Vellum (2020) at Paris Philharmonic
Rehearsing Vellum at Paris Philharmonic with the Orchestre Pasdeloup, conducted by Christian Vásquez, photos by Kristijonas Naslenas.
On the 5th of October, Justina Repečkaitė’s composition Vellum (2020) was performed at the Paris Philharmonic by Orchestre Pasdeloup, conducted by Christian Vásquez in the concert entitled Choeur d’orchestre.
Commissioned by the festival Gaida, Vellum was premiered by Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra conducted by Anu Tali on the 30th of October, 2020, in the Congress Hall, Vilnius.
In 2024 Vellum was already performed by Estonian National Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Clement Power during the Baltic and Estonian Music Days on the 26th of April, 2024 in Tallinn and on the 28th of April, 2024 in Tartu. The latter was broadcasted by Klassikaraadio, LR3 Klasika, LRT Klasika and transmitted across Europe through the EBU (European Broadcasting Union).
Vellum (2020) for orchestra
Program note
Vellum is a “membrane” or animal skin, – a parchment to write on, widely employed in the medieval ages. In the composition, vellum material symbolizes the drum membrane, as the vibrational modes of percussive instruments are utilized to craft a harmonic structure, akin to writing a manuscript on vellum. The vibrational modes of untuned percussion, employed for harmony in the orchestra, are prolonged and pulsating in accordance with their frequencies, contrasting with the more noisy-percussive and whispering expressions. The distinctive composition parts are fading in and out until the arrival of the climax where whole sound of the hybrid instrument is illuminated. Untuned percussive instruments take the lead in the composition with sustained sounds. Metal instruments are prepared by coupling them with drums, enhancing the overall sound and altering the material itself. It is an allusion to a written word transforming a piece of parchment into a manuscript.
Justina Repečkaitė
Read reviews on Vellum HERE.
