MLADOST IV

Mladost IV was composed between 2019 and 2020, commissioned by Lithuanian guitarist Danguolė Lingytė and dedicated to her and German-Ukrainian guitarist Julia Trintschuk.

The composition draws on Adam Vincent Clarke's experiences travelling, performing and researching traditional music in the Balkans, particularly Bulgaria, where he developed an interest in Eastern European folk dances, vocal traditions and the gaida (Bulgarian bagpipes). His introduction to Lithuanian music came through Danguolė Lingytė, who introduced him to the songs Saulala motulala, Užtekėk and Devynios liepos.

Mladost IV brings these two musical traditions together, combining rhythmic patterns associated with Bulgarian folk dances, particularly the asymmetrical 2+2+3 metre, with melodic fragments drawn from Lithuanian songs. The result is a dialogue between two distinct musical cultures, brought together through the intimate instrumentation of the guitar duet.