In memoriam Feliksas Romualdas Bajoras (1934 10 07 – 2026 05 18)

The community of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre mourns a profound loss. Composer, pedagogue, and laureate of the Lithuanian National Prize for Culture and Arts Feliksas Romualdas Bajoras has passed away – one of the most prominent figures of Lithuanian modern music.

The composer was born on 7 October 1934 in Alytus. He began his musical studies with Vincas Bacevičius in Kaunas. At the Lithuanian State Conservatoire he graduated from Aleksandras Livontas’ violin class (1957) and Julius Juzeliūnas’ composition class (1963).

From 1963 to 1965, he taught at the Šiauliai Music School, and from 1965 to 1989 he served as Head of the Music Department at the Youth Theatre. Between 1991 and 2000, he taught at the Lithuanian Academy of Music (now the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre), where he was awarded the title of Associate Professor in 1994. From 1991 to 1994, he also worked as Music Director at the Lithuanian National Drama Theatre.

Feliksas Bajoras was a modern, consistent, and spontaneous representative of the so-called “new folklorism.” His music was distinguished by an authentic relationship with Lithuanian folk music and a unique combination of folk tradition with contemporary means of musical expression. Folklore was rarely quoted directly in his works – instead, his musical language emerged from the intonations of Lithuanian speech, folk performance practices, and a deep connection with ethnic tradition.

One of his most significant works is considered to be Suite of Legends (Sakmių siuita) for voice and piano (1968), which became a distinctive example of Lithuanian musical thinking. Other important compositions include the diptych Vilnius Quartets, the Sonata for Violin and Piano The Years Gone By (Prabėgę metai), the oratorio Raising of the Bell (Varpo kėlimas), the opera Lamb of God (Dievo avinėlis), Missa in musica, Exodus I and II for symphony orchestra, and many other works.

His music was performed at important international festivals in Lithuania and abroad, including Warsaw Autumn, the Berlin Music Biennale, Berliner Festwochen, Wratislavia Cantans, Gaida, Jauna muzika, Europa Musicale, and others.

F. R. Bajoras received numerous significant awards. In 1970, he won Second Prize at the Alfredo Casella International Composers’ Competition in Naples. He was awarded the Lithuanian State Prize in 1981, the Lithuanian Government Prize for Culture and Arts in 1998, the Lithuanian National Prize for Culture and Arts in 2001, and the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Gediminas in 2007.

The Lithuanian National Prize for Culture and Arts was awarded to the composer for his Concerto for Violin and Symphony Orchestra, the string quartet Suokos, the work for chamber orchestra Sun Path (Saulės takas), and the trio Momenti sacri.

We have lost an exceptional figure of Lithuanian musical culture, a pedagogue and creator whose works left a profound mark on Lithuanian contemporary music.

We extend our sincere condolences to the composer’s family, colleagues, students, and the entire musical community.

2026 05 19