Ukraine

Ukraine is a sovereign state; its independence was proclaimed in 1991. Ukraine is situated in the east of Europe. It has its own territory, government, national emblem, state flag and anthem. Its territory is about 604 (six hundred and four) thousand square kilometers and its population is 45 (forty-five) million people. The capital of Ukraine is Kyiv.

The geographical position of Ukraine is very favorable to the development of its relations with countries of Europe, as well as with the countries throughout the world. It borders on the Russian Federation, Belarus, Moldova, Poland, Czech, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania.

The Ukrainian Carpathian and the Crimean Mountains make up those 5% of its area. Ukraine is washed by the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov and it has very important ports. The major rivers are the Dnieper, the Dniester, the Bug, the Donets and others.

Ukraine is developed industrial and agricultural country. It’s rich in iron ore, coal, natural gas, oil, salt and other mineral resources. Ukraine has such branches of industry as metallurgy, machine-building, power industry, chemical industry and agriculture. Scientists of Ukraine make their contributions of important discoveries and inventions to the world science. The Academy of Science of Ukraine includes many outstanding scientists and research workers famous for their important discoveries and inventions.

Ukraine has an ancient history. It has its own original culture and arts. Ukraine has many professional theatres and Philharmonic societies.

Over the last years people of Ukraine display a keen interest in the Ukrainian history and cultural and artistic heritage. Many names and masterpieces have been revived. There is a new approach to the development of culture, arts, and languages.

Ukraine cooperates with foreign countries in the field of education, science and culture. The cultural ties between the Ukraine and foreign countries are expanding and strengthening with each year. The exchange of literary works, concert tours of theatrical and music societies, film festivals, sport competitions, tourist trips – these forms of cooperation have become a common thing in the life of our people.

Now Ukraine establishes new relations with countries throughout the world. Ukraine is one of the founding members of the United Nations Organization and participates in the work of many international organizations.

M. V. Lysenko (1842-1912)

Mykola Lysenko’s name is connected with Ukrainian national music. He was a versatile man of art: composer, conductor, pianist, teacher and collector of folk songs. He combined in his works national originality with best achievements of world musical culture.

M. Lysenko studied at the Kharkiv and Kyiv Universities at the natural science departments. Then he got musical education at the Leipzig Conservatoire. But after graduation from it he didn’t remain abroad and returned to his native country. He devoted himself fully to the development of the Ukrainian music.

At the time, Lysenko was at the center of Ukrainian cultural and musical life in Kyiv. He gave piano recitals and organized choirs for performances in Kyiv and tours through Ukraine. Mykola Lysenko studied and collected folk songs throughout his life. Lysenko's musical compositions were numerous and varied. His operatic works include the singspiel Chornomortsi; the operetta Natalka from Poltava (1889); the operas (based on works by Nicolai Gogol) Christmas Night (1873–82), Utoplena (The Drowned Maiden, 1883), and Taras Bulba (1890); the miniature opera Nocturne; and three operas for children: Koza Dereza (Billy Goat's Bluff, 1888), Pan Kots’kyi (Sir Catsky, 1891), and Winter and Spring (1892).

He made his operas, choral and chamber compositions truly national. Working not only in symphonic genre Lysenko laid the foundations of entire national musical culture. His best compositions are numerous: 14 operas, the symphony, quartets, string trios, more than 50 piano works etc. All of them are distinguished with original feature of the Ukrainian national instrumental style.

He had created songs, romances, ensembles, choirs and cantatas. Settings of words by Taras Shevchenko occupy a special place in Lysenko's works. The settings include solo art songs, choral works, and cantatas for choir and orchestra, such as Raduisia nyvo nepolytaia (Rejoice, Unwatered Field), Reve ta stohne Dnipr shyrokyi (The Mighty Dnieper Roars and Bellows), Sadok vyshnevyi kolo khaty (The Cherry Orchard by the House), and Na vichnu pamiat’ Kotliarevs’komu (To the Eternal Memory of Kotliarevsky). Shevchenko's collection Kobzar particularly fascinated Lysenko, who composed music for 82 of its texts.

Lysenko was the founder of the national movement in Ukrainian music, based on a specific Ukrainian cultural tradition and the originality of its folk music. His prolific and versatile life's work became the foundation for the further development and expansion of Ukrainian musical culture.

Lysenko influenced a large group of Ukrainian composers, including Mykola Leontovych, Stanyslav Ludkevych, Mykhailo Verykivsky.

Lysenko’s creative work is very much alive today, it sounds all over Ukraine and the whole world. Nowadays Lysenko’s opera “Taras Bul’ba” opens a season in Kyiv Opera House and is a great success with the public.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-21