Music Inspired by Taras Shevchenko, Ukrainian Poet

March 9th and 10th were Ukrainian Poet, Taras Shevchenko’s birthday and passing respectively. In honor of these events I found two older tunes from the late 80’s and early 90’s – both were poems of his that I put to music.

I quickly remastered them and posted them to YouTube. They were both recorded on an old 4-track.

The song “Dumka” was recorded as a Demo for the band “Half-Na-Piv”, (“Na Piv” means “and half” in Ukrainian). The band members at the time of the recording were myself, John Plishka my bro, and Ihor Chornij. I believe that Walter Pohribnyj may be on the track as well playing a backing guitar.

The other song, “Vse Ide, Vse Mynaje” was recorded prior to Dumka and it was recorded in my old basement studio in Northbrook. That’s the same studio where my CD, “Spit, Sputter, Blow…” was recorded.

The words are in Ukrainian, but I hope the music helps convey the meaning, even if you don’t understand Ukrainian.

Enjoy!

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Христос Воскрес! Music and an Easter Haiku – Ukrainian Style

Church bells ring with joy

Once in darkness souls now sing:

“Christ from Death, Rises!”

 Click on arrow to play

(Notes: The words “Христос Воскрес!!” mean “Christ is Risen” is Ukrainian.  It is a traditional greeting between people during Easter Season.  The response is “Воїстину Воскрес!” which means, “Indeed He is Risen!” The song I wrote above repeats the traditional, liturgical phrase, “Christ is risen from the dead, conquering death by death, and to those in the tombs he granted life!!” in Ukrainian.  It is done with entirely with loops – in other words it’s done in one take, live. Symbolically speaking, loops have no beginning and no end.  There is a fitting aspect to using this technology to sing about Easter.)

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Street Bard in Ukraine

Was sent this video and I wanted to share it with you. It’s a form of music that was outlawed during the Soviet Regime. The singers sing traditional songs on the Ukrainian national instrument– the Bandura (Sometimes they play the Kobza as well). They remind the people of the glorious past of the Ukrainian Nation.

Personally I love this instrument-the way it sounds is haunting. I have one myself but have yet to learn how to play it. I have figured out a way to copy the sound and I used it at the end of this song.

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