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Alexander Shchetynsky

The Elder's Vision
for mixed choir and chamber ensemble
(2006)

Text: Hryhoriy Skovoroda (in old bookish Ukrainian language)

In this piece I arranged the fragments from philosophical treatments of Hryhoriy Skovoroda, Ukrainian poet and philosopher-mystic of 18th century. Images that resemble Apocalypse are blended here with Skovoroda's vision of the transfiguration of the world. Following the cultural openness of the text, the music includes elements of different styles that interact and modify each other. They are as if the remains and flotsam of the styles that existed independently in different epochs - old Orthodox church choral, naive quasi-folk tune, harmony with soft romantic alterations, expressive atonal melody, irregular excited rhythm, solid timbral interlacing, etc.

The composition technique includes free atonal and modal melodic writing; quasi-tonal, atonal and modal harmony. In several sections the viola and cello play the role of the soloists.

Alexander Shchetynsky


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© 2006 by Alexander Shchetynsky