"Café Ivasiuk" acquaints audience with the life and music of the late composer (07/25/04)

"Café Ivasiuk" acquaints audience with the life and music of the late composer

by Halyna Kotovych

EDMONTON - To better acquaint the public with the music and short life of the Ukrainian folk-pop composer Volodymyr Ivasiuk (1949-1979) on the 25th anniversary of his brutal murder, the Ukrainian Music Society of Alberta (UMSA) organized a special evening, dubbed "Café Ivasiuk," on Friday, May 14, at the Ukrainian Youth Unity Center in Edmonton.

While enjoying coffee and cake, the guests, who filled the large hall to capacity, listened to singers whose performances alternated throughout several locations in the hall.

The master of ceremonies was Lilia Sukhy, and all texts about Ivasiuk's music, life and importance were written by Halia Kotovych. The program was delivered in Ukrainian, but English explanations for those who needed them, as well as brochures about the composer in English, were provided.

After the greetings and introduction by the president of UMSA, Luba Boyko-Bell, a large group of youth from Plast and SUM sang "Chervona Ruta" and "Vodohrai" (guitar, M. Lazurko; accordion, S. Kostiuk). Susan Romaniuk sang "Vidlitaly Zhuravli," 16-year-old Ivasiuk's first song (piano accompaniment, I. Tarnawsky).

Olex Lazurko sang "Kolyskova" to words by Ivasiuk's father, Mykhailo (guitar, M. Lazurko, Olex's father). Sisters Olia and Irene Federkevych sang "Pisnia Bude Pomizh Nas" (piano, I. Tarnawsky). Then the Verkhovyna choir sang the "Ballad about Malvy." (conductor, H. Lazurko; soloist K. Bilash; piano, L. Kaczmar)

Two short excerpts of video from the past followed. First, singer Sofia Rotaru sang the "Ballad of the Violins," as she and a dance ensemble staged a short Bukovynian wedding scene. Then, two singers from the ensemble Smerichka sang "Chervona Ruta" with a guest singer - the author himself. The audience saw Ivasiuk called out by long applause for an additional bow.

Following the video, a male quartet sang "Ya Pidu v Daleki Hory" (T. Zakordonski, M. Lazurko, O. Lazurko, S. Kostiuk). Then Roman Brytan read the words to Ivasiuk's song "Fantasy of May Nights," from which the audience perceived that Ivasiuk had a premonition of misfortune.

Two brothers, Mykola and Andrij Nykyforuk sang Ivasiuk's "Nad Morem" and "Hey, Vy Kozachenky" (H. Tatarenko), which had been a popular song in Ukraine.

Oksana Ostashewky related a short episode about Ivasiuk, a classmate at the Lviv Conservatory of Music, and how the militia informed the students that they were looking for Ivasiuk, who had disappeared. The master of ceremonies furnished information about Ivasiuk's murder and funeral. Ola Myc read a poem "Bez Tebe" (B. Stelmakh), written in Ukraine on the 55th anniversary of Ivasiuk's birth.

Among the performers was a composer-producer from Ukraine, Myroslav Levytsky, who had just finished a residence at the Banff Center for the Arts, Alberta. He played two songs of Ivasiuk's on the piano: "Echoes" and "Yellow Leaves." During the second song, Lilia Sukhy read the words in Ukrainian, and Ms. Boyko-Bell, the English translation by Peter A. Rolland.

The last performers were Kharytia Bilash and Olex Lazurko singing "Ya Tvoye Krylo" (guitar, M. Lazurko). The Master of Ceremonies concluded with a few words about Ivasiuk's importance in Ukrainian popular music and Ms. Boyko-Bell thanked all who had contributed to the evening. A video excerpt of Ms. Rotaru singing "Pisnia Bude Pomizh Nas" completed the program.

Volodymyr Ivasiuk gave much-needed new direction to Ukrainian lyrical music during the communist era of "stagnation." He infused a patriotic message into music, as did Vasyl Symonenko into literature and Alla Horska into art - none of which were to Moscow's liking. However, Ivasiuk not only left beautiful music, but also showed how to be true to one's national roots, and how to draw inspiration from the treasures of one's culture.

"Café Ivasiuk" was a big success due to the enthusiasm and work of all the organizers and performers. Now the Ukrainian Music Society of Alberta is working on future plans whose goal is to ensure that the songs of Ukrainian composers from around the world "will always be with us" as Ivasiuk wrote in one of his songs.

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