Tibor Szirovicza: Pavamana, for piano and electronics

The title Pavamana for piano and electronics derives from Sanskrit and carries profound spiritual and ritual significance. Pavamana refers to a mantra, a Vedic prayer found in parts of the most extensive ancient Indian philosophical treatise Brihadaranyaka Upanishad; more precisely in the Brahma Sutras, the fundamental text of the Vedanta philosophical school. The term pavamana signifies “purification” or “that which has been purified” and is closely associated with Soma – both the Vedic deity and the sacred ritual drink believed to possess purifying properties. In a philosophical sense, it denotes the process of spiritual purification, the flow of energy, and the liberation of the mind. As a mantra significant for spiritual awakening, it belongs to a series of yogic and meditation practices, and it was the inspiration for Tibor Szirovicza for the electroacoustic composition of the same name, written in 2019 for pianist Mia Elezović.

Elezović gave the premiere of the original version at a conference devoted to spirituality in twentieth- and twenty-first-century contemporary music, held in Cieszyn, Poland. That rendition was subsequently shortlisted among Croatian compositions for presentation at the 2021 ISCM World New Music Days in China. This piece was also recorded on the MSGSRV32 CD, performed by Mia Elezović (HDS, Cantus, 2020). The electronic component is partly fixed and partly granular in nature, activated manually either through a Max/MSP patch or by means of a MIDI pedal. The piano part brings expressive, often repetitive or minimalist textures, ranging from delicate tones to powerful, resonant chords – representing a tangible, momentary impulse of sound shaping and an evocation of different states of mind. Seamlessly interwoven with the piano within a meditative atmosphere, the electronics complement the acoustic instrument by capturing its sonic impulses and transforming them into fluid soundscapes. In doing so, they foreground a timeless sonic space characterised by the uninterrupted flow of sound, symbolising a universal consciousness. The composer writes about this: “Of course, the goal of the process is to enter a meditative state, a union of two consciousnesses, opening space for higher intelligence, divine energy. This is not intended as a musical allusion to any particular religion; even though I use a mantra as my source of inspiration rather than – for example – a Christan prayer or a Jewish liturgical chant.” By fusing a contemporary electroacoustic idiom with introspection and contemplation, Pavamana aspires to become a hypnotic journey through expansive sonic landscapes, inviting the listener to withdraw into silence and engage in profound self-reflection.

(Bojana Plećaš Kalebota, translated by Mia Pleša)

HDS, Cantus, 2026.
Edition numbers: Can. ‭416-3893
ISMN 979-0-801363-89-3