The project’s idea is to prepare a Comprehensive Digital Scholarly Edition (DSE) of M. K. Čiurlionis’s Sacred Music corpus, i.e., to prepare the composer’s Sacred Music urtexts and promote their publication, thus addressing the long-standing issue of the accessibility and authenticity of the composer’s oeuvre. These edition are essential for both musicology and practical music performance, contributing to the nurturing of Lithuania’s national culture. In 2025, commemorating M. K. Čiurlionis’s 150th birth anniversary, the project becomes even more relevant, contributing to the preservation and dissemination of Čiurlionis’s artistic legacy.
M. K. Čiurlionis’s Sacred Music, encompassing Mass parts and compositions with psalm texts, is significant for its stylistic diversity and compositional techniques. Although there are not many religious compositions by Čiurlionis, their importance in the context of music culture is undeniable. Čiurlionis composed at least six Mass parts, including the unfinished “Requiem” (1898), two “Kyrie” (1898 and 1902), “Gloria” (1898), “Sanctus” (1902), and “Agnus Dei” (1899). Additionally, he created four choral compositions set to psalm texts: “Praise” (1898), “Do Not Cry” (1899), “After all, You, Lord” (1899), and “De Profundis” (1899).
During the research, an extensive analysis of M. K. Čiurlionis’s Sacred Music will be conducted, and a precise critical edition of the Sacred Music corpus will be prepared. To ensure the accuracy of the critical edition, original manuscripts, copies, and other historical sources will be consulted both in Lithuania and abroad.The research results are significant for musicology, practical music performance, and the publication of M. K. Čiurlionis’s compositions. The critical edition corpus, as an open-access digital scholarly edition, represents the primary outcome of the project. For dissemination, these editions are planned to be performed and recorded in collaboration with the Vilnius Sacred Music Choir “Adoramus.” Additionally, dissemination will occur through presentations at conferences and articles published in scientific journals.
Currently available editions of Čiurlionis’s sacred music are either outdated, fragmentary, or editorially inconsistent, often lacking transparency in source-critical decisions. These limitations hinder both scholarly inquiry and performance practice. This project aims to fill that gap by producing a reliable and critically grounded digital scholarly edition.
Project funding:
Research Council of Lithuania, Projects of Postdoctoral fellowships funded by the state budget of the Republic of Lithuania
Project results:
The outcomes of the project are being disseminated through various channels to maximize their impact:
1. Publication of Scientific Articles (2): The project’s findings are disseminated through peer-reviewed scientific journals, with proper acknowledgment of the Research Council of Lithuania as the funding body. One article has already been published in the international peer-reviewed journal Lithuanian Musicology, and a second article has been accepted for publication in an international scientific journal abroad, indexed in Scopus or Web of Science.
2. Academic Conferences (4): Presentations at national and international conferences allow for the sharing of research results with scholars and experts in the field. Two papers are presented by the researcher at MEI conferences in USA and the EU. One paper is presented at the international Resurrexit Sacred Music Conference in 2026, organized by Vilnius University’s Šiauliai Academy. Another paper is presented at the annual international conference at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (LMTA).
3. Scholarly Edition (1): Throughout the project, the Digital Scholarly Edition (DSE) has been compiled and shared on open-source databases, ensuring accessibility for researchers, musicians, and the general public. The DSE is available in XML (MEI) files and formatted files, accessible to all and recommended for use. Professional computer hardware and software have been used to create formatted files and XML (MEI) files. Additionally, professional layout services have been utilized for formatted files. The formatted files will also be made publicly accessible through the dedicated open-access platform ciurlionis.eu, ensuring long-term availability and scholarly visibility.
4. Public Performances and Recordings: The Digital Scholarly Edition (DSE) performances are made publicly accessible through concerts and recordings, reaching both academic and general audiences. Two concerts have been conducted, one in Vilnius and one in Kaunas. Recordings have been made, but they are not yet published; publication is planned after the project.
5. Public Lectures and Workshops: Organizing lectures, workshops, and educational events engages diverse audiences and promotes a deeper understanding of M. K. Čiurlionis’s sacred music and its cultural significance. Three public lectures have already been held: at the Lithuanian Musicians’ Union, the M. K. Čiurlionis House in Vilnius, and one in the United States during the researcher’s visit in 2026, which included engagement with international scholars and archival institutions.
Through these dissemination strategies, the project outcomes reach a wide audience, contributing to the advancement of knowledge in the field of musicology and fostering appreciation for Čiurlionis’s musical legacy.
Period of project implementation: 2025-11-03 - 2027-11-02
Project coordinator: Kaunas University of Technology
