Bajalica (Healing Charm)

Performed by DePaul Ensemble 20+ and Michael Lewanski, conductor, at the Faculty Artist Concert Series, DePaul University Gannon Hall, May 1, 2022.
PROGRAM NOTES:
Originally composed in 2007 for flute/clarinet/saxophone (one performer), electronic and motion picture (BEMUS Festival comission), this composition was also arranged for solo clarinet (2008) and then later for small chamber ensemble.
This orchestration is created in 2022 for the DePaul 20+ Ensemble (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, violin I, violin II, viola, cello, double bass, and electronics).
BAJALICA in Serbian/Croatian/Bosnian language means incantation, bewitchment, medicine, conjuration, wizardry, enchantment… BAJALICE (plural) are spoken poems found in pagan traditions of Balkan countries. They all intone healing charms to cure illnesses or expel evil spirits. The use of rhyming language in Bajalica is a fundamental role (and rule) of multiformity in oral poetry - variation within limits. The substitutions and inversions of rhyming patterns unquestionably govern Bajalica’s charm-making, but they never fossilize her magic lyrics, thus becoming a living "word" through its performed utterance.
In searching for new structural possibilities, I realized how traditional folklore like Bajalice could be the source for new world inspiration within the contemporary music sphere.
I discovered that the synthesis of dramatic original Balkan folk songs and the wizardry of American minimalism produced an innovative composing experience. The music material in this work evolved from reduced pitch selection, while also exploring regular and irregular pulsation, traditional (instrumental) and micro (tape) tuning, micro-variation within limits, minimalistic repetition, reduction, and more.