December 24, 2015

Wesleyan University experiences Ukrainian “koliada”

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Andriy Hudymyak

Koliadnyky play the trembita at Wesleyan University.

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – The historic Memorial Chapel at Wesleyan University was filled on December 2 with the sounds of the trembita, “koliady” (carols) and Ukrainian choral singing. The concert was a collaboration between the Yara Arts Group, directed by Virlana Tkacz; the Hartford-based Yevshan Ukrainian Vocal Ensemble, conducted by Alexander Kuzma; bandurist Julian Kytasty; and Slavei, Wesleyan’s student a cappella singers. The striking visual design by Volodymyr Klyuzko created an otherworldly atmosphere in the Chapel.

The main attraction – the Koliadnyky – arrived from Kryvorivnia, a village in the Carpathian Mountains of Ukraine just the night before. It was a rare and treasured visit by artists who preserve and prolong the koliada winter ritual in its traditional style, travelling from home to home during the holidays. Koliadnyky Ivan Zelenchuk (bereza or lead singer), Mykola Zelenchuk (trembity and singer), Mykola Ilyuk (master fiddler) and Vasyl Tymchuk (tsymbaly) joined Wesleyan students in the Alpha Delta fraternity house for a pre-concert workshop in traditional music.

The concert began in the darkened chapel with the wail of trembity sounding from the choir loft. The Koliadnyky welcomed and greeted the hosts, the guests, the master and lady of the house with their songs and dances. Wesleyan’s Slavei choir reciprocated the Koliadnyky’s greetings with its own winter songs. They were soon joined by the Yevshan singers, who processed down the aisles of the sanctuary singing “Dobryi Vechir Tobi” (Good Evening).

Among other selections, the Yevshan ensemble sang the rarely performed setting of “Pavochka Khodyt” (The Peacock Struts) by Anatoly Avdievsky, with soloists Olya Fryz, Oksana Kit and Terenia Kuzma.  The song was dedicated to Nadiya Savchenko and other Ukrainian women affected by war and human trafficking. The evening culminated with an enchanting rendition of “Shchedryk” (a traditional Ukrainian New Year’s song known to American audiences as the “Carol of the Bells”).  It was a visual and auditory feast.

This concert was hosted by Wesleyan University’s Center for the Arts with the support of the Ukrainian Selfreliance New England Federal Credit Union, It is the fifth public event hosted by Wesleyan University in the past year intended to foster more informed dialogue and to direct attention to the situation in Ukraine.

Previous events included a panel and performance on the situation in Crimea with keynote speaker Arsen Zhumadilov from Ukraine; a panel discussion by local Ukraine experts Alexander Kuzma, Myron Stachiw and Wesleyan student and Maidan participant Mykhailo Iakovenko; screenings of the films “Music of Survival” and “Winter of Fire”; and a lecture-demonstration on the art of bandura by local artists Stephan Zaets and Alina Kuzma.

The events have drawn large and diverse attendances, affording an opportunity for non-Ukrainians to meet and engage with the large and active Ukrainian community in Connecticut.

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