Having a bit of time of my hands at the moment, and being a bit of a Slavophile (musically anyway) I decided to research the "youtubeosphere" to see what (orchestral) Ukrainian music has been posted up - recordings of live concerts, old Soviet broadcasts, old Soviet LP transfers, etc. There is quite a lot there.
My current favourite is a Christmas carol "Oh what a Miracle" ("Shcho to za Predivo"/"Що то за предиво") by Vasil Barvinsky (1888-1963) - two youtube recordings stand out - https://youtu.be/W6anVr0jln0 (https://youtu.be/W6anVr0jln0) (solo soprano, chorus and orchestra) and https://youtu.be/SJ8TTw7IEdc (https://youtu.be/SJ8TTw7IEdc) (soprano + a capella) Unusually I like the a capella more. Lovely lush late-romantic stuff and melodious in the extreme.
Other Ukrainian composers, all "unsung", whose orchestral music I have found include:
Hordiy Hladkiy (1849-1894)
Stanyslav Lyudkevych (1879-1979)
Petro Nishchynsky (1832-1896)
Levko Revutsky (1889-1977)
Denis Sichynsky (1865-1909)
Yakiv Stepovy (1883-1921)
Mykhailo Verbytsky (1815-1870)
Mykhailo Verikivsky (1896-1962)
What has become very clear is the central role that the Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko (1814-1861) has on the "Ukrainian soul" - he is to the Ukrainians what Burns is to the Scots, Pushkin to the Russians and Goethe to the Germans. His major poem "Testament" ("Zapovit") has been set to music by Boris Lyatoshynsky (1895-1968), Hladkiy, Verbytsky, Lyudkevych, Revutsky, Barvinsky, Gliere - and others who fall outside "our" period" (Kabalevsky, Silvestrov, Frolyak...).
When I am dead, bury me
In my beloved Ukraine,
My tomb upon a grave mound high
Amid the spreading plain,
So that the fields, the boundless steppes,
The Dnieper's plunging shore
My eyes could see, my ears could hear
The mighty river roar.
When from Ukraine the Dnieper bears
Into the deep blue sea
The blood of foes ... then will I leave
These hills and fertile fields --
I'll leave them all and fly away
To the abode of God,
And then I'll pray .... But until that day
I know nothing of God.
Oh bury me, then rise ye up
And break your heavy chains
And water with the tyrants' blood
The freedom you have gained.
And in the great new family,
The family of the free,
With softly spoken, kindly word
Remember also me.
Anyway, I am going to convert the youtube recordings which I like of the above composers, and others that I find, into mp3 files for my own enjoyment. I will, needless to say, abstain from anything that is commercially available. If it falls within the rules of UC, would people be interested if I were to post them up in downloads?
i surely would. Thanks.
J
Kabalevsky was Russian through and through.
I don't think Christopher was saying (or even implying) that Kabalevsky was Ukrainian - just that he had set Shevchenko's poetry to music.
Yes that's what I meant, thanks for clarifying that Gareth. Delicious Manager - thank you for reading, would you care to comment as to my query at the end?
Kabalevsky used Hladkiy's music as the basis for a vocal-symphonic poem that he wrote for a Soviet movie, Shchors, in a funeral scene that is a key part of the film (the film is a biography of the partisan leader and Ukrainian Bolshevik Nikolai Shchors).
Just finished watching a well-known film which was based loosely on/often mentioned the life of a Ukrainian composer (though alas one of the 18th century). Still, interesting topic!
Which composer eschiss? And what is the name of the film? I would be very interested.
Maksym Sozontovych Berezovsky (1725-1777 ca.), a fictionalized version of whose life is recalled at several points during the Tarkovsky movie "Nostalghia" (1983).
(In Nostalghia, Berezovsky is called Sosnovsky, and one character in the film is, iirc, partially following in the composer's fictionalized footsteps - in Bologna, Italy, where the real-life Berezovsky and, of course, Sosnovsky both spent a fair amount of their lives.)
Offtopic, though notable for being believed to have been Ukraine's first symphonist, among other things, and unsung and interesting (and a serf rather than a noble), just not unsung interesting and Romantic. (The more conditions, says this ex-mathematician, you place on your set, the smaller it's going to be...)
Thanks for this Eschiss.
There's a very small record label called Caro Mitis which has recorded some of Berezovsky's secular music with a Russian orchestra called Pratum Integrum.
They have also made two Bortnyansky CDs ("The Russian Album" and "The Italian Album").
www.caromitis.com/eng/catalogue/catalogue.html (http://www.caromitis.com/eng/catalogue/catalogue.html)
Some of the youtube "rips" that I post up aren't of the best audio quality. Live concerts have the inevitable coughing etc, while less formal gatherings have more, or background chatter, or "blips", or (in a couple of cases) the first and/or last notes cut short! But in the absence of any other recordings of the music of these composers, this is what we have. If those things irritate you beyond distraction (and this is understandable), then best not listen!
Vasyl Barvinsky's piano concerto was posted up here a couple of years ago. I thought it sounded like a good piece poorly played. Very melodic. - http://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php/topic,1196.msg18295.html#msg18295 (http://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php/topic,1196.msg18295.html#msg18295)
I post here his Ukrainian Rhapsody, his setting of Taras Shevchenko's "Testament" ("Zapovit"), and two recordings of his carol "Oh what a miracle", which I mentioned above (and which I really love). One a capella, and one with orchestra. Performer details in the downloads section.
Barvinsky's wikipedia entry reads as follows:
Vasyl Oleksandrovych Barvinsky (Ukrainian: Василь Олександрович Барвінський) (20 February 1888 – 9 June 1963) was a Ukrainian composer, pianist, conductor, teacher, musicologist, and music related social figure.
Barvinsky was one of the first Ukrainian composers to gain worldwide recognition. His pieces were published not only in the Soviet Union, but also in Vienna, Leipzig, New York (Universal Edition), and Japan. Barvinsky directed a post-secondary musical institution in the city of Lviv (1915-1948), and was considered to be the head of musical life at the time. Currently there is a College of Music named after Barvinsky in Drohobych city of Ukraine.
Vasyl Barvinsky was born in Ternopil, on 20 February 1888. Barvinsky descended from an older aristocratic family. Barvinsky's father, Oleksander Barvinsky, was famous Ukrainian pedagogue, politician, and public figure. In 1917 he was appointed a member of the Austrian upper chamber. Vasyl's mother, singer and pianist, became his first music teacher.
Barvinsky gained professional music education in Lviv conservatory. Barvinsky continued his music education in Prague. Among his teachers were Vilém Kurz (piano), and Vítězslav Novák (composition).
Barvinsky has written about 30 works. Barvinsky's compositions are said to be impressive by their "... matureness', thoughtfulness and delicacy". Barvinsky composed in various genres except ballet and opera. His style, late romantic with impressionistic features, was also strongly influenced by Ukrainian folklore. Although many of Barvinsky's works were lost, most of his creative inheritance remained and is performed worldwide.
and a rough translation from Ukrainian wikipedia:
In October 1939 he was elected to the People's Assembly of Western Ukraine, which was proclaimed the accession of Western Ukraine to the USSR.
In 1939-1941 and 1944-1948, respectively, while as a director and chairman of the Lviv Conservatory Lviv branch of the Union of composers he wrote several works mostly vocal genre. These were portrait sketches to the musical based on the songs of O. Dovbush.
In early 1948 he was arrested. He was forced to sign a document, "Allow destroy my manuscript." And his manuscripts were destroyed. Then there was a long exile for 10 years in the Mordovian gulag camps.
After returning from exile (1958) all his strength was focused on restoring the memory of his works, which had been destroyed during his arrest (he worked on this until his death).
He was buried in Lviv in the Lychakiv Cemetery in the family tomb (field number 3).
1964 the long-term efforts on the part of Lviv-based composers (especially A. Kos-Anatolsky) reached their goal: Barvinsky was rehabilitated. Nevertheless, his music for almost 25 years was almost everywhere removed from the concert repertoire.
Yakiv Stepovy is the brother of Fedor Akimenko (Fedyr Yakymenko), who has been discussed on this site before (http://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php/topic,4020.msg46338.html#msg46338 (http://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php/topic,4020.msg46338.html#msg46338)) - I don't know why they have different surnames.
Most of his recorded output that I have found consists of songs with orchestra. Plus his Prelude in Memory of Taras Shevchenko, for which I have uploaded three recordings.
Songs:
Scatter in the Wind, after Ivan Franko (Ukrainian poet, 1856-1916)
Do not sing happy songs
Because the sun rises, after Taras Shevchenko
Oy three wide roads
My evening star
Ukrainian serenade
His wikipedia entry reads as follows:
Yakiv Stepovy (Ukrainian: Яків Степовий) (born October 20, 1883 – died November 4, 1921) – was a Ukrainian composer, teacher, and music critic. Stepovy was born Yakiv Yakymenko ( Akimenko) in Kharkiv, in the Russian Empire (in present-day Ukraine). Stepovy's older brother, Fedyr Yakymenko (Theodore Akimenko (fr)), was also a composer.[1] Stepovy was a representative of the Ukrainian musical intelligentsia of the 20th century. He was one of the founders of the national school of composition and composed in the tradition of Mykola Lysenko.[2]
Stepovy was a graduate of the St. Petersburg Conservatory, where he studied with Alexander Glazunov and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and graduated in 1914.[1][3]
During World War I, Stepovy was recruited to the military, where he worked as a secretary on a hospital train.[3] He served in the military for almost three years, until he managed to get released in April 1917.[4] After this he settled in Kiev where he worked as a teacher at the Kiev Conservatory and a musical critic.[2]
He was a master at choral and piano works, the author of music collections for children, teacher of the Kiev Conservatory and founder of the State vocal quartet
and roughly translated from Ukrainian wikipedia:
Yakiv's father worked in the church choir, elder brother - Fedyr Yakymenko - studied singing at the St. Petersburg court chapel and later became a famous Ukrainian composer.
Yakiv also was admitted to the St. Petersburg court chapel, and during his stay in the chapel (1895-1902 gg.) Mastered the profession of conductor, learned to play the piano, clarinet.
In May 1917 the composer was able to rid of the hated service in the royal army, and in the same year he became a teacher and head of the Kyiv Conservatory of Music and Drama State Vocal Ensemble.
After another concert tour Stepovy suddenly fell ill with typhus and in 1921 died in Kiev. He was buried at the cemetery Baikove. He is a representative of the Ukrainian intelligentsia music of the first quarter of the XX century, and one of the founders of the national school of composition and successor of the traditions of Mykola Lysenko. He was a Kyiv Conservatory teacher and founder of the State of vocal quartet, head of section in the Ukrainian national music committee of arts, music and educational activist, promoter of world classics in Ukraine. In 1921 the State Vocal Assembly was named after him. In 1969 a street in Kyiv was named after him.
Fedyr Yakymenko (or Fyodor Akimenko) was the brother of Yakiv Stepovy.
Two of his recorded works are posted on youtube and are in the downloads section: Lyric Poem, and Angel poem-nocturne. I have "ripped" these and placed in the downloads section.
There is also a recording of his Nocturne for Strings on IMSLP (http://imslp.org/wiki/Nocturne_in_D_major_%28Akimenko,_Theodore%29 (http://imslp.org/wiki/Nocturne_in_D_major_%28Akimenko,_Theodore%29))
His Ukrainian wikipedia reads as follows (rough google-translation):
Fedyr Stepanovich Yakimenko (20 February 1876, Kharkiv - † 3 January 1945, Paris) - Ukrainian composer, pianist and teacher. Brother was Yakiv Stepovy.
Born in the village of Piski near Kharkov. 10-year old Yakimenko was selected for the court chapel in St. Petersburg. In 1886 - 1895. Studied piano with Russian pianist and composer M. Balakirev. 1900 graduated from the St. Petersburg Conservatory (composition class of Rimsky-Korsakov and A. Liadov). Since 1897 worked as a teacher of conducting courses in the court chapel. Later became director of music schools in Tiflis in the Caucasus (1901 - 1903 years.) And in Nice (France, 1903 - 1906).
After a short stay in Kharkiv, he became a professor of the music department of the Drahomanov Ukrainian Higher Pedagogical Institute in Prague. Among his students were Z. Lys'ko 3. M. Kolessa and others. In pedagogical work, Yakimenko performed as a concert-pianist and conductor of the choir. From this time came his "Practical Course in Harmony" (Prague, 1926). From 1928 he lived in France (Nice, Paris), where he died.
As a composer, Yakimenko - one of the prominent members of the current neo-romantic music of the twentieth century. with a noticeable influence of Impressionism. Prominent in his work takes instrumental music: two symphonies, symphonic poems, orchestral suite, overture, string trio Sonata for cello, Sonata for violin and numerous piano works (Sonata, Sonata-fantasy "Ukrainian Suite" Preludes, Etudes) . Some works Yakimenko built on melodies from Ukrainian folk songs. He was the author of numerous songs, Church works ( "Our Father", "Cherubim" and others.) And Ukrainian choral arrangements of folk songs. Many of Yakimenko's works were published in German, French, Russian and Ukrainian publishing houses. Other works include the opera "Snow Fairy", a ballet (name unknown.) "Lyric Poem" for orchestra, several instrumental pieces, songs, quartet, trio, piano pieces on the theme of Ukrainian songs.
He is the author of a collection of songs for choir arrangements and a Ukrainian textbook on harmony.
Works of Fedyr Yakymenko showed influence of some contemporary modernistic direction.
Thanks, Christopher. For anyone inclined to search for old lps, I have one back in Wisconsin that features Barvinsky String Quartet in g and Variations in G for piano quintet. Likely an old Melodiya.
J
Thanks Jerfilm - and there's more to come. The Barvinsky string quartet would certainly be very interesting to hear!
http://imslp.org/wiki/Nocturne_in_D_major_%28Akimenko,_Theodore%29 (http://imslp.org/wiki/Nocturne_in_D_major_%28Akimenko,_Theodore%29) is a correct link to the Akimenko nocturne @ IMSLP without the composer-tag dropping into the pits of parenthetics...
There is a guy called Iosyp Sozansky and he is the conductor of the Chernivtsy Regional Philharmonia (http://www.filarmoniya.cv.ua/en/ (http://www.filarmoniya.cv.ua/en/) - Chernivtsy is a rather picturesque city in western Ukraine and something of a cultural centre). He appears to be leading (since 2015) a project called The Revival of Forgotten Manuscripts which focuses on Ukraine's composers from the 19th century and putting the resulting performances online.
A large part of the output so far consists of the music of Mykhailo Verbytsky (1815-1870). He is known in Ukraine today as the composer of the country's stirring national anthem "Ukraine has not yet perished / Shche ne vmerla Ukraina". But his output was significant - as can be seen from his wikipedia entry which I copy in below.
I have put in the downloads section 12 of his works which I found on youtube, all recordings of live concerts. His symphonies are very short and (according to his wikipedia entry) "are more like overtures". Personally I think they are quite "Schubert-esque" and would love to hear if others think so too. Highly melodic.
I have put in the downloads section:
Overture
Cantata - The Gathering of My Countrymen in Ukraine (this track includes the National Anthem at the end) (cantata arranged for orchestra by Frantsishok Fridrikh)
Testament ("Zapovit"), after Taras Shevchenko
Orchestral suite (Kolomiyka + mazurka)
Polonaise No.1 in D major
Symphony No.1 (arranged by Stanyslav Lyudkevych)
Symphony No.2 in C major
Symphony No.4 in G major (from 1864)
Symphony No.5
Symphony No.6 (version for solo piano)
Symphony No.7 in A major (my favourite - urgent opening theme, as in Schubert's Unfinished 8th)
Symphony No.10 in D major (dedicated to Orest Sinkevich) ( - I know that the wikipedia says he wrote 9 symphonies so I can't explain this one....)
Mykhailo Mykhailovych Verbytsky (Ukrainian: Михайло Михайлович Вербицький) (born March 4, 1815 in Jawornik Ruski, Austria-Hungary (now Poland) - died December 7, 1870 in Młyny) was a Ukrainian Greek Catholic priest and composer. He is considered to be one of the first professional Ukrainian composers of Halychyna.[1] Verbytsky is known for composing an alternate melody to the song Shche ne vmerla Ukrainy (Ukraine's glory has not perished), which later became the national anthem of Ukraine. His first name is sometimes translated to the English version of Michael, Polish Michal, Russian and other languages (see Michael for more).
Mykhailo Verbytsky was born in the Nadsyannya. Sources often differ as to the exact location of his birth. He was however born in Jawornik Ruski[1] and christened 8 km away in Ulucz[2] (the site of the oldest wooden church in Poland where his father was the local priest. Both are now in Subcarpathian Voivodeship, Poland.)
Verbytsky as born into the family of a priest. He left an orphan at the age of 10, and was raised by his father's brother, bishop Ivan Snihurskiy, from then on. Snihurskiy took Mykhailo to live with him in Peremysl, where his uncle was very active: founding the city's first Ukrainian language printing press, published compilations of folkore and textbooks about the Ukrainian language. In 1818, Snihurskiy even founded a dyak-teaching institute in the city, and ten years later, a cathedral choir and music school.[1] Verbystky was therefore placed in a very active and creative environment.
In 1833, Verbytsky entered the Theological Seminary in Lviv. Here he became seriously engaged in music, learning to play the guitar, which became his favorite musical instrument. He eventually wrote a textbook teaching how to play the guitar and wrote pieces for the instrument. Because of financial problems, he twice had to leave the Seminary, but he eventually graduated and became a priest.[2]
The church in the village of Mlyny, where Verbystky spent much of his life.
In 1852 Verbytsky received a parish in the village of Mlyny, Yavorskiy county, where he would live and work for the rest of his life. As a priest he wrote may liturgical compositions, which are still sund throughout the Halychyna region. Some of these include "Єдинородний Сине" (Oh Only Beggoten Son), "Святий Боже" (Oh Holy God), "Алилуя" (Alleluia), "Отче наш" (The Lord's Prayer), and "Хваліте Господа з небес" (Praise the Lord from the heavens)
As a composer he helped lay the foundations for the development of modern Ukrainian music. His works are formally unsophisticated, often strophic, and usually in the minor mode; but his stage works (notably Prostachka ('The Simpleton'), 1870) are representative of a popular folk genre that was melodically fluid, singable, pictorial and emotionally evocative. His instrumental writing does not extend far beyond the simple development of folktunes. Nevertheless, he composed 12 so-called symphonies (really overtures), the sixth of which Stanislav Lyudkevich based an orchestral piece and a piano trio. He also composed Zapovit ('Testament', 1868), a setting of Shevchenko's poem for bass solo, double choir and orchestra, the operetta Podgoryane which was staged in Lemberg (now L′viv, 1864), and numerous sacred and secular choral works and songs. He is best known as the composer of the Ukrainian national anthem Shche ne vmerla Ukrayiny ('The Ukraine has not Perished'), which in 1917 was adopted by the new Ukrainian republican government.
Musicologist Uliana Petrus' has put together a list of 133 known compositions by M. Verbytsky. These include:
Large scale secular choral works - 30
Sacred choral works - 37
Vocal ensembles
Art songs -10
Arrangements of folk songs - 10
Orchestral works - 18 works including 9 symphonies
Chamber works
15 works for various instruments
Music to 12 stage works
In 2005 the chapel-pantheon over the tomb of Mykhailo Verbytsky was opened to mark the 140th anniversary of Ukrainian national anthem and 190th anniversary of its composer.
Kryzhanivsky, Bohdan Volodymyrovych (1894-1955)
Iosyp Sozansky and the Chernivtsi Regional Philharmonia have recorded a work by a composer who, as far as I can tell, has no other works recorded.
Danilo of Galicia is a rather large-scale work in the form of a cantata or oratorio - written for narrator, soloists, chorus and orchestra after a poem by Mykola Bazhan - it runs to approx 55 minutes. Don't be put off by the narrator (speaking in Ukrainian) - he does speak quite a bit at the beginning (with the music) but then for the most part he shuts up! The piece was written in 1942 but is definitely in a late-romantic style. You can hear it here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U05V1TrL0Ss (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U05V1TrL0Ss)
Danilo of Galicia was, according to wikipedia, a King of Rus', Prince of Galicia (Halych) (1205–1255), Peremyshl (1211), and Volodymyr (1212–1231). He was crowned by a papal archbishop in Dorohochyn 1253 as the first King of Rus' (1253–1264). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_of_Galicia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_of_Galicia)
Bohdan Kryzhanivsky's Ukrainian wikipdia is as follows (translated roughly from google):
Kryzhanivsky Bogdan Vladimirovich (August 24, 1894, Lviv - April 20, 1955, Chernivtsi) - Ukrainian conductor and composer.
Born August 24, 1894 in Lviv, a family lawyer. Lviv past childhood. Here he studied in high school, in his youth expressed a great enthusiasm for musical instruments (violin, cello, piano).
After graduating from the Lysenko Higher Music Institute in piano in 1916 he went to Vienna to continue training in music theory and composition at the Metropolitan Kaiser Academy of Music and Performing Arts. After the unexpected death of his father returned to his native city.
During the First World War (1916) joined the Ukrainian Sich Riflemen - joined the 1st Sich orchestras organized by Michael Gayvoronsky. I
In 1918, along with Leo and Basil Getsom Bobynsky signed a "Small Anthology of Creativity", the original of which was created on the model of handwritten old books, decorated with lots of illustrations and pictures. To introduce the Ukrainian edition to the broader public, they made a photo-reproduction. He participated in the activities of the new Ukrainian theater in Lviv, at this time, he met with Les Kurbas, Ambrose Buchma, Marian Krushelnytska and other prominent actors.
In 1920, as a result of the February pact concluded between the Ukrainian Galician Army and the Red Army, entered the ranks of the Red Ukrainian Galician Army. In the same year, he bacame one of the organizers of the Franko Ukrainian Drama Theater (in Vinnitsa, 1926, in Kyiv). He was in charge of the musical part of the Lviv Theater. Zankovetska was head and conductor of the Metropolitan Theater "Berezil." Later he worked in the Drama Kharkiv. In 1929 he became a founding member and principal conductor of the First Ukrainian State Musical Comedy Performances "Orpheus in Hell", "Queen of the unknown island", "Geisha," "self-styled Prince", "Chocolate Soldier or Man and weapons." Tashkent (1931-1932 chief conductor of the Opera theatre local), and finally - in Chernivtsi (since 1945).
The beginning of the 50's for the composer was a time of hardship. In World War II his only son Igor was killed. After writing the music to Mykola Bazhan's poem "Danilo of Galicia" in 1942, Kryzhanivsky was strongly persecuted. He was branded a nationalist and Petlurite. He was showered with anonymous denunciations, and betrayed by friends. But despite the circumstances and state of his health (tuberculosis) Kryzhanivsky launched extensive and fruitful activity as organizer of various art groups as director of music schools and teacher.
Bogdan Vladimirovich died April 20, 1955, and was buried at the central cemetery in Chernivtsi.
He wrote operettas, music for plays, vocal-symphonic poems and plays, songs and Sich propulsion arrangements. He wrote an opera, music to operetta "The Mikado" (co-author A. Cherry), several musical comedies ( "Because of the mountain of rock" and others), symphonies, songs, suite for piano and orchestra, dance tunes.
Selected works:
Music to plays:-
"Death Squadron" (play O.Korniychuka 1933)
"Bohdan Khmelnytsky" (play O.Korniychuka - premiered 10
March 1939 in Kiev Theater. Franko)
"Oleksa Dovbush" (1941)
"Danilo of Galicia" (1942)
"Nazar Stodolya"
"Bukovina kolomyiky"
"At the steppes of Ukraine" (O.Korniychuka play for the film which was shot in 1952)
"Lukyan mare" (G. historical drama Mizyuna 1954)
Birthday: August 24, 1894
Place of birth: Lviv
Date of death: April 20, 1955 (60 years old)
Place of death: Chernivtsi
Years active: 1916-1955
Country: West Ukrainian People's Republic; Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic
Nationality: Ukrainian
Job: Conductor, composer
Higher education: (music)
Instruments: piano, violin, cello
Genre: symphonic music, marches
Organisations: Lviv Theatre. Zankovetska "Berezil" Kharkiv Academic Theatre of Musical Comedy and other
I've enjoyed some of these works for a while now, but especially those by Yakimenko. Both pieces are beautiful, and the fact that he was a student of Balakirev and Rimsky-Korsakov comes through in his orchestration and inventiveness. I hope friends on UC enjoy them, too.
Apologies if I missed a statement of this, but was conductor Vladimir Verbitzky (approximate Russian transliteration, poss. misremembered, from Melodiya-Olympia CD; I have a recording or two) a descendant of his?
Re the Akimenko nocturne by the way, there's also a (2001) (3-minute) recording of it on Claves with Misha Rachlevsky conducting the Chamber Orchestra of the Kremlin. (Also has string-orchestra arrangements of Rachmaninoff's string quartet no.2, it seems (Romance & Scherzo), among other works.)
Quote from: eschiss1 on Monday 08 February 2016, 04:39
Apologies if I missed a statement of this, but was conductor Vladimir Verbitzky (approximate Russian transliteration, poss. misremembered, from Melodiya-Olympia CD; I have a recording or two) a descendant of his?
I don't know I'm afraid. It's not a particularly unusual name in the Slavic world.
Not quite off topic: Charles Martin Loeffler, the "Alsatian-American" composer, spent a good stretch of his younger years in the Ukraine. The second movement of his 1891 composition "Evenings in the Ukraine," entitled "A Night in May," is IMHO unquestionably the finest work for violin and orchestra to emanate from North America during that era.
Oh dear, I'm sorry to have to post this, but I really couldn't find much of interest in the Verbytsky 'symphonies'. They really are pretty small beer.
Agree with Alan on Verbitsky, nice overtures if you haven't heard a really good one before. J
Trouble is, we have!
Hmm... agree about Verbytsky. It reminds me of when I was at school and my attempt to make a wooden 'nail box' in the woodwork exam; as I presented the finished item on the teacher's desk, it fell apart. "Oh dear! But, well done for trying!" ;D
Still, many thanks to Christopher for prompting us to 'check him out'.
I've posted up a complete recording of Viktor Kosenko's piano concerto, which he wrote in 1928. A recording of the first movement of this piece was posted up here a few years ago I think (with Arthur Nikulin, and the Academic Symphonic Orchestra of Lviv Philharmonic Society under Dmytro Logvin) and quite a few people liked it as I recall, possibly as it's very Rachmaninovian.
I have also posted up a concert recording of Kosenko's Dawn Poem (orchestrated by Levko Kolodub, a twentieth century Ukrainian composer).
I just wanted to express my sincere thanks to Christopher for sharing the full Kosenko piano concerto on UC. I had only ever heard the 1st movement (which I really liked and surprised it has not yet received a modern recording) and wanted to hear the remaining two movements to gain a full perspective of the whole work. So very grateful to you for uploading this work. I also was very pleased to see you have uploaded some works by Stepovy, Akimenko and Barvinsky (I have a fair collection of piano scores by these composers) so shall be eager to listen to these through the week. It is by only hearing these works that we can gain a fuller understanding of these composers, and whether they weave their magic into our souls.
The Akimenko was a revelation - ravishing beautiful music. I know his piano music well, but beyond the short Nocturne mentioned had never heard any of his major orchestral works, and the two pieces posted are simply stunning. I have not stopped playing them since I downloaded them, so my grateful thanks for posting these. Akimenko wrote extensively for orchestra so I can only hope that more may get recorded in time, as I am amazed, from what I have heard, that he has remained in obscurity for so long.
One question - the Dawn Poem by Kosenko.........I had never heard of this piece and was curious if anyone had any information on this work ? Of his orchestral works - beyond the two concertos - I was only aware of the Heroic Overture and Moldavian Rhapsody, plus some works / sketches for film and theatre. Any information would be much appreciated.
Malcolm
The Kosenko PC is a very attractive piece indeed - downstream, as it were, from Rachmaninov and none the worse for that. A lovely surprise - thanks, Christopher.
Not at all, and I'm glad to know people are enjoying. I've come across another Ukrainian composer on youtube whose piano concerto has Rachmaninovian moments, and is melodic, harmonious and late-romantic throughout. All the more surprising therefore when I found that his dates were 1926-1998 and hence my nervousness in mentioning him. His name is Jury Znatokov and if you type his name plus "piano concerto" into youtube's search box you will find a live concert recording. Also available (seemingly from the same concert) is his violin concerto and music from two of his ballets.
:o? There's some very odd arithmetic going on here. YouTube has his dates as 1926-1998.
No problem with mentioning Znatokov's Piano Concerto if you want to, Christopher - the style of the music is certainly Rachmaninovian romantic. What I would say, though, is that the work isn't a patch on Konsenko's.
Hi Mark - yes I agree. The Znatokov has "moments", while the Kosenko I find rather "lush" throughout. Of the two recordings of Kosenko PC's first movement, I prefer the Nikulin, which was posted up here a couple of years ago. Somehow it flows better.
Regarding those dates.... Grove says:
Kosenko, Viktor Stepanovich
(b St Petersburg, 12/24 Nov 1896; d Kiev, 3 Oct 1938). Ukrainian composer and pianist. In 1918 he graduated from the St Petersburg Conservatory where he studied with Nikolay Sokolov (composition) and Irina Miklashevskaya (piano). In the period 1918–28 he lived in Zhitomir, teaching at the music school; from 1929 he lived in Kiev, teaching at the Lysenko Music Institute (1929–34) and at the conservatory (1934–8), where he ran the classes in piano, chamber music and analysis. He performed as a soloist and as an ensemble player; he was awarded the order of the Workers' Red Banner (1938). His works are Romantic in style and rely in particular on the Russian traditions of Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff and Skryabin.
Music schools in Zhitomir and Kiev (which he helped to set up) bear his name; a Kosenko stipend is awarded to the best students of the Zhitomir school and the Kiev conservatory. The house in Kiev where Kosenko lived has become a memorial museum.
Mykhaylo Adamovych Skorulskyi - 1887-1950
I have posted up a few fragments from the ballet "Song of the Forest" (aka "Song of the Woods" - in Ukrainian "Lisova Pisnya").
I would draw particular attention to "The Adagio of Mavka and Lukash" and "Winter Adagio". The former is certainly a piece that I feel deserves to be more widely known. The music is alluring and ethereal, as befits a "fairy ballet". Skorulskyi wrote it in 1936 for his daughter Natalia who was a ballerina. There is not a dissonant note in it. The clips are taken from a live performance by Kyiv Opera and Ballet.
I have also posted up a recording from a live performance by the Donetsk Ballet of the whole ballet on a single mp3 (1h22m in length).
Wikipedia (English, Ukrainian, Russian, Kazakh, via google translate):
Mikhail Skorulskyi (or Myhailo Skorulskyi; 1887–1950), was a Ukrainian composer. In 1936, he composed the score to Lisova Pisnya (The Forest Song), a three-act ballet based on the drama of the same name by Lesya Ukrainka. The ballet premiered in 1946.
Mikhail Adamovich Skorulskyi (6 (19) September 1887, Kyiv - † February 21, 1950, Moscow) - Soviet composer, pianist, conductor, teacher, Honoured Artist of the USSR (awarded 1947). Father of ballerina Natalia Skorulskaya.
In 1910 he graduated from Zhytomyr music classes of the Russian Musical Society; and in 1914 from the St. Petersburg Conservatory as a pianist under A. Yesipova and under composers Maximilian Steinberg, Jazeps Vitols and Vassili Kalafati. He taught at music schools in Zhytomyr (1908-1910, 1915-1933), at the Kyiv Conservatory (1933-1941, 1944-1950, from 1948 as professor), and in Almaty Kazakhstan (1941-1944). During his time in Kazakhstan he composed works on the basis of Kazakh folklore music in various forms. He died February 21, 1950 in Moscow. He was buried in Kiev's Baikove cemetery.
Works
Opera "Wedding Candles" (1948, after the play by I. Kocherga);
Ballet "Song of the Forest" (1936, after the play by Lesya Ukrainka);
Ballet "Bondarivna" (1939);
Ballet "The Snow Queen" (after Hans Christian Andersen, not completed
Oratorio - The Voice of the Mother (1943)
Works for orchestra - two symphonies (1923, 1932), a piano concerto, flute concerto (1933), symphonic poems "Turbayi", "A Steppe Poem in memory of Amangeldi Imanov" (1944), "Mykyta the Tanner" (1949), "Classical Overture";
Chamber music - two piano quintets (1928, 1943 - including one on themes of Abay Kunanbaev (1845-1904), a Kazakh composer and poet), a string quartet, a piano trio (1924), 2 piano sonatas, songs to words by Lesya Ukrainka, Pavel Tychyn, V. Sosyura and others.
Wikipedia about the ballet:
"Forest Song" (Ukr Lisova Pisnya.) - One of the oldest Ukrainian ballets created in 1936. Ballet in three acts, 11 scenes by composer Michael Skorulsky on the script written for his daughter, ballerina Natalia Skorulsky. The basis of the libretto was the drama of the same name by the great Ukrainian poetess Lesya Ukrainka.
The history of the "Forest Song" by M. Skorulsky
Skorulsky's music, according to the musicologist Zagaykevych, is endowed with emotional content and vivid orchestral colours. Heartfelt melody, lyricism, and winged romanticism are the dominant properties of the ballet score. Much attention is paid by the composer to the musical folklore of Volhynia region (north-west Ukraine, formerly known as Lodomeria (Lesya Ukrainka's play also is based on the region's beliefs and legends, folk imagination, animations and mythologized nature).
The premiere of "Forest Song" was in February 1946 and March 1946 in the Kyiv Opera and Ballet Theatre named after Taras Shevchenko. The choreographer was Sergey Sergeev, conductor Boris Chistyakov, artist A. Hvostenko-Hvostov. The first performers were: Mavka - Antonina Vasileva, Lukas - Alexander Berdovsky, Perelesnik - Anatoly Belov, Kylyna - Valentine Shechtman, Water Mermaid - Natalia Skorulskaya, Field Mermaid - Eugene Ershov, The One who Tears the Dam - Nikolai Apukhtin.
According to the Ukrainian ballet historian Yu Stanishevsky, the second stage of the birth of Song of the Forest "marked the beginning of a qualitatively new stage in the development of Ukrainian ballet". The ballet was "twice with great success shown in Moscow - in November 1960 at the Bolshoi Theater during the third decade of Ukrainian literature and art, and in December 1962 in the Kremlin Palace of Congresses stage during the triumphal tour of the Kiev opera and ballet company". The production of "Forest Song" entered the golden fund of the theater achievements. It received unanimous approval, poetically reproducing the beauty of nature in Volhynia and the bizarre world of fantastic ballet scenes.The large-scale and long-term success staging by Vakhtang Vronsky drew wide attention to Song of the Forest.
Yuri Stanishevsky "Ukrainian ballet theater: history and modernity" wrote "This inspirational ballet, born almost half a century ago, has become a classic of Ukraine's national music and theater, a school of acting for several generations of Kyiv soloists, the original card of the capital's theater. With the huge success it has repeatedly toured in many countries, particularly in Russia, Romania, Japan and the United States. The 2000 staging turned into a real celebration. The performance of the outstanding choreographer Vladimir Vronsky contained massive scenes, full of emotional tension, touching lyrical duets with Mavka from the forest forest whose soulful dance image was created by the virtuoso and expressive A. Dorosh, and dreamer Lukash, in love with Mavka, with sincere emotion created by the beautiful dancer M. Chepik, colourful, folk-ethnographic-coloured paints on the popular episodes of the wedding of Lukas and Kylyna, romantic composition of the corps de ballet - all organically combined humanistic ideas of a brilliant poet, woven into a harmonious, multi-faceted, holistic artistic choreographic canvas".
In 2010, a new theatrical season at the National Opera of Ukraine opened with Song of the Forest, in which the role of Lukash was danced by (British( Royal Ballet dancer Ivan Putrov, making his debut.
The Bolshoi premiere took place on May 2, 1961.
The characters in the ballet M. Skorulsky [edit | edit wiki text]
Mavka
Lukash
Perelesnik
The One who Breaks the Dam
Water Mermaid
Kuts, a lumberjack
Kylyna
Field Mermaid
Water Spirit
Uncle Leo
Woodland Spirit
Mother of Lukash
Lukashik, son of Kylyna
Poterchata
Short Synopsis
In Ukrainian demonology, a "mavka" is an evil spirit or mermaid or nymph. It was believed that Mavki are stillborn children who die unbaptized, or those that have died in Mermaid Week. A less common belief is that children cursed by their parents, or kidnapped by evil spirits, become mavki. Mermaid Week is a period in the Slavic folk calendar when mermaids are believed to come on to land, after Ascension and a week before Trinity, signifying the end of spring.
Act I
Early spring. Ancient dense forest in the Volhynia region, lake, greenery. Into a forest glade runs He Who Breaks the Dam and spins in a rapid dance with water-mermaids, the daughter of an old Water Spirit, coaxing her to run away with him. The Water Spirit wakes up angry and banishes the seducer and takes the naughty Water Mermaid to the bottom of the lake.
Into the forest comes Uncle Leo with Lukash. The skittish Water Mermaid wants to tickle them, but the Wood Spirit does not allow it. Mavka wakes up from her winter sleep. Like a ray of sunshine she dances in the meadow, enchanted by the melody of spring, played in the distance by Lukash on his flute. Mavka suddenly appears in front of the young man at the moment when he wants to make an incision with his knife into a birch tree. Mavka asks Lukash not to hurt her sister-tree. Lukash is fascinated by Mavka, but his Uncle Leo calls for him.
From the forest into the clearing flies the blazing fire Perelesnik, he wants to hug Mavka, but she runs away from him. Uncle Leo and Lukash reappear in the forest glade, and Uncle Leo goes to sleep by the fire. When the mischievous mermaid and the lumberjack Kuts lure Lukash into a swamp, Mavka saves him. Uncle Leo thanks Mavka, and takes his nephew away with him. Dancing mermaids and forest demons try to entertain Mavka. Mavka is filled with emotions unknown to her and goes after Lukash.
Act II
Late Summer. In the forest glade Lukash has built himself a hut. Unlike his mother, Lukash's bride, the young widow Kylyna, is not suited to agricultural work. Lukash's mother punishes her by making her harvest the corn, and she leads the agile and lively young widow from the village. Only Mavka swings the sickle, and out of the corn appears her sister the Field-Mermaid and persuades her to pity her. Mavka agrees and injures her hand in order to gain the sympathy of Lukash's mother. Seeing that the work is not done, the mother orders Kylyna to harvest, and Lukash helps young woman to knit bundles. Kylyna begins to play with Lukash and soon distracts him. Lukash forgets Mavka. Mavka returns to her forest friends, but can not forget Lukash. Perelesnik swoops and spins Mavka in a dance. Suddenly He Who Sits in a Rock appears and calls Mavka to him. All flee away. Mavka meets Lukash, but he pushes her away: Lukash promises marriage to Kylyna. In search of oblivion Mavka rushes into the arms of the He Who who Sits in the Rock.
The village celebrates the wedding of Kylyna and Lukash. When the villagers lead the young to their hut, the sad form of Mavka suddenly appears to Lukash, and the despair of his betrayal overcomes him. Leaving Kylyna and guests, he runs off into the woods.
Act III
Late fall. Forest dwellers are taking revenge for Lukash's betrayal of Mavka. He loses his mind. Kuts comes into Lukash's hut. Mavka is freed from the rock by the miraculous power of her feelings and comes to Lukash. Seeing Mavka, Lukash is moved by shame. Mavka waits for Lukash outside his house.
Kylyna and his mother quarrel with Lukash. Kylyna notices Mavka and casts a spell on her. Mavka turns into a willow. Lukas appears win a brain fog. Kylyna's son Lukashik carves a flute from the willow and asks Lukash to play him a tune. The melody is heard that Lukash once played for Mavka. Enraged, Kylyna convinces Lukash to cut down the willow, but he can't raise his hand against her. Kylyna herself takes up the axe, but then Perelesnik covers the willow in fire. The fire spreads from the willow to the hut. The mother of Lukash and Kylyna barely have time to save their belongings. They go to the village, and Lukash remains in the woods, playing a song for his lost love.
On a cold winter night the ethereal shadow of Mavka comes to Lukash in his longing. She has not gone through physical death due to the strength of their feelings; they are reborn in the music, embodied as an eternal melody of spring and love. It is the melody, to which Mavka gives form, and Lukash gives his spirit. The weightless snow-white shade of Mavka gives her forgiveness to Lukash, and disappears. Day breaks, and cold snowflakes circle around Lukash.
Epilogue
Once again, nature is reborn to life. In the blossoming spring forest Lukashik plays the melody that Lukash once played for Mavka.
I'm guessing Prokofieff is more Soviet than Ukrainian (and, yes, I know, too modern except in just a very few early works for this forum, etcætera... )
Did anyone mention Kalachevsky?
Yes I've got a couple of Kalachevsky orchestral pieces of recordings from live concerts which I plan to post up in due course. His symphony has already been posted up here I think.
that would be great, Christopher. There seems to be nothing out there except the Symphony and that's been available forever......
J
Hi Jerfilm - have just looked through what I have of Kalachevsky and it's the following (both off youtube):
- a recording from a live concert of a Romance, but played on folk instruments (balalaikas, banduras, etc). Not sure if quite your thing?
- a recording from an old Soviet educational cassette of his Nocturne for string orchestra (plus balalaikas). But not sure if allowed to upload on to UC?
thanks. That's OK, I can easily download it from youtube.
Wish there were more....
Jerry
Ah ok - well the Nocturne is on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmpMETRLx2I (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmpMETRLx2I) and the Romance is on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALO8tuHUzmg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALO8tuHUzmg)
Thanks for your interesting posts. Are you familiar with the Ukrainian Art Song Project (UASP) and the Musica Leopolis recording label? It's a Canadian non-profit venture founded in 2004 which aims to record 1,000+ art songs by 26 of Ukraine's greatest composers. To date, over 350 art songs have been recorded featuring composers such as Mykola Lysenko, Kyrylo Stetsenko, Yakiv Stepovyi and Vasyl Barvinsky. Featured artists are British bass-baritone, Pavlo Hunka (who founded the project), mezzo-soprano, Krisztina Szabó, baritone, Russell Braun and soprano, Monica Whicher. The scores are published on the website and can be downloaded free of charge on the UASP website at www.ukrainianartsong.ca (http://www.ukrainianartsong.ca)
I hope that you find this of interest.
If of interest to anyone, Vasyl Barvinsky's cello concerto has been recorded and posted up on youtube. It doesn't, at first listen, sound like a particularly strong piece, nor particularly well played (I think it must be a student orchestra or something - lots of scrapes and squeaks!) - but 10 out of 10 for effort as they say. Stylistically it fits the late-romantic genre I would say.
Vasyl Oleksandrovych Barvinsky (1888-1963)
Cello Concerto (1956)
(orch. Viktor Kaminsky, b.1953)
Taras Mentsinsky (cello), M. Lysenko Opera SO, Bohdan Dashak
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR4vNb_Qj9U (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR4vNb_Qj9U)
Thanks for that link, Christopher. I've enjoyed the music, and I rather like the natural quality of the performance.
I've been passed a few Ukrainian orchestral pieces from the archives of Ukraine Radio by late-romantic composers and have put in the downloads section. I don't know the exact date of composition but they certainly fall within the UC style.
Mykhaylo Adamovych Skorulskyi - 1887-1950 - Mykyta Kozhumiaka - symphonic poem (translates as Mykita the Tanner - an East Slavic legend which is summarised here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikita_the_Tanner (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikita_the_Tanner) (unfortunately the first couple of bars are missing).
Stanyslav Pylypovych Lyudkevych (1879-1979) - Melancholic Waltz
Mykola Vitaliyovych Lysenko (1842-1912) - Ukrainian Rhapsody for Violin and Orchestra, Op.34
I don't find them in Downloads - for me, most recent addition was Reissiger Piano Trio. Anyone else see them ok?
Sharkkk8, you were just a bit quick off the mark. The moderators need to check out all uploads before approval, so there's always a (hopefully short) delay. That has now been done, and the files are available.
Many thanks, Christopher!
ahh, got it. My time zone is almost exactly 12 hours different from UK, so by the time I get to see something each day, it has usually been around for a while. Didn't see that this one was just now unfolding. Thanx.
No worries, Sharkkb8. I'm in the same situation. ;)
Vladimir Ivanovich Sokalsky (1862-1919)
-->https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Sokalsky
I came across Anatol Kos-Anatolsky 1909-1983. While born early in the 20th century his music is very Romantic and attractive. His music can be found on YouTube. I didn't see much mention of him here, or in the forum so thought I'd name drop for people unfamiliar with his music as I was until just a couple days ago. Ukraine composer - http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CK%5CO%5CKos6AnatolskyAnatol.htm
Quote from: Dave on Wednesday 17 July 2019, 18:08
Vladimir Ivanovich Sokalsky (1862-1919)
-->https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Sokalsky
OK....was there something you were going to say about him?
I imagine he was just pointing out his existence...
Indeed there's a whole thread on him....
http://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php/topic,6750.msg72289.html#msg72289 (http://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php/topic,6750.msg72289.html#msg72289)
I'd forgotten that - thanks for posting the link.
Olexandr Leontiyovych Horilij - 1868-1937 (Олександр Леонтійович Горілий). Also known by his name in Russian - Alexandr Leontievich Gorelov (Александр Леонтьевич Горелов) or sometimes Goriliy (Горилый).
A doctor by training, he was repressed (ie murdered by the state) - according to the Russian wikipedia "Since A. Gorelov repeatedly toured abroad, it is not surprising that he was repressed in 1937 and became one of the many victims of the Great Terror".
Wikipedia pages in Ukrainian, English (VERY brief) and Russian:
https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Горілий_Олександр_Леонтійович (https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%93%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%96%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%9E%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B4%D1%80_%D0%9B%D0%B5%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D1%96%D0%B9%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oleksander_Horilyj (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oleksander_Horilyj)
https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Горелов,_Александр_Леонтьевич (https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%93%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B2,_%D0%90%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B4%D1%80_%D0%9B%D0%B5%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D1%8C%D0%B5%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87)
These reveal that he wrote:
(Ukrainian wikipedia:)
Stage works:
the opera Viy (1897);
the operetta Good Neighbors (1891);
vocal-symphonic works:
cantata to the 35th anniversary of M. Lysenko's creative activity (1903);
for symphony orchestra:
3 symphonies (1893, 1898, 1905);
chamber and instrumental works:
Piano Trio (1900);
2 String Quartets (1894,1901);
Vocal and choral works:
choruses;
romances - "Like a storm in the forest" (by M. Starytsky) and others;
2 Liturgies;
Other:
He orchestrated S. Hulak-Artemovsky's opera "Zaporozhets by the Danube" for the theater troupe of M. Sadovsky, and wrote an introductory aria "Prylyn, Prylyn" (1902) and more.
The only piece by him that I have been able to find on youtube is that aria that he wrote for insertion into Hulak-Artemovsky's opera "Zaporozhets za Dunaem" ("A Zaporozhian Cossack Beyond the Danube" aka "A Cossack in Exile"). Four different recordings:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1O_JBj8ICI0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1O_JBj8ICI0)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJXgOBqIlbA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJXgOBqIlbA)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WxNdNmuhA0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WxNdNmuhA0)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cZbvA7CQvY (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cZbvA7CQvY)
Snippets more information on him in these links (you'll need to use google-translate):
https://dic.academic.ru/dic.nsf/enc_music/2141 (https://dic.academic.ru/dic.nsf/enc_music/2141)
http://www.cherkasy-music-art.org.ua/mus/imag_news/File/Opera_ZZD.pdf (http://www.cherkasy-music-art.org.ua/mus/imag_news/File/Opera_ZZD.pdf)
BUT - the really intriguing link is this one - https://petrsu.ru/page/aggr/truentizm/2016/sentyabrya (https://petrsu.ru/page/aggr/truentizm/2016/sentyabrya) - which says (in Russian) = "A few hours after the publication of this material on the PetrSU website, an email came from Kyiv with a photograph of Gorelov and files of his musical works."
I have emailed the 2 email addresses given next to that article to ask about these musical files. No answer as of yet (though it is Orthodox Christmas still...).
Quote from: izdawiz on Wednesday 17 July 2019, 21:03
I came across Anatol Kos-Anatolsky 1909-1983. While born early in the 20th century his music is very Romantic and attractive. His music can be found on YouTube. I didn't see much mention of him here, or in the forum so thought I'd name drop for people unfamiliar with his music as I was until just a couple days ago. Ukraine composer - http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CK%5CO%5CKos6AnatolskyAnatol.htm
Yes, I have just across this composer and was mighty impressed by his Piano Concerto No.2. Large scale and a romantic feeling to the piece. Obvious Rachmaniov comparisons but i can hear Tchaikovsky creeping through as well. The recording on Youtube is not ideal but urge anyone who hasn't heard it to give a whirl. ::)
https://youtu.be/uocRv_hXs4I
Wikipedia does have biographies of Anatoli Iosifovich Kos-Anatol'sky, btw, in Russian and Ukrainian. The former one is @ this address (https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D0%BE%D1%81-%D0%90%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9,_%D0%90%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%98%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%B8%D1%84%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87) and the Ukrainian one is linked from there.
The guys at Ukrainian Live Classics (https://ukrainianlive.org/) have made a premiere recording of the music for the play "Pidhiriany" ("The Highlanders") by Ukrainian composer Mykhailo Verbytskyi (1815-1870), whose best known composition is the Ukrainian National Anthem that many now will be familiar with for tragic and outrageous reasons (aka russia's aggression and unprovoked invasion).
In their words:
Let's immerse ourselves in the magic of the theater and the magical music of Mykhailo Verbytskyi. The melodrama PIDHIRIANY "The Highlanders" impressed Ukrainians more than a hundred years ago. The play to the libretto by Ivan Gushalevych became one of the most famous musical works of Mykhailo Verbytskyi.
In total, the author of the music of the National Anthem of Ukraine wrote musical accompaniment for more than 20 performances. He actively collaborated with the "Ruska Besida" theater, where the premiere of "Highlanders" took place.
The second life of this piece today was given by Volodymyr Bohatyrov's orchestration, specially commissioned by the Lviv Organ Hall.
Luhansk Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra
Lviv Municipal Choir "Homin"
Soloists - Alina Didenko, Liliya Nikitchuk, Matviy Melnyk, Oleksiy Kuvitanov, Ivan Lykhach, Oleksandra Kunitsyna, Anastasia Kulinich
Ivan Ostapovych - conductor
Project director - Taras Demko
It should be pointed out that the Luhansk Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra is now in exile from its home city (Luhansk), which is now illegally occupied by russia. The orchestra and its members individually and collectively accepted the invitation by Ukrainian Live Classics to make their new home in the Lviv Organ Hall. As you can imagine under the current circumstances, funding is on a shoestring.
https://youtu.be/EIqDMvmxhFA?si=mqzhr6iT9n9wqYNA
More about Verbytskyi here - https://ukrainianlive.org/verbytskyi-mykhaylo#read-in-english and here - https://musical-world.com.ua/en/artists/verbytskyi-mykhailo-mykhailovych/
More about the piece here - https://ukrainianlive.org/verbytskyi-pidhiryany
Quote from: Christopher on Monday 08 February 2016, 01:10Myhaylo Verbytsky (1815-1870)
I have put in the downloads section 12 of his works which I found on youtube, all recordings of live concerts. His symphonies are very short and (according to his wikipedia entry) "are more like overtures". Personally I think they are quite "Schubert-esque" and would love to hear if others think so too. Highly melodic.
I have put in the downloads section:
Overture
Cantata - The Gathering of My Countrymen in Ukraine (this track includes the National Anthem at the end) (cantata arranged for orchestra by Frantsishok Fridrikh)
Testament ("Zapovit"), after Taras Shevchenko
Orchestral suite (Kolomiyka + mazurka)
Polonaise No.1 in D major
Symphony No.1 (arranged by Stanyslav Lyudkevych)
Symphony No.2 in C major
Symphony No.4 in G major (from 1864)
Symphony No.5
Symphony No.6 (version for solo piano)
Symphony No.7 in A major (my favourite - urgent opening theme, as in Schubert's Unfinished 8th)
Symphony No.10 in D major (dedicated to Orest Sinkevich) ( - I know that the wikipedia says he wrote 9 symphonies so I can't explain this one....)
For the sake of completeness I'm listing here the full Verbytsky symphonies that have been recorded since my last post of a few years ago (mindful that people weren't overly impressed! But I'm a completist so what can I do...?). Plus a few other orchestral works. All performed by the Academic Symphonic Orchestra of the Chernivtsy Oblast "Gnatyuk" Philharmonia, conducted by Iosip Sozansky.
Symphony No.1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqEMp6p3lhc
Symphony No.2 in C major - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZABte_2eNpg
Symphony No.3 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fjSmM9BSDU
Symphony No.4 in G major(from 1864) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtQP4DN8FP8
Symphony No.5 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMhfrLTHQSk
Symphony No.6 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TLLeuuSxE4
Symphony No.6 (version for solo piano) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7_nA5_4H1I
Symphony No.7 in A major - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFAdkkLGrEU
Symphony No.8 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHs0_EpcpaQ
Symphony No.9 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y0ImQcsLHc
Symphony No.10 in D major (dedicated to Orest Sinkevich) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3FY1-v8v7k
Orchestral Suite (Kolomyka + Mazurka) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soGjvLqvhNY
Polonaise No.1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnMA_yexFaY
Testament ("Zapovit") cantata - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGu9Gl3Ncm0
Cantata - The Gathering of My Countrymen in Ukraine (plus the National Anthem of Ukraine) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zutFcXzSYPE
Overture - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du8D1yVUORg
Orchestral suite - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKsAbo1U7Zk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKsAbo1U7Zk)