Who Will Compose Serious Music in Ukraine?

HANNA KUDINOVA: FROM PSALMS TO JAZZ-ROCK

Hanna graduated from Lev Kolodub’s class. She presented to the state commission her symphony as a degree work, a large-scale opus for an enlarged symphonic orchestra. Currently Hanna is working on the Fifth Psalm, an a cappella for mixed choir, based on separate verses from the said Psalm. This work will be an attempt to interpret Dmytro Bortniansky’s and Maksym Berezovsky’s attainments in this genre. In general, Hanna cannot complain that her music is performed rarely. The Cherkasy Music and Drama Theater premiered the Haran, Territory of Love show in late June, to which Hanna wrote the music. The show was also performed at the Kyiv Mystetske Berezillia festival. Ms. Kudinova also has much interest in electronic music. Her first creative experience in this field, Through the Glass for clarinet and electronics, was first rendered at the Young Composers’ Forum festival. Earlier, three of Hanna’s romances from the Room cycle, based on the lyrics by young Zaporizhzhia poet Maryna Bratsylo, were also performed at this festival. Hanna is testing herself in many genres, although she gives distinct preference to vocal music. Soon her new choir compositions will appear. Moreover, she does not avoid the genres, which traditionally are not considered academic: pop music and jazz-rock. As well as many other composers, Hanna has mastered several musical professions. She is also a music theorist and chamber orchestra conductor. No doubt, her conductor’s skills positively affect her way of thinking in terms of symphonic forms. At present, she is also working in electronic music and sound synthesis under Ihor Stetsiuk’s supervision.

PAVLO PAVLOSIUK: WIPING AWAY THE BARRIERS

Pavlo is a graduate of Yury Ishchenko’s class. His degree work was the Chant (Psalm 101, “I Will Sing of Mercy and Judgment: Unto Thee, O Lord, Will I Sing”) for soprano and symphonic orchestra. This opus, along with the graduate works of his fellow students at the Music Academy, was performed and recorded at a gala concert at the Kyiv Recording House. Suffice it to recall that spiritual themes and using a solo vocal party (soprano) have become a certain distinguishing feature for Ishchenko’s class. As for Pavlo, he came to the academy after graduating from the Donetsk Music School as a pianist. Now he is working on an extremely interesting composition, the Death Fugue Cantata to Paul Celan’s lyrics (translated by Vasyl Stus). This music will be performed by a quite unusual cast: solo soprano, male sextet, and chamber orchestra consisting of string instruments and two trombones. Pavlosiuk is planning to present the cantata at his entry to the Composers’ Union of Ukraine. Pavlo is also a rock musician. At first sight, forte-piano has been his special interest. Primarily, the young composer was attracted by grand piano’s large-scale concert treatment, but later he abandoned this. Yet he has written quite a number of piano opuses: miniatures, variations to the Vesnianka theme. In addition, there are also two string quartets and unfinished trio in the composer’s portfolio.

Pondering the fates of contemporary academic music, Pavlo rightfully observed that any composer’s creativity gradually becomes obsolete. This, along with the audience’s unpreparedness, creates a certain barrier on the “serious” music on its way to the listener. Speaking about his creative credo, Pavlo stresses his striving for a new simplicity that makes it possible to plunge into a special state verging on a religious trance. Turning within oneself with bringing one’s consciousness to a new spiritual level is the way this composer has chosen.