M. K. Čiurlionis ir "Čiurlionio” ansamblis

ENLithuanian national art ensemble “Čiurlionis” was founded by composer and conductor Alfonsas Mikulskis on January 15, 1940 in Vilnius. The ensemble “Čiurlionis” was active in Lithuania for only 4 years, and they were inordinately varying. The ensemble was composed from Šauliai Union male choir, directed by A. Mikulskis and Šiauliai Union orchestra of kanklės, directed by Ona Mikulskienė. In 1940 Šiauliai Union was prohibited by Soviet Power. For this reason, on August 18, 1940 the ensemble has been named “Čiurlionis” and intensively promoted Lithuanian national spirit in Vilnius region, resounded Lithuanian folk music. When the II World War was coming to an end, A. Mikulskis moved to Austria and renewed his activities in Vienna. Since the beginning of 1945 till summer of 1949 he gave a plenty of concerts all over the West Germany. This first period of the ensemble activities' is reflected in the book of the manager of kankles orchestra ensemble Ona Mikluskienė “Čiurlionis ensemble in 1940-1949, the Diary”, published in Vilnius in 2000 (316 pages). Since 1949 till the end of 1991 the ensemble was giving concerts in Cleveland, Washington, New York, Philadelphia, Detroit and other big cities of the USA, also in Canada (Montreal, Toronto), Venezuela and Columbia. “Čiurlionis” ensemble has been comprehensively glorifying the heritage of M. K. Čiurlionis, particularly Lithuanian folk songs, harmonized by the composer as well as his composition “Sanctus” for the choir, commemorated to his anniversaries. These activities significantly contributed to the preservation of Lithuanian spirit and to the regaining of independence in Lithuania. “Čiurlionis” ensemble with its artistically prepared programs was always declaring the political purposes of the restoration of Lithuanian independence.One can find among plenty of audio recordings of “Čiurlionis” ensemble M. K. Čiurlionis' composition “Sanctus”, as well as harmonized Lithuanian folk songs, demonstrating a high professional level. M. K. Čiurlionis' music has been broad popularized in America by the pianist Andrius Kuprevičius, professor Vytautas Marijošius, who performed a symphony poem of M. K. Čiurlionis “The Sea” on September 5, 1970 in Chicago Orchestra Hall. Most of his music has been plate-recorded, performed at Lithuanian Song Festivals in USA and Canada.