Stasys Vainiunas (1909-1982) is famous for his work both as a pianist and composer. He is numbered among Lithuanian composers belonging to Balys Dvarionas' and Antanas Raciunas' generation, which composed their major works in the period of sweeping historical change and dramatic events.
In his work, Stasys Vainiunas, an accomplished pianist of international stature himself, focused mainly on piano music, and his most significant artistic accomplishments are, in one way of another, related to this instrument. He made a name for himself as a master of piano miniature with his Little Insect Suite. His Quintets for two violins, viola, cello and piano are the first representatives of the genre in Lithuanian music. Crowning his entire oeuvre are large-scale orchestral works, which also include altogether four Piano Concertos.
No less important are Stasys Vainiunas' activities as a concert pianist, recitalist and teacher. He was the first Lithuanian pianist to participate at the international piano competition in Vienna and win laureateship. His lifetime dedication to teaching and tutoring young pianists yielded several generations of Lithuanian performers and teachers.
Stasys Vainiunas was born on 2 April 1909 in Riga. His artistic consciousness matured in his native city where key centres of local musical life were the Conservatory and National Theatre; while the artistic context was determined by the fusion of diverse cultures and styles - Latvian national music, international classical music and modern ideas emanating from the West. From 1923 to 1934 Stasys Vainiunas studied piano (with Arvids Dauguls) and composition (with Jazeps Vitols) at the Riga Conservatory, attending, concurrently, Lithuanian Gymnasium (1923-28), giving private piano lessons, teaching music at the Lithuanian Gymnasium (1930-38), working as an organist at St. Albert's Church in Riga, and conducting both gymnasium and church choirs. After graduation, in 1935, Stasys Vainiunas pursued his piano studies under tutelage of Prof. Eduard Steuermann - the first performer of a number of Schonberg's piano works. Vainiunas' first piano recitals were given in 1931 in Riga and Kaunas, both gaining positive response and wide coverage in the local press of the time. In 1938, Vainiunas moved to Lithuania where he worked, first in Klaipeda and later in Siauliai music schools. He has been teaching at the Kaunas Conservatory since 1942. From 1943 to 1944 he was rehearsal pianist at the State Opera. Since 1949 he has been teaching piano at the Lithuanian State Conservatory in Vilnius where he subsequently took on professorship in 1953. Stasys Vainiunas died on 18 October 1982.
Piano assumes a central place in Stasys Vainiunas' oeuvre. Apart from piano works, his major output consists of instrumental works - from short pieces to large-scale compositions. He wrote around 30 compositions for piano solo, 14 orchestral works (with and without piano), 6 chamber compositions for variable settings, around 40 solo and choral songs.
Stylewise, Stasys Vainiunas' was in constant change and development - from the first work to the last. His early works bear a clear trace of late romanticism, impressionism, with characteristic tendency towards virtuoso display. Later on his manner of writing gradually becomes much more national in its character. The composer seemed to be constantly intent on searching for new expressive means and artistic concepts. His later works are almost completely void of folk music quotations, within the framework of freely treated classical forms. His melodies, harmonies and orchestration tended to become more complex and colourful towards the end of his life.
Lithuanian Music Information and Publishing Centre
www.mic.lt
Stasys Vainiunas was Lithuania's first international competition laureate. In 1933 he won eighth place (out of 252 pianists) in Vienna, and earned an honorary diploma and the right to be called a laureate.
In seeking to perpetuate his memory and to popularize the legacy of his works, the republic of Lithuania dedicated S.Vainiunas' name to a young pianists' competition. In 2006 it became the International Stasys Vainiunas Piano and Chamber Ensemble Competition.
The composer's two daughters, celebrated Lithuanian musicians, carry on Stasys Vainiunas' life and creative energy.
Birute Vainiunaite is a pianist, and a professor at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater. Laureate of the first M. K. Ciurlionis Piano Competition in Lithuania (1965) and of the fourteenth Virtuoso Competition in Berlin (1991), she is presently on the jury of several international competitions, including the International Stasys Vainiunas Competition. The pianist has released many vinyl and 5 CD recordings of her extensive solo repertoire, and as an accomplished interpreter of the music of various epochs, directs much of her energy to the performance of the music of modern composers, Lithuanians in particular.
Audrone Vainiunaite is a violinist, professor at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater, and as of 1965 prima. with the Vilnius String Quartet. Together with the Quartet, she has won the highest prize at the 1972 Quartet Competition in Liege (Belgium), the Lithuanian State Prize in 1979, the American Lithuanian Fund Dr. Antanas Razmas Culture and Music Prize in 2002, the Lithuanian National Award in 2004, and the Baltic Assembly Prize in 2005.
A. Vainiunaite and the Vilnius Quartet have travelled to more than 50 countries around the world, and have released over 50 vinyl and CD recordings. Their four decades of creative life have left a distinctive mark in the cultural life of Lithuania. The violinist has also received the IVth Order of Grand Duke Gediminas of Lithuania.
Audrone Vainiunaite's husband Augustinas Vasiliauskas comes from a prominent Lithuanian musical dynasty, is a professor at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater, cellist with the Vilnius String Quartet, and bearer of the Vth Order of Grand Duke Gediminas of Lithuania. Their daughter Monika Vasiliauskaite is a violinist with the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, and teaches at the National M. K. Ciurlionis School of Art.
WORKS OF STASYS VAINIUNAS
ORCHESTRA
Concerto No.1, Op.15
pf solo-3322-4231-2perc-hrp-str
1945
30'
Stasys Vainiunas. Koncertas fortepijonui su orkestru Es-dur op.15. - Kaunas: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1948
Rhapsody
2pf solo-3322-4231-4perc-hrp-str
1947
8'
Stasys Vainiunas. Rapsodija dlia dvuch fortepiano s orkestrom. Partitura. - Leningrad: Sovetskij kompozitor, 1962
Symphonic Poem, Op.17
3333-4431-4perc-hrp-str
1948
18'
Concerto, Op.18
org solo-str orch
1949
25'
Stasys Vainiunas. Koncert dlia organa so strunnym orkestrom. Partitura. - Moskva: Sovetskij kompozitor, 1960
Rhapsody on Lithuanian Themes, Op.20
vn solo-3222-4231-3perc-hrp-str
1950
16'
Stasys Vainiunas. Rapsodija lietuviskomis temomis smuikui su orkestru, transkripcija smuikui su fortepijonu. - Moskva-Leningrad: Gosudarstvennoje muzykalnoje izdatelstvo, 1951
Concerto No.2, Op.22
pf solo-3322-4331-3perc-str
1952
33'
Stasys Vainiunas. Koncertas Nr.2 fortepijonui su orkestru. - Stasio Vainiuno pianistu konkursas
Stasys Vainiunas. Koncert No.2 dlia fortepiano s orkestrom. - Moskva: Sovetskij kompozitor, 1959
Vytautas Jurgutis. Muzikos kuriniu analizes chrestomatija, I. - Vilnius: LTSR aukstojo ir specialiojo vidurinio mokslo ministerija, 1979
Symphony in C sharp minor, Op.27
3333-4331-3perc-hrp-pf-str
1957
30'
Stasys Vainiunas. Simfonija. Partitura. - Leningrad: Sovetskij kompozitor, 1960
Concerto, Op.28
vn solo-3333-4331-perc-hrp-str
1959
24'
Stasys Vainiunas. Koncert dlia skripki s simfoniceskim orkestrom. - Leningrad-Moskva: Muzyka, 1965
For Peace, Op.30
overture
3333-4331-3perc-hrp-str
1961
8'
Concerto No.3, Op.33
pf solo-3322-4331-2perc-str
1965
18'
Stasys Vainiunas. Koncert No.3 dlia fortepiano s simfoniceskim orkestrom. Klavir. - Leningrad: Muzyka, 1967
Sutartine, Op.35
symphonic tableau
3333-4331-3perc-pf-str
1968
7'
Stasys Vainiunas. Sutartine. Simfoniceskaja kartina. Partitura. - Leningrad-Moskva: Sovetskij kompozitor, 1971
Concerto-poem, Op.36
org-str orch
1969
19'
Stasys Vainiunas. Koncert-poema No.2 dlia organa i strunnogo orkestra. Partitura. - Leningrad: Muzyka, 1973
Saturday Night
Lithuanian folk dance
3223-4331-3perc-str
1974
2'15
Concerto No.4, Op.40
pf solo-str orch
1975
22'
Stasys Vainiunas. Koncert No.4 dlia fortepiano i kamernogo orkestra. Klavir. - Leningrad: Muzyka, 1977
CHAMBER
Trio
vn-vc-pf
1945
21'30
Stasys Vainiunas. Trio dlia skripki, violonceli i fortepiano. - Leningrad: Sovetskij kompozitor, 1963
Vilnius: Lithuanian Music Information and Publishing Centre, 2005
Quintet No.1, Op.25
2vn-va-vc-pf
1955
22'
Stasys Vainiunas. Kvintet No.1 dlia fortepiano, dvuch skripok, alta i violonceli. Partitura. - Moskva: Sovetskij kompozitor, 1959
Recollection, Op.29
vn-pf
1960
5'
Stasys Vainiunas. Prisiminimas smuikui ir fortepijonui. - Vilnius: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1961
Quintet No.2
2vn-va-vc-pf
1966
22'
Stasys Vainiunas. Kvintet No.2 dlia dvuch skripok, alta, violonceli i fortepiano. Partitura. - Leningrad: Muzyka, 1969
Vilnius: Lithuanian Music Information and Publishing Centre, 2005
CD Vilnius Recording Studio VSCD-079, 2001
Sonata, Op.38
vn-pf
1971
18'
Stasys Vainiunas. Sonata dlia skripki i fortepiano. - Moskva-Leningrad: Sovetskij kompozitor, 1976
Music for Two Pianos and String Quartet
2pf-2vn-va-vc
1982
18'
Stasys Vainiunas. Muzika dviem fortepijonams ir styginiu kvartetui. - Vilnius: Vaga, 1986
SOLO INSTRUMENTS
Scherzo in D flat major
pf
1930
Fugue in C minor
pf
1931-1933
Lithuanian Folk Dance
pf
1932
Tub
Lithuanian folk dance
pf
1932
Sadute
Lithuanian folk dance
pf
1932
Winter Crop
Lithuanian folk dance
pf
1932
Little Swallow
Lithuanian folk dance
pf
1932-1935
Saturday Night
Lithuanian folk dance
pf
1932-1935
2'15
Etude in D flat major, Op.4 No.2
pf
1933-1934
Lithuanian Dance, Op.9 No.2
pf
1933-1934
Little Scherzo, Op.4 No.3
pf
1933-1934
Nocturne in C minor, Op.4 No.1
pf
1933-1934
Little Insect Suite, Op.7
pf
1940
4'45
Stasys Vainiuunas. Mazoji vabzdziu siuita. - Vilnius: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1949
Pjesy litovskich kompozitorov. - Moskva: Sovetskij kompozitor, 1968 ("Grasshopper")
Etiudy dlia fortepiano, vyp. 3. Fortepiannaja muzyka dlia detskich muzykalnych skol. Starsije klassy. - Moskva: Sovetskij kompozitor, 1976 ("Wasp")
CD Lithuanian Musicians' Union, 2001 ("Wasp" and "Grasshopper")
Folk Song
pf
ver: kn
1954
1'15
Vida Krakauskaite. Jaunasis pianistas, I. - Kaunas: Valstybine pedagogines literaturos leidykla, 1959
Vida Krakauskaite. Jaunasis pianistas, I. - Vilnius: Vaga, 1975
Lietuviu kompozitoriu kuriniai kankliavimui pirstais. - Vilnius: Lietuvos TSR liaudies svietimo ministerijos Redakcine leidybine taryba, 1989
Ale Zebrauskiene. Skumbina kanklaliai. - Vilnius: Leidybos centras, 1998
Children Piece
pf
1954
1'40
Vida Krakauskaite. Jaunasis pianistas, I. - Kaunas: Valstybine pedagogines literaturos leidykla, 1959
Paraphrase on a Theme of Lithuanian Folk Song
pf
1954-1956
4'30
Pjeses fortepijonui. - Vilnius: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1957
Flight
pf
1954-1956
3'30
Pjeses fortepijonui. - Vilnius: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1957
Stretch Out, Little Burrows
pf
3'30
Pjeses fortepijonui. - Vilnius: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1957
Pjesy litovskich kompozitorov. - Moskva: Sovetskij kompozitor, 1968
Etude
pf
0'50
Pjeses fortepijonui. - Vilnius: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1957
Hares' Song
pf
1'40
Pjeses fortepijonui. - Vilnius: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1957
Jaunojo pianisto biblioteka, I. - Vilnius: Vaga, 1968
Lullaby
pf
1'
Pjeses fortepijonui. - Vilnius: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1957
Little Waltz
pf
0'30
Pjeses fortepijonui. - Vilnius: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1957
Vida Krakauskaite. Jaunasis pianistas, II. - Vilnius: Vaga, 1965
Jaunojo pianisto biblioteka, I. - Vilnius: Vaga, 1968
Nocturne
pf
2'15
Pjeses fortepijonui. - Vilnius: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1957
Prelude
pf
2'45
Pjeses fortepijonui. - Vilnius: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1957
Ballade in D minor, Op.30
pf
1963
5'15
Stasys Vainiunas. Balade fortepijonui. - Vilnius: Vaga, 1964
Homeland's Meadows, Op. 31
suite
pf
1964
13'30
Stasys Vainiunas. Gimtines pievos. - Vilnius: Vaga, 1965
Pjesy litovskich kompozitorov. - Moskva: Sovetskij kompozitor, 1968 ("Lilies of the Valley Blossoming")
Pjesy litovskich kompozitorov. - Leningrad: Muzyka, 1971 ("The Dawning Morning")
Lietuviu kompozitoriu kuriniu transkripcijos dviem fortepijonams. Pritaike ir redagavo Kestutis Grybauskas. - Vilnius: LTSR aukstojo ir specialiojo vidurinio mokslo ministerija, Mokslinis metodikos kabinetas, 1971 ("The Dawning Morning")
Lament
pf
1972
5'30
Stasys Vainiunas. Rauda. - Vilnius: Vaga, 1973
Sonata-fantasy
pf
1977
10'30
Stasys Vainiunas. Sonata-fantazija fortepijonui. - Vilnius: Vaga, 1978
Sonatos fortepijonui. - Vilnius: Vaga, 1984
CD Vilnius Recording Studio VSCD-070, 2000
Prelude and Fugue, Op.42
org
1978
6'50
Stasys Vainiunas. Preliudija i fuga dlia organa. - Leningrad: Muzyka, 1982
Eight Moods, Op.43
pf
1979
12'30
Stasys Vainiunas. Astuonios nuotaikos fortepijonui. - Vilnius: Vaga, 1981
Children's Corner
suite
pf
1982
6'30
Stasys Vainiunas. Vaiku kampelis - Vilnius: Vaga, 1986
VOCAL
My World, Op.3 No.2
text by Vincas Mykolaitis-Putinas (Lith)
voice-pf
1933-1935
3'45
Stasys Vainiunas. Dvi dainos V. Mykolaicio-Putino eilemis. - Kaunas: J. Petronio leidykla, 1997
Autumn Night, Op.9
text by Vincas Mykolaitis-Putinas (Lith)
voice-pf
1941
4'15
Vyturiai. - Vilnius: Vaga, 1970
Stasys Vainiunas. Dvi dainos V. Mykolaicio-Putino eilemis. - Kaunas: J. Petronio leidykla, 1997
Birute - Vytukas - Keistukas
text by Danute Ciurlionyte (Lith)
voice-pf
1946
Danute Ciurlionyte. Jonuko Dunduliuko teatras. - Kaunas: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1946
Two Piglets
text by Danute Ciurlionyte (Lith)
voice-pf
1946
Danute Ciurlionyte. Jonuko Dunduliuko teatras. - Kaunas: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1946
Jonukas Dunduliukas' Ditty
text by Danute Ciurlionyte (Lith)
voice-pf
1946
Danute Ciurlionyte. Jonuko Dunduliuko teatras. - Kaunas: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1946
Rabbit Braveheart (Rabbit's Ditties) I
text by Danute Ciurlionyte (Lith)
voice-pf
1946
Danute Ciurlionyte. Jonuko Dunduliuko teatras. - Kaunas: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1946
Rabbit Braveheart (Rabbit's Ditties) II
text by Danute Ciurlionyte (Lith)
voice-pf
1946
Danute Ciurlionyte. Jonuko Dunduliuko teatras. - Kaunas: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1946
Windmill's Ditty
text by Danute Ciurlionyte (Lith)
voice-pf
1946
Danute Ciurlionyte. Jonuko Dunduliuko teatras. - Kaunas: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1946
Bear's Ditty
text by Danute Ciurlionyte (Lith)
voice-pf
1946
Danute Ciurlionyte. Jonuko Dunduliuko teatras. - Kaunas: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1946
Little Goat
Lithuanian folk text (Lith)
voice-pf
1946
Danute Ciurlionyte. Jonuko Dunduliuko teatras. - Kaunas: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1946
Goose and the Chick
text by Danute Ciurlionyte (Lith)
voice-pf
1946
Danute Ciurlionyte. Jonuko Dunduliuko teatras. - Kaunas: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1946
Oh, What's Humming There
Lithuanian folk text (Lith)
Bar-pf
1953
Dainos. - Vilnius: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1954
Dainos ir fortepijoniniai ansambliai. - Vilnius: LTSR liaudies meno rumai, 1973
Beacon
text by Julius Janonis (Lith)
voice-pf
1954
Stasys Vainiunas. Lietuvai. Svyturys. Buk sveikas! Aukstam balsui ir fortepijonui. - Vilnius: Vaga, 1972
To Lithuania
text by Jonas Mackonis (Lith)
voice-pf
1960
Stasys Vainiunas. Lietuvai. Svyturys. Buk sveikas! Aukstam balsui ir fortepijonui. - Vilnius: Vaga, 1972
Praeludium
text by Aleksys Churginas (Lith)
voice-pf
1970
1'30
Stasys Vainiunas. Dvi dainos A. Churgino eilemis. - Kaunas: J. Petronio leidykla, 1997
Silence
text by Aleksys Churginas (Lith)
voice-pf
1970
2'15
Stasys Vainiunas. Dvi dainos A. Churgino eilemis. - Kaunas: J. Petronio leidykla, 1997
Long Live!
text by Salomeja Neris (Lith)
voice-pf
Stasys Vainiunas. Lietuvai. Svyturys. Buk sveikas! Aukstam balsui ir fortepijonui. - Vilnius: Vaga, 1972
Lullaby
text by unknown author (Lith)
voice-4kn
Upoksnis. Lietuviu kompozitoriu kuriniai aranzuoti kankliu ansambliui. Sudare ir aranzavo Alvyda Cesiene. - Kaunas: Kauno tautines kulturos centras, 2002
Nightingale
text by Jonas Aistis (Lith)
voice-pf
Stasys Vainiunas. Lakstingala. - Kaunas: J. Petronio leidykla, 2003
CHOIR
Little Squirrels Are Going
text by Danute Ciurlionyte (Lith)
sa-pf
1946
Danute Ciurlionyte. Jonuko Dunduliuko teatras. - Kaunas: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1946
What Is Crackling in the Forest
text by Danute Ciurlionyte (Lith)
sa-pf
1946
Danute Ciurlionyte. Jonuko Dunduliuko teatras. - Kaunas: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1946
Pastorale (The Sun Has Risen)
text by Danute Ciurlionyte (Lith)
sa-pf
1946
Danute Ciurlionyte. Jonuko Dunduliuko teatras. - Kaunas: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1946
Tsimlianska Sea
text by J. Vaiciulionis (Lith)
sa-pf
1952-1953
Skambek, dainele. - Vilnius: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1954
Keep Ringing, Youth
text by Vladas Mozuriunas (Lith)
ssaa
ver: ttbb
1954
Svyturys, 1954 No.24
The First of May
text by F. Pajaujyte (Lith)
sa-pf
1954-1955
As pasejau kanapele. Dainos maziesiems. - Vilnius: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1956
K. Linkevicius. Muzikinis auklejimas vaiku darzelyje. - Kaunas: Valstybine pedagogines literaturos leidykla, 1959
Autumn
text by Jonas Juskaitis (Lith)
sa
1954-1955
As pasejau kanapele. Dainos maziesiems. - Vilnius: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1956
Teviskele, tu sviesi, II. - Vilnius: Vaga, 1967
Eat, Little Cow
Lithuanian folk text (Lith)
sa-pf
1954-1955
As pasejau kanapele. Dainos maziesiems. - Vilnius: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1956
Z. Marcinkevicius. Muzikos mokymas I klaseje. - Kaunas: Sviesa, 1974
Z. Marcinkevicius. Muzikos mokymas I klaseje. - Kaunas: Sviesa, 1978
Village Headman
Lithuanian folk text (Lith)
sa
1954-1955
As pasejau kanapele. Dainos maziesiems. - Vilnius: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1956
Vilniaus miesto 1958 metu dainu sventes repertuaras. - Vilnius: Vilniaus m. vykdomojo komiteto kulturos skyrius, 1958
Garsek, teviskele. Dainos chorui, I. - Vilnius: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1958
Dainu rinkinys V-VII klasei. - Kaunas, 1959
Dainos pionieriu stovyklai. - Vilnius: Respublikiniai pionieriu ir moksleiviu rumai, 1974
Jonas Kievisas. Daina ir solfedzio. - Siauliai: Siauliu pedagoginis institutas, 1995
Little Goose
Lithuanian folk text (Lith) 1954-1955
sa-pf
As pasejau kanapele. Dainos maziesiems. - Vilnius: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1956
Z. Marcinkevicius. Muzikos mokymas I klaseje. - Kaunas: Sviesa, 1974
Z. Marcinkevicius. Muzikos mokymas I klaseje. - Kaunas: Sviesa, 1978
Brotherly Salute
text by Paulius Sirvys (Lith)
satb-pf
ver: satb-wind orch
1957
Nuo Baltijos juros. Festivalio dainos. - Vilnius: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1957
Garsek, teviskele. Dainos chorui, I. - Vilnius: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1958
1960 metu respublikine dainu svente. Choru repertuaras (akompanimentai puciamuju orkestrui), I. Partituros. - Vilnius: LTSR kulturos ministerija, Respublikiniai liaudies kurybos namai, 1959
Lietuviu chorines literaturos chrestomatija, II. - Vilnius: Vaga, 1964
Kur Nemunas teka. - Vilnius: Vaga, 1975
Vilnius
text by Bronius Sivickas (Lith)
sa
1958
Dainu rinkinys V-VII klasems. - Kaunas, 1959
Komjaunimo tiesa, 1962 February 18
Song About the Vast Land
text by Kostas Kubilinskas (Lith), translated by J. Grigorjev (Rus)
satb
1960
Dainos chorams. 1965 m. respublikines jubiliejines dainu sventes repertuaras, 1. - Vilnius: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1963
Dainos chorams. 1965 m. respublikines jubiliejines dainu sventes repertuaras, 2. - Vilnius: Valstybine grozines literaturos leidykla, 1964
Lietuviu chorines literaturos chrestomatija, II. - Vilnius: Vaga, 1964
Pesni litovskich kompozitorov dlia chora bez soprovozdenija. - Leningrad: Muzyka, 1970
www.mic.lt