Didziausia Meile

Didziausia Meile roughly translates to "A Love Most Supreme" in Lithuanian. The title is Lithuanian due to the fact that the piece was written for Algirdas Matonis and his wife Birute Stundziaite, in honor of their anniversary. Both moved from Lithiuania to the Unites States where they live today. The piece is meant to further compliment the couple dur to the fact that Algirdas plays euphonium and his wife the piano. When the euphonium enters, the piano is already playing. This is meant to represent an almost slow stride to the other (Birute) and in a serenading way saying "I love you". Later, the piano takes the lead. When this happens, this is to represent the natural response of, "I love you too". The melody is repeated in the left hand to symbolize the natural more mellow sound of the euphonium and blend to it. This is to symbolize the pair becoming one. Next we hear the pair together. The piano playing the melody and this time the euphonium playing sort of an accompanied figure. This should feel like a slow dance. One that feels almost like drifting off to sleep. Inspiration was taken from several Lithuanian lullabies parents sing their children to sleep. Therefore, a rubato feel is not necessarily out of the question. Ritardandos should also almost be exaggerated. Finally, at the rallentando should be stretched and most certainly exaggerated.