Donis - 8 Albums - The Main Discography 1998-2007

DONIS is a well-known Lithuanian neofolk/ambient/experimental music project, the central axis of which is a multi-instrumentalist Donatas Bielkauskas. He creates and plays music using authentic and modernized Lithuanian folk as well as electronic instruments; sessional musicians are also invited to cooperate. The project is distinguished for its solid, subtle and mature sound of modern music with Baltic touch. The debut album “Deinaina” was released in a tape format in 1998, it was followed by a CD “Baltos Juodos Klajos” (“White Black Wanders” , Dangus prod . 2002), the famous work “Švilpiai” (“Whistles”, 2003), a joint project of DONIS with KŪLGRINDA “Sotvaras” (Dangus prod.), an ambient album “Vacuum” (Autarkeia, 2004), a post-folklore album “Bite Lingo” and antic "Alexandreia" (Autarkeia, 2007). From 1994 until now, DONIS collaborates with various projects: Wejdas, Notanga, Kūlgrinda, etc. Lately, Donatas pays much attention to electronic and experimental music. A wish and potentiality to experiment not only with ambient/folk music reveals itself in a project d.n.s. *About Donis* ||| Giedrius Kuprevičius (composer, dean of the Faculty of Humanities at Kaunas University of Technology): At these disturbing times of cultural transformation there are people that strive to preserve the cells of fundamental feelings and senses. Donis’ progression returning to the section of antediluvian cultural mentality is a successful attempt to convey to us the sounds of that section. Donis' ability to play with modern and archaic expression delights and comforts: his albums are an attestation of these abilities. *Official Website of the Artist* http://www.donis.lt --- ||| Deinaina MC, 1998 Released by Donis (mp3; CBR 128 kb/s) "Deinaina" in Prussian means "morning star". It's a debut album of the project Donis, which was recorded with the help of Daina Kacerauskaite. Music here is associated with themes of mythology, nature, death and paganism. Music atmosphere is created mainly on the ground of neofolk, ambient and new age sound features. Compositions are rich in sounds - from synthesizers up to the strangest national instruments. "Studying at the University of Klaipeda in the Folk Music Chair, I had to get acquainted with a huge number of new for us folk instruments, so choosing them in this album was dictated by my speciality." Interview “Duokle sau paciam“ – “Vakaru ekspresas” [1998 12 19], Vaida Staneviciute Donis: Daina - voice and traditional folk instruments (kankles, skuduciai, lumzdelis, pagaliukai, pliauske, terksle, vejovarpai) Donatas - voice, synthesizers and traditional folk instruments (birbyne, dudmaisis, zvanguliai, lumzdelis, sekminiu ragelis, bandurelis, vejovarpai, skrabaliukas) Folk lyrics Music and arrangement by Donatas 5th and 7th pieces - folk music Sound design by Virgis and Gintaras Recorded by the studio of Siauliai Drama Theatre (III 1998) Cover design: Ernas Released by Donis Compositions: 1. Deinaina 2.A Dance 3.For Future 4.Morning Dew 5.Where Have You Been, My Lad 6.Black Raven has come flying 7.Gardens, Gardens 8.The Talk of the Trees ||| Baltos juodos klajos [White Black Wanders] CD, 2002 Released by Dangus (lossles; FLAC+CUEsheet; audio, video, HQ covers) The brand new experimental solo album of Notanga and ex-Wejdas member Donatas Bielkauskas. Ambiental snow-fresh music, that was recorded with piano and handbells only, gives a sense of absolute purity and profound tranquility – the distinctive Donis manner his art is famous for. A multimedia video illustration of the whole 30 min. composition was created and produced together with Ernas Simkunas – the new promising video artist. Stop for a moment. And enjoy the high-quality ethereal peace Music : Donatas Bielkauskas (piano and zvanguliai) Recorded in Jurbarkas 2001 Video material filmed in "Curonian Spit" and in Karkle, January 2002 filmed by Donatas video arrangement, effects: Ernas Simkunas Naturalistic line of the plot : Donatas Hypnotically-abstract line of the plot: Ernas Cover design: Ernas [ there are plenty of space for coincidences in music and moving images ] Released by Dangus [DGCD 001] Stop for a moment and enjoy the ethereal peace. Compositions: 1. "Baltos Juodos Klajos" - audio 2. "Baltos Juodos Klajos" - video ||| Svilpiai CDr, 2003 Released by Donis (mp3; CBR 256 kb/s) An exclusive 2003 release – the music was performed with authentic clay whistles made by Lithuanian sculptor A.Moncys (1921-1993). Really deep and tranquil atmosphere, recalling the primordial tribal sound of early Wejdas works... 5 compositions and some multimedia in a special cardboard envelope It is recommended to listen to it quietly. Music by Donatas Bielkauskas Recorded in Klaipeda [Lithuania] in July-November, 2002 Video „Svilpiai“ by Donatas Bielkauskas Cover design by Ernas Simkunas Compositions: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. ||| Sotvaras DONIS + KULGRINDA CD, 2003 Released by Dangus (lossles; FLAC+CUEsheet; HQ covers) The joint project by famous Baltic ritual folk company Kulgrinda and a noble neofolk artist Donis - archaic Winter Solstice chants with profound and subtle musical arrangements. The sacred experience of the time, when the whole world gets restarted by the greatest and most enigmatic primal God. One of His manifestations is named Sotvaras. The new cycle begins with clear refined beauty ambient, followed by various folk instruments, tranquil atmospheric passages and really old pagan chants, carrying the eternal tale about the magic origin of the world. Now you can FEEL it. 8 pieces with nice medieval designs. Kulgrinda recorded chants in Vilnius, 2003 Recorded in Klaipeda by Donis , 2003. Sound directors: Donis and McKaras Donatas Bielkauskas - kankles, bandurelis, lamzdelis, tenorine birbyne, zvanguliai, drums, tambourine, ragelis, whistles, triangle, syntheziser, efects. Kulgrinda: Inija Trinkunienė, Jonas Trinkunas, Rimgailė Trinkunaitė, Ineta Meduckytė, Simona Biekšaitė, Daiva Jusiūtė, Brigita Sazanskytė, Tadas Šidiškis, Ramūnas Pocius (bagpipe:4), Povilas Vaitkevičius (drums:6). Mastering: Artūras Pugačiauskas Cover design by Ugnius Liogė Released by Dangus [DGCD 011] Compositions: 1. Sotvaras 2. Vidury lauko 3. Oi, leliumai 4. Ažarai šalo, kupčiai važiavo 5. Leliumai, gaidiai gieda 6. Buvo mūsų lelimoj 7. Lėkė lėkė sakalėlis 8. ...eisie… ||| Bite lingo CD, 2006/01/24 Released by Dangus (lossles; FLAC) DONIS is one of the most gifted and most interesting projects in the whole Baltic post-folklore scene. "Bite lingo“, the recent work of a young composer, Donatas Bielkauskas, will certainly amaze not only the admirers of DONIS music but also those who have never heard of him yet. In ten compositions of the album, profoundness of archaic chants subtly blends with original contemporary music arrangements. The chants were sung by a professional vocalist Rasa Serra. Pure and intense, gently flowing vocals of this singer from the seaside endues the songs of "Bite lingo" with overpowering beauty, and distinguishes her among other folklore performers. Ancient chants revive seized by majestic and graceful Donis‘ sound architecture and spellbinding post-folk rhythms. As in previous albums, the music of the project assumes nearly ritualistic sense. It is the fifth album of DONIS, and it is based on military – historical folklore that the author had been interested in for several years. The journey to the space of the Baltic essence starts and finishes with the voices of Klaipeda folklore ensemble KURSIU AINIAI (the leaders are Jolita Vozgirdiene and Deividas Krutkevicius). Atmospheric, psychedelic guitar runs of Jevgenij Sege elevate the sound of the album, and the sounds of kankles and violin folds it in tranquillity and cosiness. Dignity and profoundness of extant heathen chants reveals itself through original modern acoustic aesthetics. One of the brightest modernized songs "An krantelio akmenelis" was already presented to the audience in the contemporary Baltic music compilation "Amber Tribes", and was also included in a release "The Singing Land: Contemporary Folk Music from Lithuania 2005" representing Lithuanian post-folklore in the international cultural fair MIDEM. The album also contains two electronical remixes of the title track "Bite lingo" created by Donatas‘ colleagues, famous representatives of experimental music Driezhas and McKaras. CD "Bite lingo" is released as a deluxe digipack Lyrics by folk [historic war folklore songs, except 4] Donatas Bielkauskas – music [2, 4, 5, 7] and authentic melodies arrangements [1, 3, 6, 10] Recorded in Klaipeda 2000–2005 Mastering McKaras Design by Gys Logo graphics by Algis Klisevicius Released by Dangus [DGCD 018] „Bite lingo“ was performed by: Rasa Serra [www.rasaserra.com] – vocals [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9] Klaipeda folklore ensemble "Kursiu ainiai" (leaders Jolita Vozgirdiene and Deividas Krutkevicius) – vocals [1, 10] Jevgenij Sege – el.guitar [3] Jolita Vozgirdiene – traditional kanklės [1] Deividas Krutkevicius – violin [6] McKaras – "Bite lingo" mix version [8] Kristijonas Lucinskas – "Bite lingo" mix version [9] Donatas Bielkauskas – programming, sampling, mixing, keyboards, birbyne, lumzdelis, zvanguliai, svilpis (folk instruments), percusion, effects Compositions: 1. Oh, you crow 2. Lingo bee 3. Nightingale sings so nicely 4. Lullaby 5. There's a stone on the coast 6. Behind the lofty hills 7. Oh, swans were flying 8. Lingo bee [McKaras mix] 9. Lingo bee [Driezhas mix] 10. A cuckoo was callin in a green birch ||| Alexandreia CD, 2007 Released by Autarkeia (mp3; CBR 192 kb/s) Donatas Bielkauskas - the man having keen ear, primeval curiosity, solid musical education and exquisite taste, who has released into the world the musical project DONIS (tribute in Prussian) - expands the space of creative quests with every new album until it transgresses this single regular cultural medium - music related with the tradition of Lithuanian ethnos, which he is the expert of. This time the artist has embarked on a new challenging journey, that is, to compose music revealing the unknown spirit of antiquity. His efforts have resulted in Alexandreia album that serves as a deep, pure and dreamy manifest to the ancient times. Tranquil, transparent and persuasive ambient stream prevails in the tracks. The archaic winds of different nations tastefully add to it in some of the tracks. These include hornpipe, bagpipes, mesmerising rhythms of tabor and mystifying bells. Soft and velvety voice of vocalist Alwyda, who has created the key vein of the album, opens the idealised femininity of the antiquity and conveys emotionally-charged world vision of genius Konstantin Kavafi where the Mediterranean past and present, the East and the West, the Greeks and the barbarians meet in the catharsis of profound sadness and wisdom, where the fall of civilisation witnessed in the vanishing cultural heritage is revealed. The Greek poetry recited in an enchanting voice and the ambient melting the words with elemental force embrace the audience who do not even know the archaic language. Alexandreia album will not disappoint the lovers of Dead Can Dance, Kameras 48, Raison D’etre music, either. Info: Autarkeia.org Poetry: Constantine P. Kavafis (1863–1933). Voice: Alvyda Stepaviciute [Alwyda] Vocals: Joanne Spiricheva. Music: Donatas Bielkauskas (programming, sampling, Lithuanian folk wind instruments birbyne and duda (Baltic bagpipe), Lithuanian folk percussion instrument zvanguliai, folk wind instrument of Caucasus region duduki, KORG X5D, electric organ " Vermona " , effects). Recorded in Klaipeda and Kaunas, in 2006 (January–December). Design by Lashisha and sandra.ru Released by Autarkeia [CD, 2007] Compositions: 1. Alexandreia 2. Ionia 3. Sparta 4. Troia ||| Donis/Driezhas : Split'as CDr, 2002 Released by Donis/Driezhas/po:z (mp3; CBR 192 kb/s) Music: Driezhas [1, 3, 5, 7] Donis [2, 4, 6, 8] QuickTime video: Donis/po:z Design by Ernas Simkunas [CD-r] released by Donis/Driezhas/po:z Compositions: 1.Vartai 2. Mntyns 3. Kliedesiai 4. Kk tv mnm trnk akmrk 5. T t p … 6. Km tos gls r pljm 7. Ji pasl ėps tave 8. Bsna ||| Inconnu/Driezhas/Donis "20:00.00000 x 3" CDr, 2003 m. Released by Miglos lab. (mp3; VBR aprox. 192 kb/s) Music: inconnu / driezhas / donis Design: Ernas Simkunas [CD-r] released by Miglos lab. 2003 [migla001] Compositions: 1. 20:00.00000 2. 20:00.00000 3. 20:00.00000

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agoranoia (2008-10-18)

Beautiful! Awesome! Thanks so much for sharing this... This is why I love the internet...

 Pylypas_von_Kanapes (2009-07-11)

One additional album that is missing in this torrent uploaded: