Episode forty-nine of ‘An Ox on the Roof’ by Thea Derks, inspired by her book ‘An Ox on the Roof: Modern Music After 1900 in Bird’s-Eye View.’
This is already the thirteenth episode of ‘The Ox in Times of War.’ Unfortunately, the end of the conflict is far from in sight, so today we have again music from and about Ukraine.
In episode 47, we heard the work of Iryna Aleksiychuk, who fled her homeland shortly after the outbreak of the war and found a safe haven in Bilbao. She is very concerned about her homeland and also warns the rest of Europe about the aggression of Russia, which she believes will advance further westward if Ukraine is defeated.
To mark the first anniversary of the war, Aleksiychuk composed a fanfare commissioned by an American artist, which she appropriately named ‘Glory to Ukraine.’ She incorporated Ukrainian themes, including those from the national anthem. The musicians of the National Academic Brass Orchestra of Ukraine recorded the piece in a studio in Kiev while being bombarded by Russian rockets.
Shocked by the Russian attack on Ukraine, Dutch pianist and composer Heleen Verleur searched for a way to encourage the population. She created nine variations for solo piano on the Ukrainian song ‘Plyve Kacha’ (The Little Duck Swims). The lyrics consist of a conversation by a mother whose son is sent to the front. The composition is available for free download through publisher Donemus.
Ukrainian composer Evhen Stankovych (Svaliava, 1942) studied with, among others, Boris Lyatoshynsky and Miroslav Skoryk, whose music was heard in previous episodes. In 1975, he composed his Second Symphony, subtitled ‘The Heroic,’ the music has a martial character.
Roman Turovsky (Kiev, 1961) [photo] has lived and worked in New York for 44 years but still feels strongly connected to his homeland: ‘I am always inspired by Ukrainian music, the most melancholic in the world. This is not for nothing, because the war against Ukraine has been going on and off for about 400 years. The current atrocities directly affect my family and friends, and at the moment, I am raising funds for both military and humanitarian purposes.’
The first edition of ‘An Ox on the Roof’ is sold out, but you can receive a copy of the
second edition through boekenbestellen.nl.
- Iryna Aleksiychuk. Glory to Ukraine. National Academic Brass Orchestra of Ukraine conducted by Oleksii Bazhenov.
- Plyve Kacha (Ukrainian folk song). Mariana Sadovska, vocals & harmonium.
- Heleen Verleur. Plyve Kacha, Theme and Variations. Heleen Verleur, piano.
- Evhen Stankovych. Symphony No. 2 ‘Heroic.’ Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine conducted by Oksana Lyniv.
- Roman Turovsky. A selection from De Temporum I. Christopher Wilke, lute.
