NEW RELEASE: Collection of art songs by composer Wadym Kipa (07/05/98)

NEW RELEASE: Collection of art songs by composer Wadym Kipa

ALLENTOWN, Pa. - A collection of art songs by the late Ukrainian pianist-composer Wadym Kipa has been published by Muzychna Ukraina. The 112-page volume contains nine settings of texts by Lesia Ukrainka, six of texts by Wadym Lesych, and one each to the words of Petro Kizko and Andrij Malyshko. Prof. Vitali Kyreiko of the Kyiv Conservatory of Music served as musical editor of the volume, which also includes facsimiles of the composer's original manuscripts and a biographical essay by Dr. Tamara Bulat.

Prof. Kipa died 30 years ago in New York City at the age of 56. A graduate of the Kyiv State Music Conservatory, he became a laureate of the Soviet Union and taught piano at his alma mater just prior to the outbreak of World War II. After the war he lived briefly in the British Zone of Germany before coming to the United States and settling in New York City where he conducted his own school of music.

Although primarily a performing artist, Prof. Kipa soon realized that his chances of launching a new stage career were slim. Although he continued to concertize in the United States and Canada, he derived most of his support from his teaching and turned to composing for professional satisfaction.

The current volume represents the first publication of Prof. Kipa's works. Ten compositions for piano solo, an "Album for Youth," a work for violin and piano, several piano arrangements, an unfinished piano concerto, and four art songs to the texts of the German poet Wilhelm Chojnacky remain unpublished.

A presentation of the present volume and a performance of the published works is planned for this fall in Kyiv. Copies of the publication may be obtained from Dr. Albert Kipa, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA 18104. The cost, including postage, is $20. Checks should be made payable to the "W. Kipa Publishing Fund."