lithuanian composer

biografia

Giedrius Kuprevičius

I was born on April 8, 1944 in Kaunas /Lithuania/, in the family of artists. After finishing Children's music school, in 1958-1962 I studied composition at J.Gruodis Higher music school (present Conservatoire). In 1962-1968 I studied at Vilnius, Lithuanian State Conservatoire (present Lithuanian Music and Theatre Academy) where I graduated from composition class of prof. Ed. Balsys and was conferred qualification of a composer and lecturer of special theoretical subjects of music. My educational activity has begun since 1966 (almost without intervals). I have worked at J.Gruodis Higher music school, lectured at facultative modules of music at Kaunas Academy of Medicine, University of Agriculture, Kaunas Institute of Polytechnics (present Kaunas University of Technology), gave lectures to actors' course at Vilnius University and lectures of musical improvisation at Kaunas faculties of Music Academy. I have given lectures to the public at Kaunas Public library (a series of 200 lectures Musical Wednesdays). I managed the band of electronic music ARGO of Kaunas Musical Theatre.

I was a chief of Lithuanian Composers' Unity for eleven years and was appointed as an editor-in-chief of Music department of Lithuanian Television. I worked at several public posts: Ministry of Culture (positionof vice-minister and chairman of Culture Affairs board), vise-mayor of Kaunas municipality. From 1990 till 1999 I gave lecturers at faculty of Arts of Vytautas Magnus University. I have been appointed dean of KTU Faculty of Humanities Siences since January 1, 2000. The book Musicin Theater has been handedfor printing. Series of lectures Introduction to Music are being finished forpublishing. Other lectures given or being given are as follows: Music aesthetics, Music philosophy, Mystics in music, History of European music, History of Lithuanian music, Art and civilization. I am interested in music programming and working with new technologies in art field.

Since 1957 I regularly play on Kaunas carillon (a set of 49 chromatically tuned bells). Concerts in New Zealand, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Netherlands. At present I am a senior carillonist of Kaunas city.

I am a member of Lithuanian Composers' union and Lithuanian Musicians' union. The creative activity is represented by the list added to my scientific works. Here after most import antworks are being mentioned: Hunt of Mammoths - musicfor Kazys Saja play, staged at Kaunas Drama Theatre by Jonas Jurašas (1968); Pagan Cantos for the choir; Eight Lithuanian Folk Songs for the string quartet (1969); Herkus Mantas - music for the film produced by Marijonas Giedrys; Devynbėdžiai - musical (K. Saja play, staged at Panevėžys Drama Theater by Vaclovas Blėdis , 1972). Fire Hunt with Beaters - musical (Leonidas Jacinevičius and Saulius  Šaltenis play staged by Dalia Tamulevičiūtė at The Youth Theater), later the opening performances of this musical where held in the theaters of Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Ukraine, Moldavia. There, Inside - one act opera after the Maurice Maeterlinck's play of the same title, staged in Kaunas at The Youth music studio by Stanislovas Rubinovas (1976). I Send You Best Regards - musical after Violeta Palčinskaitė play staged atKaunas Music Theater by Gintas Žilys (1986). Missa Catacumbae -for the choir, trumpet, trombone, vibraphone, violin and violoncello (1994); The Prussians - opera after J. Grusas's drama play Herkus Mantas, stagedat Klaipėda Music Theater by Nerijus Petrokas, conducted by Stasys Domarkas (1995). The Child of the open Sea -a ballet after Jules Superviel short story (1996). World Creation forthe End of XX Century - audiovisual oratorio for the choir, saxophone, synthesator and Egidijus Vaškevičius computer animation. Songs of Perpetual Wanderer - vocal symphony (R. Tagore's poetry) (1998);Queen Bona - opera(1999-2001), Sinfonia Barocco for chamber orchestra, devoted for Pažaislis festival (1999); Te Deum -concert for trombone and orchestra (2000), Seven Questions and Lamento of David - liturgian drama for violina solo and choir (2001),lob - opera (2002), Kipras and Fiodoras -operetta (2003), DaliGala – opera-zarzuela (2004), Čiurlionis - ballet (2009}, Adagio Apokalypsis for 2 violini, cello and piano (2004), Birds are Jazz are Birds – for carillon, soprano and acustic sounds (2004), Melancholic Songs forsoprano and symphony orchestra (2004).

I have constantly been co-working with Lithuanian media, writing articles on musical publicistics and culturology issues in such journals as Muzikos barai, Santara, Humanistica, Nemunas and Kauno diena since 1968. I have published two essay books - Backward years and It was said and autobiographical book Concert. I conducted Lithuanian National TV programs Contrapunctusfor a long run. I give concerts in Lithuania and abroad constantly, take part at music festivals, congresses and symposiums. I have been a Master-class director at international forums of youth music. I am a member of the world-music group Žaliakalnis Wolves. At present I am running the bachelor programm Music technology in Kaunas University of Technology.

This moment I am professor and member of Lithuanian Academy of Sciences. Maried, wife  Gražina (artist), daughter Ieva. Andvery fine grandsons Marius and Ugnius.