TWG Cultural Fund series finale spotlights music for the bandura

by Zdanna Krawciw

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The last concert of the 2001-2002 music series sponsored by The Washington Group Cultural Fund under the patronage of the Embassy of Ukraine took place on Sunday, May 19, here at the Lyceum.

The program featured music for bandura solo, bandura and voice, and bandura with piano as performed by bandurist Ola Herasymenko Oliynyk, who also did the vocals, and her husband, composer and pianist Yuriy Oliynyk.

The first part of the program was devoted to music of Ukrainian composers, including four works by Mr. Oliynyk as well as "Elegy" for bandura solo by Oksana Herasymenko, Ola's sister. The last work before the intermission was the second movement of Mr. Oliynyk's Concerto No. 2 for bandura and orchestra, with Mr. Oliynyk performing the part for orchestra on the piano.

As noted in the printed program, Ola Herasymenko Oliynyk is the first professional bandurist to have been featured as a soloist with American symphony orchestras and has recorded three of her husband's concertos for bandura and orchestra.

In addition to several short pieces for bandura solo, two Ukrainian folk songs for bandura and voice, and a piece titled "Yaroslavna's Lament" (music by Kucherenko to text by Taras Shevchenko), the second part of the program included variations on a theme by Mozart written for the bandura by an unknown 18th century Ukrainian composer, as well as music by Johann Sebastian Bach and Dmytro Bortniansky originally written for the harpsichord and transcribed for the bandura.

Mr. Oliynyk, who introduced the various pieces in the program and made interesting observations about the bandura, pointed out that the sound of the harpsichord is similar to that of the bandura, therefore, transcribing harpsichord music for the bandura is quite natural. The rendition of Bach's "Courante" on the bandura and Bortniansky's Concerto in D Major on bandura with piano accompaniment showed off the technical capabilities of the instrument. It was interesting to hear instrumental music by Bortniansky and to note that it is in no way inferior to his more familiar choral works.

Ms. Herasymenko Oliynyk is quite an accomplished bandurist with agile finger technique. She performed a varied program, but seemed most comfortable in the folk medium. The instrument she used for the recital was a beautiful bandura custom built by her father, Prof. Vasyl Herasymenko.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, June 16, 2002, No. 24, Vol. LXX

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