Russian or Ukrainian?

Veryovka's orchestra conductor, Stanislav Savchuk, contends that "Chorni Ochi" (Dark Eyes) and "Vechirnyi Dzvin" (Evening Bells) are Ukrainian folk songs, even though they have come to be known as Russian.

The songs were planned for Veryovka's U.S. tour but had to be dropped from the program because Valentin Pivovar was unable to accompany the troupe. Mr. Pivovar was the scheduled soloist for both selections.

According to Mr. Savchuk, the Ukrainian poet Yevhen Hrebinka (1812-1848) composed the poem "Dark Eyes" in St. Petersburg, Russia, after falling in love with a dark-eyed beauty. The identity of the composer who set Hrebinka's words to music is not known, Mr. Savchuk said.

"Evening Bells," which Mr. Savchuk attributed to Thomas Moore, is listed in Zenowij Lyso's 1964 publication "Ukrainian Folk Melodies." The folk song, numbered 9787, was discovered in a collection by Volodymyr Aleksandriv published in the 1880s.

It would appear that both songs have a Ukrainian origin but became popular as Russian songs. "Dark Eyes," in particular, has been accepted worldwide as a Russian love song.

Should these now be added to the list of lost treasures of Ukraine?

- Helen Smindak

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, February 18, 1996, No. 7, Vol. LXIV

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