"A feast for your soul"

An interview with Šiluva Chapel Jubilee Mass Music Director Rita Cyvas-Kliorys about preparations for the solemn Mass in celebration of the jubilee.

Interview by Victor Nakas

VN: You were invited to be the music director of the Šiluva Chapel Jubilee Mass. Could you explain how the hymns for the Mass were chosen, who participated in this process, and what criteria were used?

RCK: Thank you to the Šiluva Chapel 50th anniversary organizing committee for inviting me to be the music director and for their confidence and trust in me. The process of choosing music was long and complex. The first step was taken in many discussions with Msgr. Edmond J. Putrimas, who together with Msgr. Rolandas Makrickas initiated the formation of the organizing committee for this event. We discussed the entire order of the Mass as well as the special ceremony and prayers to commemorate this event, what and when in the course of the Mass various hymns should be sung. Msgr. Putrimas asked that the Lithuanian Marian hymn "Marija, Marija" be sung, as well as "Pergalės Kristui III" (To Christ, Victor III), a hymn, the well-known melody of which is from Beethoven's 9th symphony. The words of the earlier versions were written by Nijolė Kersnauskaitė in the 80's before Lithuania had regained its independence. Because we wanted the Mass to end on a joyous note, we asked the author to write words that were uplifting and fitting for this event.

One of our goals was that the hymns be jubilant and celebratory in nature, would contribute to the solemnity of the event and make it special. For obvious reasons, much attention was given to Marian hymns. A conscious decision was made to limit the hymns to those written by Lithuanian composers and to those that are traditional Lithuanian hymns sung over the ages.” What a great opportunity to share our heritage with others by performing Lithuanian works in the largest church in America!

In order to make this event extraordinary, the organizing committee invited four choirs to come together to form the jubilee's joint choir: "Dainava" (Chicago), "Laisvė" (Philadelphia), "Exultate" (Cleveland), "Volungė" (Toronto). While the role of this joint choir is significant, we wanted all attendees at the Mass to have the opportunity to be active participants. To that end, besides the hymns that will be sung by the choir, we chose hymns which could be sung by all participants, thereby including and unifying all present.

A repertoire for this event would not be complete without incorporating traditional hymns which have been sung throughout the past and have become staples in our repertoire ("Sveika, Marija" (Hail! Mary), "Malda už tėvynę" (Prayer for Our Homeland), mus. J. Dambrauskas. Many new hymns written in the recent past were also chosen. Past experience has shown that such events, congresses, conventions, jubilees offer a great opportunity to introduce new hymns. Not only do they contribute to commemoration of the event in a big way, but having sung the hymns at the event attendees return to their homes in various localities throughout the USA and Canada and continue to share what they have learned with their communities. Thus the repertoire of hymns grows and becomes all the richer. The language of newer hymns often better expresses the current sentiments of people.

So then, what hymns should be chosen? I invited the directors of the choirs who will be forming the joint choir of the jubilee (Dalia Viskontas, Ilona Babinskas, Darius Polikaitis) to offer their suggestions. It was also important to be in solidarity with that which is being sung in Lithuania today. I therefore contacted many colleagues in Lithuania asking for their suggestions. Bernardas Vasiliauskas, organist at the Catherdal of Vilnius, offered much help, for which I am very grateful.

And so, little by little in talking to many people and exploring many possibilities we coordinated, combined and blended the old with the new, hymns which would be sung by the choirs alone and together with all attendees. Once the hymns were chosen, they were presented to Msgr. E. Putrimas for further discussion and stamp of approval. Later all were presented to members of the organizing committee.

VN: How long have the choirs been preparing for the October 9 Mass? Were there any special challenges due to the fact that the choirs are from different cities?

RCK: The music of all of the hymns was sent to the directors of the joint choir in February, from which time learning the repertoire became intense. The choirs had become acquainted with all of the repertoire for the event prior to recessing for summer. With the beginning of September and the new season, choristers will once again convene, begin polishing the hymns, taking them to the next level, and will be ready to join forces when they all come together in Washington, D.C., in October.

Because the choirs who will be coming to Washington, D.C., are from various cities in the USA and Canada which are far from one another and perhaps moreso, due to the different interpretations of music by various conductors, coming together and performing the music in a unified way presents many challenges. We will have very little time to rehearse together in Washington, D.C., due to the multitude of Masses offered at the Basilica and scheduling issues. It is critical for us to rehearse in the Basilica, to become acquainted with the acoustics of this vast space as well as the sound and echo of the grandiose organ. Since we have only one opportunity to do so, choirs must arrive having learned the music in as much a similar way as possible. To that end recordings of each hymn and voice parts were created. The women's voices were recorded by Kristina Kliorytė, the men's by Martynas Matutis. Other contributors to the recordings include Aleksandras Stankevičius and myself.

VN: Will the congregregation hear any sacred music that is unfamiliar? Which Lithuanian composers will be represented?

RCK: The attendees will be showered with a wide variety of music. They will, hopefully, enjoy hearing the new works prepared by the choirs, but will also be asked to join in and sing traditional hymns. A special booklet is being printed which will contain the words and music of the hymns. Hopefully, this will allow all to participate fully and actively.

The composers whose compositions will be sung at this jubilee are: Leonidas Abaris, Jonas Dambrauskas, Jonas Govėdas, Rita Čyvaitė-Kliorienė , Česlovas Sasnauskas.

Leonidas Abaris, who resides in Vilnius, Lithuania, is one of our favorite composers. His works are beautiful, all very different and loved by all who sing and listen to them. We have chosen five of his hymns to be sung before and during the course of the Mass: his five-movement "Magnificat", "Viešpatie, pasigailėk" ("Lord, Have Mercy"), "Garbė Dievui Aukštybėse" ("Glory to God in the Highest"), "Aleliuja" before the Gospel, and "Leiski būti man arti" ("Allow Me to Be Close to You", written in memory of the late composer Faustas Strolia).

We will also be singing the Šventas" ("Holy, Holy") and "Dievo Avinėli" ("Lamb of God") from a Mass I wrote based on Lithuanian folk tunes. The tradition of using folk melodies as well as the rhythms and harmonies inspired by them has long been used by composers. Folk songs contain all the aspects of people's lives. We come with these joys, accomplishments, sorrows, disappointments and offer them to God as we attempt to become better people. Hopefully, the familiarity of the tunes will allow people to more fully participate in the singing.

VN: A hymn to Our Lady of Šiluva was specially composed for the jubilee Mass. How did the composition come about and at what part of the celebration will it be sung?

RCK: As children of Lithuania, also known as the Land of Mary, we thought it'd be fitting to compose a special hymn dedicated to this 50th anniversary event. Having discussed this possibility with colleagues, together with Nijolė Benotienė we saw this project through to the light of day. "Šventa Mergele, Šiluvos Marija" ("Holy Virgin, Mary of Šiluva") will be sung following the end of Mass, when the procession makes its way from the main altar of the Basilica to the side Šiluva Chapel. The words and melody are simple as to allow all to join in. The printed music notes will, hopefully, also prove to be beneficial to this end.

I invite all to come to Washington for this momentous occasion, to enjoy being in the beautiful space of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, to enjoy hearing beautiful Lithuanian hymns and the Basilica's grand organ, to be part of a worshipping community and history in the making. It will truly be a feast for your soul!