Enchanted Time by Giedrius Alkauskas

“Enchanted Time” is my second CD. The first, entitled “Into the dream and magic-sphere…” was devoted to mythology (the cycle “Walpurgis night”, the Lied “The haunted palace”, and the piece “The dance of
good spirits”) and to melancholy (the cycle “While there is still a road…”). This second CD is brighter in mood and the melancholy has been replaced by a gentle longing; however, the theme of mythology persists and is revealed anew, albeit differently. Thus – mythology and
childhood… whence the title.

“Enchanted Time” is a time when irrational, mythical, fantastical, frightening, and inspiring events are taking place.

The town Aigradas, which long was buried under the ground, is rising. Alas, to be cursed and banished again!

The grandfather is dancing and utters a curse at the bewitched spot, and at night he is suddenly transported to the fields near a cemetery. A burning candle appears on a tomb: a treasure is buried there! But the grandfather is now tempted by a bird’s beak, ram’s head, and a bear: all evil spirits, mischievous and cunning folk. But they are not the spirits of destruction and self-annihilation from Christianity! No, they are just spirits from folk tales and fantasy.

The apostle John on the island of Patmos envisions the Son of Man, and to him are revealed the events of the End of Time. (According to the Christian tradition, John the Evangelist and John the Revelator are the same person, though both texts – the Gospel and the Revelation – are written in stylistically quite different Greek).

A simple black suit hanging at home in a wardrobe at night looks like a terrifying phantom which had been hanged in the gallows.

But “Enchanted Time” also refers to childhood, to the most wonderful time of awakening consciousness, when all the history, the images, and the interconnections of the World are revealed gradually to a child. In a strange way, this may last for so many years. I myself have felt stuck in that state of awakening consciousness up until now, stuck in that enchanted time, and I spend many hours imitating or simulating the impressions of childhood: looking at twinkling colours lighting up the snow-covered branches of fir trees; looking for signs of childhood, searching for old inscriptions or architectural details on buildings. The pale plastered inscription “Šilelis” can still be seen in Anykščiai on a building of the former cinema, and it is still an active link to a childhood. I hear reverberations of childhood while looking through old magazines and watching old cartoons.

But for capturing such impressions from that enchanted time it is most favourable to read poetry by Sigitas Geda, Juozas Erlickas, Robert Louis Stevenson, or read some children’s authors.authors. What can be stronger and deeperthan impressions from childhood?

Giedrius Alkauskas (b. 1978) is a contemporary Lithuanian composer. Influences range from romantic German and Russian music, opera of various periods, folk music of various cultural traditions, XXth century composers, like B. Bartók, S. Prokofiev and C. Debussy. Inspirations come from poetry, art, mythology, psychology, religion, nature. He has written song cycles, dance suites, chamber music.

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