An Ox on the Roof 44: The Ox in Times of War.
An introduction to contemporary music in ordinary language.
Episode forty-four of An Ox on the Roof by Thea Derks, inspired by her book An Ox on the Roof: modern music after 1900 in a nutshell.
As winter approaches, Putin attempts to destroy Ukraine’s entire infrastructure, leaving residents without gas, light and water to survive. Meanwhile, our willingness to house refugees is dwindling, and NATO and the United Nations are still not intervening.
That is why today we again pay tribute to the brave Ukrainians who refuse to give in to the war terror of their neighbouring country.
By now, he is no stranger here: Borys Lyatoshynsky (1895-1968). He is Ukraine’s most important composer from the time of Shostakovich and Prokofiev. Previously, this programme has featured his Shevsthenko Suite for solo piano and his Symphony No 3: Peace Will Conquer War.
Today, a performance of Symphony No. 2, which Lyatoshynsky composed between 1935-36. This dark, profoundly tragic music full of conflict perfectly expresses how the people suffered under the Stalin dictatorship and is opposed to the Soviet realism preached by the apparatchiks. The symphony was banned even before it was first performed; despite a revision in 1940, it would take until 1964 before it was finally premiered.
On 6 March, just after the invasion of Russia, several Russian and Ukrainian musicians organised a benefit concert at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. One of them was Dutch-based composer Maxim Shalygin [pictured], who conducted the strings of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in his Lullaby, an ode to life.
Despite the ongoing war against Ukraine, new CDs continue to be released. For instance, Outside the Rain Has Stopped by (alto) violinist and composer Ig Henneman was recently released. From this, the appropriate February’s Turn for solo organ – the war against Ukraine began on the night of 24 February 2022.
The 1st edition of An Ox on the Roof is sold out, but you will receive a copy of the 2nd edition via boekenbestellen.nl.
1. Borys Lyatoshynsky. Symphony No 2.
National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine
conducted by Theodore Kuchar.
2. Maxim Shalygin. Lullaby.
Strings of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
olv Maxim Shalygin.
3. Ig Henneman. February’s Turn.
Gerrie Meijers, organ.
Composition, presentation and technician Thea Derks.
