I was drawn in by both Driving Force and Emptiness. I'm not a musician so cannot comment in the proper vernacular but Driving Force reflected some of my favorite 20th/21st century pieces by John Adams (Harmonielehre & Short Ride in Fast Machine) and Steve Reich's Music for 18 Musicians. I couldn't help hearing Pauline Oliveros's accordion (Deep Listening) in Zibuokle's Beauty of Emptiness piece. These references are all mine; Ms Martinaityte's style is clearly all her own and I love it.

Ms. Martinaityte has a sure sense of instrumental color; the unusual instrumentation for "Driving Force" is handled so expertly. We feel the dialogues between the rhythmic pulses, the melodies, the jazzy swing, the Klezmer-ish flourishes, the instruments themselves. A wonderful piece.

"Completely Embraced by the Beauty of Emptiness" has such a haunting beauty, a feeling of inevitability. I would love to hear more of this piece, and of this talented composer.

What a delight! There is a common spirit in both "Driving Force" and "Completely Embraced", a reverberating energy over a kind of stillness. Along with the driving force in "Driving Force" I loved the Ravel-like explorations of colour, seeking out and blending various sounds of the instruments in this unusual ensemble. In “Completely Embraced” I was taken by how the slow underlying pulse, almost like contented breathing, became a surface from which the rhythmic and melodic elements bubbled up, blended and vanished back into the pulse. I trust we will hear more from this inventive and exciting composer.

great music..

This piece is really a hymn for driving force of MUSIC - driving a listener to other, better and higher world. Zibuokle's great personality gives birth to widest spectrum of positive energies. Best compliments!

I enjoyed the bold energy in these pieces. I hear a call out to accomplish something big in the beginnings with a twist of gentle guidance in the end. I am gripped by them and excited to hear more from this lovely composer. I can easily see the works of Zibuokle Martinaityte touching a large audience!!

I always find it fascinating to listen to Zibuokle's music. The dynamics and aesthetics of her "Driving Force" is captivating - it feels like watching shooting stars. A highly enjoyable experience. Congratulations!

This piece is amazingly deep in its composition. I found it wonderfully complex and very listenable.
A beautiful effort.
Looking forward to the next one.

I love this piece. It made me sit up and listen!

This was the first (but not the last) piece by Zibuokle where she used accordion in very professional, "accordionistic" and at the same time unusual way expressing all kind of contemporary language, using modern articulation. I am so happy to met such a intelligent composer and warm person. I am sure, that her compositions will survive among thousands contemporary works written nowadays.
Congratulations Zibuokle!

I like it, and I can relate to this piece without trying. Perspective is obvious, reachable, and touchable. Good job and best wishes.

Post apocalyptic soundtrack, love it!

Intelligent and playful - and somehow to my ears with a dash of the apocalyptic. I found the sound painting refreshing and the development rich and enthralling.

Deeply touching and intelligent at the same time.
'Driving Force' being a magic play of rythms and emotions, 'Completely..' feels like a breathtaking exploration of something deep within oneself.

continuation of comment #44; Then Zibuokle can take this bottle and transform it into another instrument to produce even more interesting sounds.

"Talking about music is like dancing about architecture". (Steve Martin)
Saying Zibuokles music is beautiful is almost offensive. The word is so overused and tired - almost like amazing. Her music evokes the most sublime thoughts and feelings known to mankind. It erases anger, envy, pettiness and meanness and creates deep reflection, understanding, acceptance, forgiveness and love. If I heard this music in the movie I would buy the dvd, if I heard this music in an art gallery I would ask the gallery owner immediately how can I get the cd and then would look at the art with heightened sensitivity. The samples of Zibuokle's music does the same to my heart and soul what the old masters do.
The difference is the contemporary language which allows me to imagine a potential conversation with the composer versus just passively listening.

"What the really great artists do is they're entirely themselves. They are entirely themselves, they've got their own vision, they've got their own way of fracturing reality, and if it's authentic and true you will feel it in your nerve endings." (David Foster Wallace)
I have spent a lot of hours to listen to the all 60 composers and read all the comments trying to be as objective as possible and I missed the first part of the elimination process. Now I am pleasantly surprised. From the 60 I really liked 7 and all 7 are in the remaining 30 so at least by my "unqualified taste" the selection process is honest and based on talent and nothing else.

Among the 30 remaining two are geniuses and they are as different as night and day. These are Zibuokle Martinaityte and Daniel Wohl. Zibuokle can look at the person, meet a person or just think or remember the person and compose a piece that would pierce your heart and stay with you for the rest of your life. Daniel Wohl can look at empty bottle and compose music that can influence future jazz, rap and pop.

A wonderful piece that definitely deserves to be in the winners circle

Is anyone allowed to post constructive criticism? For someone who has heard A LOT of 20th century music over a very wide range, I would think these comments must be referring to another piece of music. Like Bacewicz, perhaps this composer has embraced a wide range of compositional styles over the years and one piece is completely different from the next, so I won't pass judgement on thiis one work. So much of the most recent music just sounds like so much of most recent music: this is true from classical to pop to American Idol. Everyone sounds like everyone else.

I heard the premier of her new piece "Inhabited Silences." I liked it so much that I asked for her permission to include it on our (Tahoe Chamber Music Society) summer concert series, to be performed by the same group that premiered it. When listening to the rehearsal the previous night, I fell in love with it. At the risk of exposing my ignorance, her music seems to have a minimalist quality which I find enhances the rich and effective timbres she rites.

I like one of the other individuals first heard Ms. Martinaityte's music compositions at the MacDowell Colony in early 2009. It was unusual (and moving) to see such a broad array of artists, composers and writers from so many different parts of the creative world all respond in such a overwhelmingly positive way to her music. Playful yet serious, her compositions merge her world of sounds with deeply felt sensations. A truly remarkable thing to hear. An even more astonishing thing to create.

Each time I have heard it, the sonic journey has been different. Not being trained musically, I suppose I am missing a lot of nuances, but do commend the creation in which I hear a changing aural storyline.

I find Zibuokle's music to be extremely well-crafted and very affecting. Hers is an original voice. Each piece that I've listened to I'd be happy to hear again and again.

Zibuokle Martinaityte has created some truly beautiful and moving pieces of music. The formations seem to guide the listener though different locations, times and emotional states. Well done!

Zibuokle has a strong voice that is strongly rooted in her own convictions. I like how her music comes from a very personal space.

Zibuokle's music is bright, original and leaves me feeling very positive. I feel it is accessible it a wide range of moods. "Driving Force" gives me a sense of direction and much energy. I hope to hear more from this composer.

Inspired work! Zibuokle's compositions are deeply moving and her sample from Driving Force makes me want to hear more. I was first introduced to her work at the MacDowell Colony in 2009 when we were both in residence there. The music she shared drew me in and captivated my senses. I was not the only audience member with tears in my eyes that night. In our hectic world, its takes a true work of creative depth to move an audience. Zibuokle's music has captured
me completely.

I want to hear more! This composer has an original compositional personality, distinctive and memorable. The range of these 2 pieces shows a command of technique, an imaginative flair, and a fearlessness in her use of instrumental resources. Ades and Benjamin, eat your hearts out. A bright future for Ms Martinaityte.

Two wonderful pieces from Z Martinaityte - the first one makes me think of an old traveling toy theater, how romantic and graceful; the second one is truly touching, what a treat. Thank you and looking forward to hearing more of this talented composer!

This is a cool work! It's got a lot of emotional grip and sounds very finely crafted...

Zibuokle's music touche very deep and it is so intimate. Each sound makes a sense and intensity flows from the first note even in pauses.
Bravo!

I love Driving Force! It speaks to that feeling you get in your gut when you're inspired to act and to the release you feel afterwards. A beautiful, visceral piece of music.

What a powerful composition! It speaks direct to your heart...

Really amazing work! Moving and touching, as well as delicate and deep. I truly wish that Ziboukle will continue to give her insights expressed in music to all others. We need to hear more of you!

beautiful, energetic work!

For me, whose taste in music, according to a dear composer friend of mine, rests in “the 18th and 19th centuries” (I have to admit here that he had been unaware of my fondness for music from as far back as the Mediaeval chants) Zhibuokle's composition has proven captivating and engaging. I am a student of history and sociology so the trials and tribulations of our current state of societies, cultures and economic predicament with all the anxieties of the time -and also the promises of the unknown future- are very much present when I listen to her music. I feel that her work "speaks" to our current times. I find her work quite relevant and powerful.

For me, whose taste in music, according to a dear composer friend of mine, rests in “the 18th and 19th centuries” (I have to admit here that he had been unaware of my fondness for music from as far back as the Mediaeval chants) Zhibuokle's composition has proven captivating and engaging. I am a student of history and sociology so the trials and tribulations of our current state of societies, cultures and economic predicament with all the anxieties of the time -and also the promises of the unknown future- are very much present when I listen to her music. I feel that her work "speaks" to our current times. I find her work quite relevant.

I'm not fond of modern music, I can't understand it. This piece is different, a very good performance that captivated me. I had to listen and listen again. Every time with a great emotion

Love both pieces! Very impressed. Deep, inspiring, high quality music. Can't wait to get some records.

I was told about this composer by a friend, and I think it is very good pieces. Shows the diversity of the composer and the depth. I particularly liked the first one, it is very intense piece

Thank you.

I know Zibuokle as a composer for ages....... She always exhibited a special sound understanding of their particular composition. Up the pieces are very well instrumented, had expressive mood. I like this pieces so much and wish her many creative success.

I'm a big fan of Zibuokle's music and these pieces don't let me down..........there is the wild, driving opening of the works, and gradually coming to the more peaceful concluding sections........with tons of Lithuanian jazz along the way!

I am impressed with the fiery gusts with which both of these pieces start out. It pulls me in to the music. Driving Force has an exceptional way of bending time/pulse with its frenzy of energy. The orchestration really pops off the page for me. As a new music performer and listener, I can say that Zibuokle's music is particularly enjoyable. I want more!

Wow! What an imaginative pieces! There is an intriguing and strong sense of force and energy very skillfully connected with delicate folkloristic elements. Delightful!

Wonderful! I know a lot of Zibuokle's works. She always touches deeply. Congratulations and best regards from Lithuania!

Wow! Such great pieces! We listened to these several times and can't get enough. Hoping to hear more from Ms. Martinaityte.

A friend of mine - a well known composer send me a link to this page. I was truly amazed by both of the pieces. I am not a fan of contemporary music, it usually just "drives me crazy". Therefore I was so relived and happy to be able to both hear it and ENJOY it, for the first time in my liefe, I guess :))
I am not qualified to make professional comments, but I just want to share my respect and to thank the young composer for her work :)
Her own little notes were very helpful for such a newcomer to contemporary music as I am. Thanks again for Your fantastic work!

BRAVO! Lithuania meets NYC...what a jazz!

Nice work. Very nice.

I also was challenged and intrigued by the sixes.

Excellent piece! Nice orchestration and a fulfilling drive!

The pieces are very esthetic !!!! i like it very much, special how the composer develops her ideas in her music!!! Thank you Zibuokle!!

Martinaityte has achieved the perfect marriage of contemporary music and audience accessibility. The form and structure of the music in addition to her motivational force, easily connects to the listener's inner life. This is moving music! When listening, I felt not only innovative sonic landscapes. I also felt touched by the human experience. Brilliant! Congratulations!

What an excellent composer! Her music is insightful, powerful, and elegant all at the same time. I've very much enjoyed listening to these samples and would love to hear more.

I enjoyed listening to the selection posted here. It is very interesting to hear some new composers. I especially appreciate the composer's comments about the selections. These comments give me insight that I would not otherwise have to the piece, and give an interpretation that I find useful.

I met Zibuokle during a recent contemporary music concert in Astoria, Queens, under the auspices of Astoria Music society (Astoria Symphony) which had performed my own very emotional music Leyad Hamizbe'ach in sept 2005--a vocal piece for a contralto solo, as well as for adult and children's choirs and orchestra. That piece reflects my own feelings after 9/11. Zibuokle's music is very moving too so I connected to it very well. It really brought back to me my own feelings during and after my own father's passing. An added layer of emotions is in that Zibuokle is from Lithuania, the very country from which my father came to Israel in the late 1920s, and where he lost his brother and his family during the Holocaust.(My own brother in Israel adopted a child from a town very close to where my father was born!). I strongly feel that Zibuokle deserves to be heard in a large public forum such as Carnegie Hall so that she may share with the world the richness of expression of her emotions.
I do hope that the wonderful musicians in Orpheus conductorless orchestra will include her among the recepients of the ensemble's commissions.
GOOD LUCK!!!

The composer captures the force, energy and determination of something both frenetic, ambitious (America) and at the same time a grace and centered steadiness. Lovely.

This richly textured piece takes one on a complex and fulfilling journey inward. Incredibly original and accomplished. Bravo!

In "Driving Force", I felt as if momentum was constantly building, moving towards something or towards some unknown outcome. Very determined and focused.

In "Completely Embraced", it was easy to follow the different sections and I loved trying to pick out the structures based on 6. Very moving and poignant.

The piece itself moves with a dynamism that comes from deep within consciousness, and it is rich and elegant and passionate all at the same time, composed with conviction and a distinctive voice, a triumph of both the intellect and the heart.

Such a rich piece and very original. I found it a very pleasurable experience.