By Tetiana POLISHCHUK, The Day
Ukrainian politicians do not advertise their musical preferences as they
do their party affiliation, but this is actually no obstacle for one seriously
determined to portray them as symphony musicians rather than political
blocs and alliances. Proceeding from this purely hypothetical assumption,
the current pillars of the Ukrainian political beau monde
could be categorized as those specializing in classical music ("classics"),
folk music ("folkies"), pop music ("pop fans"), and what is popularly referred
to as "original genre" ("originals"). Some politicians are known to be
fully knowledgeable of various genres. They are not only listeners, but
also rather good performers - musicians, dancers, and singers.
The President's permanent representative to Verkhovna Rada Roman
BEZSMERTNY can get so engrossed in an issue on hand he will not bat
an eye (in his own words) at a bomb going off nearby (God forbid!). His
wife was the first to notice this trait (complete immersion in the task
at hand). She would ask him a question and would have to answer it herself.
Working at his computer, this public servant wears earphones with the Sound
Blaster going full blast. In time of stress Bach is what he really needs.
Organ music gives him the energy he needs. In a lyrical mood he plays Beethoven
and he loves Petr Tchaikovsky's Four Seasons, especially "Summer."
And let music critics and experts talk all they want to about the title
having very little to do with the music. "Listening to Borodin clears my
head enough to compose another report for the President, and do it quicker
than usual," admits Mr. Bezsmertny. A rather utilitarian approach, isn't
it? And he wants to keep up with his 10-year-old daughter, borrowing some
of her cassettes or CDs just to know what today's top hits are all about,
although he admits that this music is more informative than enjoyable.
People's Deputy Yevhen MARCHUK considers himself an amateur,
although he can play several instruments (and professionals say he does
it rather well). In fact, he plays the piano, bayan button accordion,
and guitar. He learned to play every instrument by himself. His brother,
an Odesa Conservatory student, used to visit almost every weekend, explaining
the intricate points. Mr. Marchuk is fond of music in general, meaning
good music, of course, including a range of genres. He has spent decades
collecting records, tapes, and later CDs, currently boasting a collection
featuring world-reputed solo performers and orchestras - all the operas,
albums and piano concertos by Tchaikovsky, Beethoven's Third
and Fifth Symphonies, and sonatas. His is a strictly distinct approach
to musicians as well as orchestra conductors. He attended the much advertised
Vanessa Mae concert at the Ukraine Palace and left somewhat disappointed;
the young woman's studio recordings by far surpassed her soundtrack-supported
"live" rendition in Kyiv. In his opinion, some of the multitude of stylized
interpretation of Mozart's forty symphonies are not bad at all. And he
believes that Last and Mauriat are quite good at popularizing the classical
heritage.
Mr. Marchuk has many Ukrainian folk music records, singling out Verstovsky
as a matchless author of choral works based on folk themes. And church
music is something very special, reserved for those special hours when
he wants to cleanse his soul all things mundane.
Lizst, Bach, Mozart, Wagner, Chopin, Verdi, and Rachmaninoff are among
his lifelong favorites. He is known to have spent several years searching
for a CD with Verdi's Requiem and he has an album with the Kyiv
Opera Orchestra, conducted by the late Stefan Turchak, performing this
immortal and extremely sophisticated composition, using a choir and four
soloists (abridged arrangements are more often than not performed currently).
Yevhen Marchuk plays this original version whenever under stress, seeking
refuge from daily routine in the heavenly sounds. Debussy raises his spirits
and in the morning he listens to modern music to tune himself to a business
rhythm.
Vyacheslav CHORNOVIL, leader of what currently known as Rukh-1,
also prefers serious music: Haydn and Mozart. He does not like modern rhythms
and his schedule is too tight to distract himself by partaking of mass
culture. He is fond of singing, although he has no vocal talent, strictly
speaking. When he sings he often gets carried away, so much so his wife
has to ask him to stop.
People's Deputy Hryhory OMELCHENKO loves organ music. He remembers
visiting Germany on official business and listening to Bach being played
on the same instrument the great German composer used at a local cathedral.
The performance lasted two hours and he did not notice the time. He cannot
describe the feelings he experienced. On the way to the hotel he bought
several audio cassettes and spent the night with earphones on, melting
into the divine music.
Viktor SYTNYK, corresponding member of the Ukrainian Agrarian
Academy, hates the downpour of deafening popular music assaulting the ear
on television and radio. There is not one "truly cultural" channel. His
favorite composers are Paganini, Tchaikovsky, and Chopin. Rock, rap, and
pop grate on his nerves. He realizes that this kind of music is popular
with young people, but would rather have only so many channels transmitting
this music. He admires Valentyna Stepova's vocal talent, especially her
recent program composed of the most popular classical pieces.
FOLKIES
Ivan PLIUSHCH, former Speaker of Parliament and still a member
adhering to the People's Democratic Party (NDP), does not like big parties,
with traditional Ukrainian toasting, singing, and dancing. His is a refined
listening type. He prefers folk music. He goes to concerts on rare occasions,
mostly to listen to choirs.
Another former Speaker, Socialist Party leader Oleksandr MOROZ,
is also fond of Ukrainian folk music and without any modern rhythmic frills.
He has sung in a choir for ten years, vied in and won vocal contests. Sometimes
he also likes to listen to classical music.
POP FANS
Viktor MEDVEDCHUK, Deputy Speaker, is fond of pop music. He loves
Tayisa Povaliy and Ani Lorak. He is sorry that the so-called civic song
(i.e., patrioticy - Ed.) genre is in decay, that Yosyp Kobzon went
in for politics, and Lev Leshchenko switched over to commercial pop. He
does not distinguish between Ukrainian and other performers; all that matters
is good voice and good music. That is probably why he considers Yuri Rybchynsky
not only the best lyricist, but also an unmatched performer. "The man is
charming not only because of his vocal talent, but also because he is so
sincere in every rendition," Mr. Medvedchuk says of him.
Slava STETSKO, leader of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists,
prefers traditional Ukrainian singers like Taras Petrynenko and Oksana
Bilozir.
Volodymyr FILENKO, NDP second in command, is a good singer and
makes no secret of his talent. As a university student, he sang with the
local choir for five years and then went on to play with an amateur vocal-instrumental
group for ten years and performed with an amateur drama group for eight
years. He even went on propaganda concert tours. At present, he often sings
at NDP parties. Not so long ago, he captivated the audience appearing with
the Picardiyska Tertsiya group. In a word, he will have no problem earning
a more than decent living once he is fed up with politics. Filenko is fond
of music of varying genres, The Beatles topping the list. He is fond of
Vysotsky, Okudzhava, and Dolsky, and is versed in all the trends and undercurrents
of Ukrainian show biz.
People's Deputy Serhiy TERIOKHIN (Reforms-Center), is a jazz
devotee, and Viktor SUSLOV (Peasant Party) prefers those who write
their own songs. He tried to learn to play the accordion even when in a
daycare center. He failed because practicing took so much time and he wanted
to run and play.
Progressive Socialist Volodymyr MARCHENKO likes the bard style.
He had a problem stuttering as a boy; playing the guitar and singing solved
it.
Yuliya TYMOSHENKO, Chairperson of the parliamentary Budget Committee,
adores rock and roll and can enjoy dancing in good company.
Vitaly KONOV, Green Party leader, would not miss a discotheque
whenever he could help it in his student years and played the electric
guitar with the Ti Shcho Rvut Herbli (Those Who Brake Through Dams) group,
winning a citation in the Golden Integral pop contest. This must have enabled
him to win the hearts of popular Ukrainian performers (he is among the
patrons of the Tavriya Games Festival; his political party, lauded by Ukrainian
pop stars, had no problem surmounting the 4% election barrier -something
to be reckoned with, considering the next election campaign).
ORIGINALS
Yuri YEKHANUROV, President of the Association of Small Medium
Private Businesses, instructor and docent in the economics at the Taras
Shevchenko National University, has experienced varying stages in loving
different music standards and genres. There has been the classical period
when he wouldn't miss a single National Opera premiere, let alone Philharmonic
Society or Conservatory first nights. Visiting Scotland, he was fascinated
by bagpipe music. He bought several CDs and plays them whenever under heavy
physical strain, claiming no one has ever conceived of a better way to
relax and refresh one's resources.
In a word, music more often than not turns out to be the only remedy
in maintaining a harmonious coexistence among Ukraine's different parties
and factions supposed to constitute this country's political elite. We
rank-and-file voters should perhaps learn from our public servants the
way to relax and forget about pressing problems and disgusting realities,
lest we find ourselves deprived of what little optimism we might still
retain. Although musical preferences can hardly be viewed as the determining
criteria in forming a judgment about one politician or another, the fact
that they do care about music while plotting in the corridors of power
is encouraging, all other less heartening things considered.







