchen, Pasaka / un conte, Pasaka / a fairy-tale, etc. |
awards: | 2002: Composition Prize of the Concours International de Piano XXème siècle d’Orléans |
score
practical
Vykintas Baltakas: Pasaka (1995-97) for piano and electronics
Text:
The written text is in Lithuanian. The piece must always be performed in its original language. A recording with pronunciation is available from the publisher.
The expression of the text is deliberately notated in an approximate way, using only rhythm and some verbal expressions (ex.: 'important', 'quietly', etc). It describes only the character, but not the interpretation of the text. The pianist's way of expressing the text (pitches, dynamics, the quality of vocal production, etc.) is as free as an actor's interpretation of a script. Of course, these interpretive ideas can not contradict the musical and formal idea written in the musical score.
If at all possible, a stage director should be involved in the staging of the piece.
Program book:
To keep open the listener's imagination, it is better not to publish the whole text in the concert brochure. A short description is best.
Electronics / equipment:
- 4 loudspeakers (preferably) or reduced stereo version with 2 loudspeakers
- sound card (with at least 4 audio channels in/out)
- console / mixer (min. 4 channels)
- monitor (on stage for the pianist)
- computer with Max / Msp* application (preferably) or any sequencer.
- microphone for pianist voice**
- stereo microphone for live-piano**
*The version using Max / Msp not only allows the flexibility of playback, it also allows you to customize the volume of all tracks and each layer can be adapted easily for any concert situation.
** microphones for live-piano and pianist voice are only needed in big concert halls, in order to get the right balance in sequences such as bars 93-146 or 165- 204. If the hall is small, it would be better not to amplify the live-piano as to maintain the natural live piano sound.
There is a less flexible version which uses only two tracks:
1. 54 - 127 bars
2. 164 - end
This can be useful when the sound engineer doesn’t know the piece well enough in order to follow it or there are too few rehearsals. This version (with two tracks) can be easily performed using ProTools, Logic or any other sequencer.
However, for the best musical results the use of the Max/Msp version with five tracks is strongly recommended.
Position of the loudspeakers:

Individual edition:
The best solution is to have the pianist/performer record the voice sequence in bars 115-146.
texts
english
A person tells a story. For himself, for someone else. It’s not important. What’s important is the desire to tell the story. The necessity! Itself a fairy-tale too...
german
Man erzählt ein Märchen. Für sich, für jemand anderen... Es ist unwichtig. Wichtig ist erzählen zu wollen. Unbedingt! Das ist ein Märchen!!...oder...das ist auch ein Märchen...
french
On raconte une histoire. Pour lui, pour quelqu’un d’autre. C’est sans importance. ..Un conte.lietuviškai
Pasaka... Sau, ar kažkam kitam, nesvarbu. Svarbus pats noras pasakoti. Būtinybė pasakoti! Ir tai tampa pasaka...
reviews
Thierry Blondeau, 2001
Ensemble 2e2m, le 22 janvier 2001, Paris Auditorium St-Germain
(...) Vykintas Baltakas compose pour un/e pianiste parlant et chantant, une musique obsessionnelle et surprenante (...)
The New York Times, october 24, 2001
Paul Griffiths:
Whitman's Sampler: By 4 Innovators / Solo Flights, Clark Studio Theater
Marija Ilic is a clear and decisive musician. (...) She gave a compelling account of Pasaka by the Lithuanian composer Vykintas Baltakas, in which she had to both speak and play while also keeping in time with recorded sounds. The recorded voices seemed to come from within the instrument, to be sparked off by it, while other recorded sounds extended and embraced what the piano produced.
Wiener Zeitung, march 18, 2002
Reiner Elstner:
Konzerthaus/Hörgänge: "Lange Nacht der neuen Klänge"
(...) Die meisten Kompositionen und ihre Interpreten konnten nicht vermitteln, dass Neune Musik etwas Spannendes sein kann. Nur einzelne Leistungen hoben das Dargebotene aus der Bedeutungslosigkeit. Der Saxophonist Markus Holzer gehörte ebenso dazu wie wie der Pianist Benjamin Kobler. Letzterer hatte in Vykintas Baltakas' Stück Pasaka als Pianist und Rezitator virtuos gegen eine Tonbandstimme anzuschreien. (...)
recordings
![]() | PortraitKAIROS music 2016(co)ro(na) for ensemble Sinfonia for ensemble b(ell tree) for string quartet Ri for soprano and electronics Poussla for ensemble and orchestra Pasaka (1995-97) for piano and tape Saxordionphonics for solo saxophone, accordion and orchestra Tokyo Sinfonietta, Benjamin Kobler, LENsemble, Chordos Quartet, Rita Balta, SWR Symphony Orchestra, Marcus Weiss, Teodoro Anzellotti, WDR Symphony Orchestra, Yasuaki Itakura, Vykintas Baltakas, Johannes Kalitzke, Emilio Pomárico EAN Code: 9120040735043 KAIROS-MUSIC |
![]() | Darmstadt Aural DocumentsBox 4 | PianistsPasaka (1995-97) for piano solo Benjamin Kobler, pno. NEOS 11630 NEOS-MUSIC |
![]() | LENsembleat Ensemble Europa 19 Cologne, WDRPasaka (1995-97) for piano and tape Ri (2007) for soprano and electronics Daumantas Kirilauskas (pno.) Rita Balta (sopr.) * Not For Commercial Use request |
![]() | Die Kompositionsklasse von Wolfgang Rihman der Staatlichen Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe von 1992 bis 2000Pasaka (1995-97) for piano and tape Benjamin Kobler (pno.) Staatliche Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe, Germany |
history
2020-02-04 | Tilburg (NL), De Link - Het Cenakel | Benjamin Kobler (pno) | |
2019-06-24 | Cologne (DE), Studio des Ensemble Musikfabrik | Benjamin Kobler (pno) | |
2018-11-26 | Bamberg (DE), Villa Concordia | Benjamin Kobler (pno) | |
2018-08-05 | Kintai Music Festival (LT) | Marta Finkelštein (pno) | |
2018-06-26 | Ghent (BE), School of Arts of University | Maria Dominguez Perez (pno) | |
2017-12-17 | Brussels (BE), Flagey, | Maria Dominguez Perez (pno), Centre Henri Pousseur | |
2016-06-11 | Paris (FR), Biennale du Divers, College des Bernardins | Stephane Ginsburgh | |
2014-12-16 | Los Angeles (US), Piano Spheres at REDCAT | Aron Kallay | |
2014-11-27 | ZKM, Karlsruhe (DE) | Stephane Ginsburgh | |
2014-11-22 | Brussels (BE): Ars musica, Le Botanique | Stephane Ginsburgh | |
2014-11-17 | Nice (FR), Festival Manca | Mark Foster | |
2013-12-05 | Lugano (CH), Konservatorium | Benjamin Kobler | |
2013-11-24 | Vilnius (LT), Ahead Festival, LTMA | Rima Chacaturian | |
2012-11-23 | Brussels (BE), Festival Loop | Stephane Ginsburgh | |
2012-11-15 | Paris (FR), Instants Chavires | Stephane Ginsburgh | |
2012-04-10 | Vilnius (LT), Rotuse / Festival "Sugrizimai" | Rima Chacaturian | |
2012-03-23 | Los Angeles (US), University Park Campus Alfred Newman Recital Hall | Aron Kallay | |
2012-03-20 | London (UK), City University | Stephane Ginsburgh | |
2011-10-25 | Berlin (DE): "Unerhoerte Musik" | Stephane Ginsburgh | |
2011-02-07 | Graz (AT): Impuls Festival | Mark Foster | |
2011-01-13 | Nice (FR), Opera / Centre International de Recherche Musicale | Mark Foster | |
2010-09-17 | Berlin (DE), Akademie der Kuenste: Festival "Zero 'n' One" | Benjamin Kobler | |
2010-09-11 | Duisburg (DE), Hoer-Sinne / Folkwang Hochschule | Daumantas Kirilauskas | |
2009-11-02 | Cologne (DE), WDR Funkhaus / Ensemble Europa 19 | Daumantas Kirilauskas | |
2009-10-31 | Vilnius (LT), piano.lt hall | Daumantas Kirilauskas | |
2009-03-22 | Caen (FR), Saison de l'Orchestre de Caen | Michele Renoul / Accroche Note | |
2006-04-22 | Odessa (UA): "Two days & nights of new music" | Jens Barnieck | |
2005-11-25 | Tbilisi (GE), Academy of Music | Nino Jvania | |
2003-10-05 | Strasbourg (FR): festival "Musica" | Benjamin Kobler | |
2003-06-20 | Hamburg (DE), NDR: "Labyrinth Mythos" | Ulrich Löffler | |
2003-01-31 | Paris (FR), Salle Cortot: winners concert of "Prix de composition - Concours International de piano XXeme Siecle d'Orleans" | Nino Jvania | |
2002-09-14 | Cologne (DE), WDR Funkhaus: zeit-doppelfeatures | Ulrich Löffler | |
2002-03-16 | Wien (AT), Konzerthaus, Schubert-Saal, Festival "Hoergaenge" | Benjamin Kobler | |
2001-10-20 | New York (US), Clark Studio Theater, Lincoln Center Plaza: "Solo Flights: pianorama" | Marija Illic | |
1998-02-08 | Edenkoben (DE), Herenhaus | Benjamin Kobler | |
1997-01-24 | Frankfurt (DE), Ensemble Modern: Nachwuchsforum der Gesellschaft fuer Neue Musik | Benjamin Kobler | |
1996-11-29 | Karlsruhe (DE), Schloss Gottesaue | Benjamin Kobler | |
1996-10-25 | Munich (DE), Christoph und Stephan Kaske-Stiftung | Benjamin Kobler | |
1995-01-25 | Karlsruhe (DE), Schloss Gottesaue | Benjamin Kobler |