Čiurlionis-Inspired Organ Spring

On Saturday, May 31 at 6 PM, a concert titled “Čiurlionis-Inspired Organ Spring” will take place at St. John’s Church of Vilnius University, presented by the Vilnius University organ studio Unda Maris. The event is dedicated to celebrating the Year of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, Lithuania’s national genius. The program will feature not only Čiurlionis’ organ works but also music by J. S. Bach, D. Zipoli, H. Purcell, and others.

The centerpiece of the concert is Čiurlionis’ music, which holds special significance for all Unda Maris members. According to the studio’s leader, Dr. Vidas Pinkevičius, Čiurlionis’ work never leaves anyone indifferent. His artistic, musical, and literary legacy remains especially relevant during this anniversary year.

Dr. Aušra Motūzaitė-Pinkevičienė, organist and co-director of the studio, adds that she feels personally connected to Čiurlionis’ spirit, having grown up surrounded by his work as a graduate of the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Arts.

Each student will perform a Čiurlionis piece of their choice:

Vytautas Jonkus chose two fugues, noting their folk music echoes.
Benas Matuzevičius will perform the fugue Kyrie eleison, admiring its dense chorale texture.
Jonathan Beyer selected Canon in A major, appreciating its solemn calm and minimalist beauty.

Founded in 2011, Unda Maris is a unique collective of Vilnius University community members passionate about the art of the organ. The studio is led by renowned organists Dr. Vidas Pinkevičius and Dr. Aušra Motūzaitė-Pinkevičienė, who actively promote organ culture in Lithuania and abroad.

The name Unda Maris (Latin for “sea wave”) symbolizes the soft, rhythmic voice of one of the most poetic stops in the university’s grand organ — the largest in Lithuania, recently renovated in 2024 by Latvian craftsmen from Ugalė.

The concert is organized by the Vilnius University Culture Center.