Lithuanian Days Aotearoa 2022 is staging a workshop to discover the magic of a Lithuanian folk singing tradition - multipart songs or ‘sutartinės’, which are listed among UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The workshop will be led by New York-based professional vocalist, composer and zitherist Simona Smirnova
This interactive workshop is for vocalists, music teachers or anyone interested in music to learn how to properly sing and intonate traditional Lithuanian multipart songs ‘sutartinė’, and blend with other voices. All levels are welcome!
Participants will be divided into groups, where they will practice their part of the cannon. Each group will have a chance to learn specific rhythms and cues. At the end of the workshop all groups will sing together.
Sutartinės songs are highly repetitive so the language barrier shouldn’t be a problem, even for English speakers.
This workshop is open to singers of all abilities, from amateurs to professionals. It will conclude with a performance for friends and family at 4.30pm.
You can hear a sample of traditional summer solstice sutartinė here
Workshop leader Simona Smirnova is a New York based zitherist, vocalist and composer. Simona has been performing in the New York music scene, touring and teaching for the past decade. An alumna of Berklee College of Music, she is an active member of the worldwide musicians’ community. Simona is a voting member of Grammy Recording Academy, a mentor at Grammy U program and a composer member of New York Composers Circle. www.simonasmirnova.nyc
This free workshop is sponsored by Lithuanian Council for Culture.
