The Contemporary Music Festival “Permainų muzika” invites you once again to embrace change and new experiences! Now in its 20th year, the festival presents the finest examples of 20th and 21st-century music that have influenced changes in music history, as well as the most modern forms of expression, and introduces interactions between various art forms. The festival’s program, which covers a broad context of contemporary culture, offers a rich variety of internationally significant projects, encouraging exploration of intriguing contemporary art territories and experiencing the joy of discovery.

The members of the “Quasar” Saxophone Quartet consider themselves mediators of new ideas, bridging the gap between the composer and the listener. Founded in 1994, the quartet has been fulfilling this mission for thirty years. They first performed at the “Permainų muzika” festival in 2005, where they were hailed as a festival discovery.

Passionate enthusiasts of contemporary music, known for their energy, bravery, and extraordinary technical skills, perform a diverse range of music: from acoustic to electronic, from improvisational to instrumental theater.

In the Canadian ensemble’s program, alongside works by their fellow countrymen, pieces by Lithuanian composer Vykintas Baltakas and Ukrainian composer Alla Zagaykevich will also be featured.

Alla Zagaykevych: Saxophone Quartet/ While Flying Up… (2009 – 2022)

 The Saxophone Quartet is a transcription of a String Quartet /While Flying Up… / (2009) made for the Quasar Saxophone Quartet  during artistic residency with Le Vivier’s foundation in Montreal in October – December 2022.

Annotation

While Flying Up… is an imaginary trip: 

to rise in the sky..

to cover a large space..

to behold trees.. lakes.. field .. 

to breathe..

to sing..

to remember.. 

to forget..