KYIV CHAMBER CHOIR

CD: Masterpieces of Ukrainian Baroque Choral Music

This CD represents Ukrainian sacred music of so-called Baroque-period wich is the highest achievement of Ukrainian musical heritage, reflecting revival of creative forces of the Ukrainian people at the latter half of the 17th and early 18th century. It was an age of sweeping changes in entire system of musical thought, a revamping of creative principles and a renewal of forms and genres, when sonorous polyphony began to sound next to monophonic hymnody.

The Kyiv Chamber Choir starts with choral Ecclesiastical Hymns of their fellow-townsman Nikolai Diletsky, who lived more then 300 years ago. Creative work of this composer, the classic of choral polyphony, is recently opened and yet a little known for the wide audience. To him belongs the first written work about problems of the musical theory,aesthetics and composition; he is the author of Liturgy and several choral concertos. In N.Diletsky praise and worship music were embodied the major attributes of European baroque style with synthesis of power national traditions. To his compositions are typical clearness, balance between thin polyphonic ways and clear chord structure.

Quadrophonic Liturgy, fragments from which are performed by Kiev chamber choir concerns to early forms of choral polyphony. The concerto for two choirs "Came into the Church " is colorful, contrast composition intended for holiday solemn festive services.

Maxim Berezovsky /1745-1777/ was an unusual phenomenon who influenced on the development of musical art not only in the Ukraine. It was him who opened Ukrainian music to Europe. He was born in the small Ukrainian town Glukhovo where he gained his early musical education at the famous Tsar's Music Cappella School.

In the spring of 1769, Berezovsky was dispatched to Italy to continue his training with G. B. Martini, the renowned pedagogue and composer, and the master of the counterpoint technique. Martini was actually in charge of the Bologna Philharmonic Academy, a highly-regarded institution that tutored musicians from all of Europe. The good reputation of the Academy's acclaimed graduates was mainly based on the highest scientific and pedagogical authority of its head. On 15th of May of 1771 Maxim Berezovsky became the Academician of Bologna Academy of Philarmonics. To acquire the title of an Academician in Italy, one had not only to make the three grades, but to pass a final academic test. Berezovsky's assignment was to compose a polyphonic work on a given theme in the austere manner. Several months earlier, the 14-year-old Wolfgang Mozart had fulfilled a similar task.

Maxim Beresovsky was known as author of the first national opera and many traditional sonata-symphonic works though the main genre of his creativity was a cappella Christian praise and worship music. His concerto "Do Not Forsake Me" takes a special place in his creativity. The concerto has a deep philosophic sense and filled with dramatism. It is a confession of haggard composer's soul who very soon was tragically lost at age of 32 years.

Dimitry Stepanovich Bortnyansky /1751-1825/ was, in his day, the most famous composer in the Russian Empire and was named the "Russian Mozart"- ironic as he was born in Glukhovo of Ukraine. He also studied in Italy where he composed several operas now lost. He made a great contribution to development of Ukrainian and Russian praise and worship music. He based his music on national traditions and European musical technique, connecting the features of the late baroque style his attributes of the early classicism.

Artemy Vedel /1767-1806/ - was peculiar and colorful figure in music of 18th century. He, as anybody of his time, was closely connected to Ukrainian environment. His music is full with intonations of sacred Chants and Psalms. We may say that he "speaks" by Ukrainian musical language. But the main is that his concerts reflect the sacred world of his time. Most of his praise and worship music are lost, however those that remain have become highly popular and have great success. The Chamber Choir Kiev was founded in December of 1990. Choir members include professional singers, graduates of conservatories and musical institutes throughout Ukraine.