Volodymyr Ivasiuk’s biography published in “The Great Ukrainians” series

Let us recall that 2014 will mark the 65th anniversary of the Hero of Ukraine, prominent Ukrainian composer, and author of 107 songs, 53 instrumental compositions, and scores for two plays.

A volume called Volodymyr Ivasiuk appeared recently in “The Great Ukrainians” series. The new publication contains studies of his life’s events and the causes behind them.

The Volodymyr Ivasiuk Memorial Museum in Chernivtsi recently hosted the presentation of the book, authored by Candidate of Historical Sciences, Research Fellow at the Institute of Ukrainian History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Vitalii Perun.

According to him, revisiting the sources of the Ukrainian song will be the best way to honor the legendary composer’s memory. Perun has researched the tragic end of Ivasiuk’s life and explained the phenomenal success of his song “Chervona Ruta.” The scholar justified his book’s small size and limited print run of just 5,000 copies as an attempt to avoid repetitions and provide the reader with really new information. The presentation’s attendees included “The Great Ukrainians” series’ founder and author of the project “On Ukraine with Pride and Humor,” Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor Viktor Brekhunenko.

Ivasiuk’s songs “Fierce Current” and “Love Blooms Only Once,” composed to the lyrics by Bohdan Stelmakh, made an appearance at the event, performed by the composer’s compatriot, a student of the Kitsman Music School Maryna Tymofiichuk.

Music in general and Ivasiuk’s works in particular are now in demand, clearly showed by Project Ivasiuk, another recent addition to “The Great Ukrainians” series. Yet another social and cultural project was launched in September, called “Volodymyr Ivasiuk: Maple Fire of Generations.” When completed, it will be a collection of works by the composer performed by famous contemporary Ukrainian artists and dedicated to the maestro’s 65th birth anniversary.

“I am very happy to see a real desire on the part of musicians, performers, and organizers to launch such a project and execute it. It confirms once again that my brother’s music is in demand and loved,” the composer’s sister Halyna Ivasiuk noted.