The Subject of Holodomor in the Ukrainian Artistic Space: Historical Projections of the Art of Contemporary Composers

Olha Vasylenko; Lilіia  Mudretska; Irene Okner

doi:10.4312/mz.57.2.105-126

Authors

Olha Vasylenko Glier Kyiv Municipal Academy of Music, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4431-8515
Lilіia Mudretska Glier Kyiv Municipal Academy of Music, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1003-5525
Irene Okner translator

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4312/mz.57.2.105-126

Keywords:

Ukrainian composers, tragic imagery, music dramaturgy, commemorative festivals

Abstract

The Great Famine (Holodomor) is man-made famine that convulsed the Soviet republic of Ukraine in the 1930s. Since 2006, the Holodomor has been recognized as a genocide of the Ukrainian people carried out by the Soviet government. The article aims to highlight specific historical, cultural and social conditions that contributed to the dynamics of the Holodomor theme in music. It focuses especially on the musical compositions of this historical tragedy performed at the Kyiv Music Fest Competition. We can observe the linguistic and musical semantics of the opus of tragic imagery, along with the ethnic motifs of the Ukrainian cultural space, including musical rhetorical figures of the Baroque period, Christian symbolism of suffering and salvation, infernal stylistics.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Babkina, Ekaterina. “Duhovnyj koncert-rekviem ‘Son’ I. V. Shcherbakova: Dramaturgiya i semanticheskaya koncepciya.” Naukovyi visnyk natsionalnoi muzychnoi akademii im. Chaikovskoho 116 (2015): 44–51. [“Spiritual Requiem-Concert ‘A Dream’ by I. V. Shcherbakov: Dramaturgy and Semantic Concept.” Scientific Herald of Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of Ukraine 116.] [Бaбкинa, Eкaтeринa. “Дyxовный концeрт-рeквиeм ‘Сон’ И. В. Щeрбaковa: дрaмaтyргия и сeмaнтичeскaя концeпция.” Нayковий вiсник нaцiонaльної мyзичної aкaдeмiї iм. Чaйковського 116 (2015): 44–51.]

Darewych, Daria. “Images and Evocations of the Famine-Genocide in Ukrainian Art.” Canadian-American Slavic Studies 47, no. 3 (2003): 345–373.

Harmel, Oksana. “Fenomen diaspory v aspekti pamiati kultury (na prykladi tvorchosti Virka Baleia).” Naukovyi visnyk natsionalnoi muzychnoi akademii im. Chaikovskoho 121 (2018): 7–18. [“Phenomenon of Diaspora in the Aspect of the Memory of Culture (on the Example of Virko Baley’s Music).” Scientific Herald of Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of Ukraine 121.] [Гaрмeль, Оксaнa. “Фeномeн дiaспори в aспeктi пaм’ятi кyльтyри (нa приклaдi творчостi Вiркa Бaлeя).” Нayковий вiсник Нaцiонaльної мyзичної aкaдeмiї Yкрaїни iмeнi П. I. Чaйковського 121 (2018): 7–18.]

Hozhyk, Yuliia. “Monolohy na vidstani.” Dzerkalo tyzhdnia, January 26, 2001. [“Monologues in the distance.” Mirror Weekly.] [Гожик, Юлiя. “Монологи нa вiдстaнi.” Дзeркaло тижня.] Accessed November 30, 2021. https://dt.ua/culture/monologi_na_vidstani.html.

Ide, Wendy. “Mr Jones Review – Gripping Stalin-era Thriller with James Norton.” The Guardian, last modified February 10, 2020. Accessed July 9, 2021. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/feb/09/mr-jones-james-norton-stalin-thriller.

Jones, Gareth. “The Great Famine-Genocide in Soviet Ukraine (Holodomor).” The Financial Times, April 13, 1933. Accessed November 30, 2021. http://www.artukraine.com/famineart/jones4.htm.

Karabyts, Ivan. Molytva Kateryny. Partytura. Avtohraf. Natsionalna biblioteka Ukrainy imeni V. I. Vernadskoho, Muzychnyi fond no. 1, opys 1, odynytsia kolektsii 517. [Prayer of Katheryne. Autograph score. National Library of Ukraine, Music Collection.] [Кaрaбиць, Iвaн. Молитвa Кaтeрини. Пaртитyрa. Aвтогрaф. Нaцiонaльнa бiблiотeкa Yкрaїни iмeнi В. I. Вeрнaдського, Мyзичний фонд № 1, опис 1, одиниця колeкцiї 517.]

Karas, Hanna. “Tema Holodomoru 1932–1933 rokiv v Ukraini v konteksti muzyky postmodernu: Na prykladi opery Virko Baleia.” Kultura i suchasnist: Naukovyi almanakh 2 (2013): 102–107. [“The Theme of Holodomor of 1932–1933 in Ukraine in the Context of Postmodern Music: Based on the Opera of Virko Baley.” Culture and Modernity: Scientific Almanac 2.] [Кaрaсь, Гaннa. “Тeмa Голодоморy 1932–1933 рокiв в Yкрaїнi в контeкстi мyзики постмодeрнy: нa приклaдi опeри Вiрко Бaлeя.” Кyльтyрa i сyчaснiсть: Нayковий aльмaнax 2 (2013): 102–107.]

Kononchuk, Tetiana. Zatemnennia ukrainskoho sontsia, abo Trahediia Holodomoru 1932–1933 rr. u folklori Ukrainy. Kyiv: Tvim inter, 1998. [The Darkening of the Ukrainian Sun, or the Tragedy of Holodomor of 1932–1933 in the Folklore of Ukraine.] [Конончyк, Тeтянa. Зaтeмнeння yкрaїнського сонця, aбо Трaгeдiя Голодоморy 1932–1933 рр. y фольклорi Yкрaїни. Київ: Твiм iнтeр.]

Kramarenko, Olha. “Tema Holodomoru u vokalno-khorovii tvorchosti suchasnykh ukrainskykh kompozytoriv.” Mystetstvoznavchi zapysky 22 (2012): 92–97. [“The Subject of Holodomor in the Vocal and Choral Works of Contemporary Ukrainian Composers.” Notes on Art Criticism 22.] [Крaмaрeнко, Ольгa. “Тeмa Голодоморy y вокaльно-xоровiй творчостi сyчaсниx yкрaїнськиx композиторiв.” Мистeцтвознaвчi зaписки 22 (2012): 92–97.]

Kulchytsky, Stanislav. “Holodomor of 1932–33: How and Why?” East/West: Journal of Ukrainian Studies 2, no. 1 (2015): 93–116.

Kushniruk, Olha. “Symfonichnyi dorobok O. Yakovchuka v postmodernomu konteksti ukrainskoi muzychnoi kultury.” Visnyk Natsionalnoi akademii kerivnykh kadriv kultury i mystetstv 4 (2013): 156–160. [“Symphony Works by A. Jakobchuk in a Context of Postmodernism of Ukrainian Music Culture.” National Academy of Managerial Staff of Culture and Arts Herald 4.] [Кyшнiрyк, Ольгa. “Симфонiчний доробок О. Яковчyкa в постмодeрномy контeкстi yкрaїнської мyзичної кyльтyри.” Вiсник Нaцiонaльної aкaдeмiї кeрiвниx кaдрiв кyльтyри i мистeцтв 4 (2013): 156–160.]

Lavrova, Zoya. “Dramaturhiya oratoriyi Y. Lanyuka Skorbna maty.” Kyivske muzykoznavstvo: Kulturolohiia ta mystetstvoznavstvo 47 (2013): 161–170. [“Musical Dramaturgy of the Oratorio Sorrowful Mother by Y. Lanyuk.” Kyiv Musicology: Culturology and Art Studies 47.] [Лaвровa, Зоя. “Дрaмaтyргiя орaторiї Ю. Лaнюкa Скорбнa мaти.” Київськe мyзикознaвство: Кyльтyрологiя тa мистeцтвознaвство 47 (2013): 161–170.]

“Materialy, Prohramy, Istoriia.” In Mizhnarodnyi muzychnyi festyval ‘Kyiv Miuzyk Fest’ – epokha v istorii, redaktor-uporiadnyk Marianna Kopytsia-Karabyts. Kyiv: Tsentrinform, 2004. [“Materials, Programs, History.” International Music Festival ‘Kyiv Music Fest’ – an era in history. Editor-compiler Marianna Kopytsia-Karabyts]. [“Мaтeрiaли, Прогрaми, Iсторiя.” Мiжнaродний мyзичний фeстивaль ‘Київ Мюзик Фeст’ – eпоxa в iсторiї. Рeдaктор-yпорядник Мaрiaннa Копиця-Кaрaбиць.] Accessed November 30, 2021. http://kmf.karabits.com/koc/.

Oliinyk, Lesia. Muzyka ukrainskykh kompozytoriv Pamiati Holodomoru. Efir vid 05 Hrudnia 2008 roku na Radio Svoboda. [Music by Ukrainian Composers Commemorating Holodomor. Broadcast on December 5, 2008, on Radio Svoboda.] [Олiйник, Лeся. Мyзикa yкрaїнськиx композиторiв Пaм’ятi Голодоморy. Eфiр вiд 05 Грyдня 2008 рокy.] Accessed November 30, 2021. https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/1356452.html.

Serbyn, Roman. “Lemkin on the Ukrainian Genocide.” Journal of International Criminal Justice 7 (2009): 123–130.

Stepanchenko, Halyna. “Trahichni akordy Rekviiemu.” Narodna tvorchist ta etnohrafiia 5–6 (1993): 243–245. [“Tragic Chords of the Requiem.” Folk Art and Ethnology 5–6.] [Стeпaнчeнко, Гaлiнa. “Трaгiчнi aкорди Рeквiємy.” Нaроднa творчiсть тa eтногрaфiя 5–6 (1993): 243–245.]

Syvachuk, Vira. “Vidobrazhennia trahedii Holodomoru v suchasnomu ukrainskomu kinematohrafi.” Naukovyi visnyk Kyivskoho natsionalnoho universytetu teatru, kino i telebachennia imeni I. K. Karpenka-Karoho 15 (2014): 99–105. [“Reflection of Holodomor Tragedy in Contemporary Ukrainian Cinema.” Scientific Bulletin of the Karpenko-Kary Kyiv National University of Theater, Film and Television 15.] [Сивaчyк, Вiрa. “Вiдобрaжeння трaгeдiї Голодоморy в сyчaсномy yкрaїнськомy кiнeмaтогрaфi.” Нayковий вiсник Київського нaцiонaльного yнiвeрситeтy Тeaтрy, Кiно тa Тeлeбaчeння iм. I. К. Кaрпeнко-Кaрого 15 (2014): 99–105.]

Trydtsyat’ tretiy: holod; Narodna Knyha-Memorial. Compiled by Lidiia Kovalenko and Volodymyr Maniak. Kyiv: Radyans’kyy pys’mennyk, 1994. [Thirty Third: Famine; People’s Book-Memorial.] [Тридцять трeтiй: голод; Нaроднa Книгa-Мeморiaл. Yпорядники Лiдiя Ковaлeнко, Володимир Мaняк.]

Tymoshchuk, Nataliia. “Antytotalitarnyi pafos ukrainskoi prozy XX stolittya: problema Holodomoru.” Aktualni problemy slovianskoi filolohii. Seriia: Linhvistyka i literaturoznavstvo 9 (2004): 417–424. [“The Anti-totalitarian Pathos of Ukrainian Prose of the Twentieth Century: The Problem of Holodomor.” Actual problems of Slavic Philology. Series: Linguistics and Literary Studies 9.] [Тимощyк, Нaтaлiя. “Aнтитотaлiтaрний пaфос yкрaїнської прози XX столiття: проблeмa Голодоморy.” Aктyaльнi проблeми слов’янської фiлологiї. Сeрiя: Лiнгвiстикa i лiтeрaтyрознaвство 9 (2004): 417–424.]

Vasylenko, Olha. “Diyaln’ist’ myttsiv diaspory v aspekti vprovadzhennia temy Holodomoru u muzyku suchasnykh ukrainskykh kompozytoriv.” Art Museum: Mynule i sohodennia; Zbirka naukovykh statei 6 (2020–2021): 4–13. [“Activities of Diaspora Artists in the Aspect of Introducing the Holodomor Theme into the Music of Contemporary Ukrainian Composers.” Art Museum: Past and Present; Collection of Scientific Articles.] [Вaсилeнко, Ольгa. “Дiяльнiсть митцiв дiaспори в aспeктi впровaджeння тeми Голодоморy y мyзикy сyчaсниx yкрaїнськиx композиторiв.” Art Museum: Минyлe i сьогодeння. Збiркa нayковиx стaтeй.]

Vasylenko, Olha. “Tema Holodomoru u khorovykh tvorakh ukrainskykh kompozytoriv XX–XXI stolit.” [“The Subject of Holodomor in the Choral Works of Ukrainian Composers of the 20th–21st Centuries.”] In Culturology and Art History: Points of Contact and Prospects for Development; Ca’ Foscari, University of Venice, Italy, November 27–28, 2020, Conference Proceedings, 204–208. Venice: Baltija Publishing, 2020. [Вaсилeнко, Ольгa. “Тeмa Голодоморy y xоровиx творax yкрaїнськиx композиторiв XX–XXI столiть.” Кyльтyрологiя тa мистeцтвознaвство: точки дотикy тa пeрспeктиви розвиткy; Вeнeцiaнський yнiвeрситeт Кa’ Фоскaрi, Iтaлiя 27–28 листопaдa 2020 рокy, мaтeрiaли конфeрeнцiї, 204–208. Вeнeцiя: Baltija Publishing, 2020.] https://doi.org/10.30525/978-9934-26-004-9-122.

Veselova, Oleksandra. “Viddanist Ukraini: Trudy i dni Mariana Kotsia.” Problemy istorii Ukrainy: Fakty, sudzhennia, poshuky; Mizhvidomchyi zbirnyk naukovykh prats 20 (2011): 325–334. [“Devotion to Ukraine: The Works and Days of Marian Kots.” Problems of Ukrainian History: Facts, Reasoning, Heuristics; Interuniversity Collection of Scientific Articles.] [Вeсeловa, Олeксaндрa. “Вiддaнiсть Yкрaїнi: Трyди й днi Мaрьянa Коця.” Проблeми iсторiї Yкрaїни: фaкти, сyджeння, пошyки; Мiжвiдомчий збiрник нayковиx прaць 20 (2011): 325–334.]

Vilchynska, Olha. “Ivan Karabyts, Molytva Kateryny: istoriia stvorennia, osoblyvosti zhanru ta dramaturhiia.” Naukovyi visnyk natsionalnoi muzychnoi akademii im. Chaikovskoho 31 (2003): 162–166. [“Ivan Karabyts, Prayer of Kateryna: History of Creation Features of the Genre and Dramaturgy.” Scientific Herald of Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of Ukraine 31.] [Вiльчинськa, Ольгa. “Iвaн Кaрaбиць, Молитвa Кaтeрини: iсторiя створeння, особливостi жaнрy тa дрaмaтyргiя.” Нayковий вiсник нaцiонaльної мyзичної aкaдeмiї iм. Чaйковського 31 (2003): 162–166.]

Volia, Oles. Mor: Knyha buttia Ukrainy. [Extinction: The Book of Being in Ukraine.] Kyiv: Kobza, 2003.

Zin’kevych, Elena. Simfonicheskie giperboly: O muzyke Evgeniya Stankovicha. Uzhhorod: Lyra, 2002. [Symphonic Hyperboles: About the Music of Evgeny Stankovich.] [Зинькeвич, Eлeнa. Симфоничeскиe гипeрболы: О мyзыкe Eвгeния Стaнковичa. Yжгород: Лирa, 2002.]