SOUNDS AND VIEWS: Unique concert celebrates lady of music (03/12/00)

SOUNDS AND VIEWS

by Roman Sawycky

Unique concert celebrates lady of music

Hallowed ground bestows a unique aura to an occasion by elevating the event to a higher plane. The music is enveloped in a special setting with a spiritual ambiance not felt even in leading concert halls.

In the time-honored music tradition of European and American cathedrals, St. John's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Newark, N.J., became on Sunday, February 13, a special concert hall for a memorial program honoring the late, prominent and beloved pianist-educator Daria Hordynska Karanowycz.

The excellent selection of religious and secular music was memorable as performed by singers and pianists belonging to the finest in the metropolitan area. A feeling of poignancy was conveyed through the native sound of Ukrainian music, fondly recalling "Pani Darka's" own large repertoire of composers whom the performers knew musically and personally.

Prof. Karanowycz's own performances and recordings of these Ukrainian composers were gifts to us from a generous soul. Even her Steinway grand piano became a centerpiece that special Sunday at St. John's - Prof. Karanowycz's last present to her parish.

In that spacious, lively acoustical church, designed by the late architect Julian Jastremsky, Diana Yurchuk spoke for the family of the late musician, recalling Prof. Karanowycz's attitude to life, perhaps best expressed as a harmonious undertaking, as "Teta Darka's classes in composition of life."

Soprano Alexandra (Lesia) Hrabova, who was like a daughter to Prof. Karanowycz, performed opposite Oleh Chmyr, baritone, and Roman Tsymbala, tenor, as well as with Olia Stashyshyn on bandura. The visiting pianists were Laryssa Krupa and Volodymyr Vynnytsky, who also accompanied in the vocal selections.

The final and uplifting "Vladyko Neba i Zemli" from Hulak-Artemovsky's opera is a prayer for Ukraine; here it also became a devotional ensemble in memory of a grand lady of music.

All performers truly rose to the occasion. Attending were over 600 listeners, many of whom stayed on for an intimate gathering over wine, cheese and sweets.

The Rev. Bohdan Lukie, pastor of St. John's, is to be credited with preparing this feast for soul and body. Father Lukie has sound and practical ideas for a series of concerts intended to bring more culture to the parish and community that would feature performing artists from the metropolitan area. Such concerts, in turn, would build an audience by bringing more parishioners closer to the church and to one another.

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