Septini mirkli pie krusta (Seven Moments at the Cross): Mixed Voices (SSAATTBB)

Stivrina has written a work that respects the intelligence and capability of a full mixed chorus while remaining genuinely performable by strong university and community choirs. The 22-minute arc unfolds with architectural precision, giving singers the satisfaction of both intimate moments and passages of considerable vocal and emotional weight.

Stivrina's setting unfolds as a meditative journey through seven interconnected moments, each revealing different facets of contemplation and spiritual witness. The writing balances moments of austere simplicity with passages of rich harmonic color, creating a soundscape that feels both timeless and immediate.

This work demands a choir with solid musicianship, secure part-reading skills, and genuine commitment to choral literature of depth. College and university choirs, adult community ensembles, and professional touring choirs will find the challenges and rewards substantial.

• Balance the eight-part texture by thinking vertically within each section first; secure the harmonic foundation before blending across the full ensemble.
• Pay close attention to text underlay and pronunciation guides if provided; clarity of diction will distinguish the spiritual weight of this work.
• Consider the pacing of the full work as essential to interpretation. Resist the urge to rush transitions between the seven moments; allow silence and stillness to shape the listener's experience.
• Rehearse parts independently before full sections meet. The SSAATTBB voicing creates natural subgroups that benefit from time spent establishing independence and intonation.

This work functions as a complete concert experience or as the centerpiece of a program exploring sacred choral literature from the Baltic region. Its 22-minute duration makes it ideal for a dedicated portion of a concert program, paired with shorter works or performed as the compelling second half of an evening.

• Reading and sustaining eight-part mixed voicing with independence and blend
• Interpreting text with spiritual sensitivity across a lengthy, multi-sectional form
• Managing harmonic intonation in contemporary and modal harmonic language
• Developing stamina and focus for extended contemplative singing
• Understanding structural architecture across a 22-minute work