September 24, 7 pm – VERE MUSIC HUB (Kyiv, Malopidvalna St., 21/8). Registration of listeners: https://forms.gle/aXQv8r181ShdYGBn6.
Concert of harpsichord music of the 18th and 21st centuries. The hysterically intense imagination by Johann Sebastian Bach. Della Ciaia’s experimental sonata with an asymmetrical structure of parts, crazy sequences, and harmonic explorations. Domenico Scarlatti’s sonatas, full of special effects. This is, to put it mildly, not a pop representation of Baroque; contemporary Ukrainian composer Oleksii Shmurak wrote rhyming compositions, commentary compositions, and dialogue compositions specifically for it.
In Gallant Indias, Shmurak addresses the theme of (post)colonialism. In “Narcissus and Echo,” he brings the harpsichord closer to the poetics of lyre players and kobza players through the metaphor of a tragic Greek myth. His “Maria Barbara” is dedicated to the daughter of the Portuguese king, who was the patron, patroness, and pupil of Domenico Scarlatti, thanks to whom the Italian composer wrote a huge number of his famous sonatas.
The performer is Tymish Melnyk, a researcher of unknown Ukrainian music, popularizer of names important for the rediscovery of the Ukrainian musical canon, pianist, and harpsichordist.
Program:
Johann Sebastian Bach
Fantasy in A minor, BWV 922 (1710–1714).
Oleksii Shmurak
Gallant Indias (2025).
Azzolino Bernardino della Ciaia
Sonata No. 5 in G major, Op. 4 (1727).
I. Toccata.
II. Canzone.
III. Moderato.
IV. Maestoso.
Oleksii Shmurak
Narcissus and Echo (2025).
Domenico Scarlatti
Sonata in E major, K. 215 (1730).
Oleksii Shmurak
Maria Barbara (2025).
Domenico Scarlatti
Sonata in F major, K. 541 (1733–1757).
Tymish Melnyk (harpsichord)
Photo credit: VERE MUSIC FUND.
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VERE MUSIC HUB This is an artistic ecosystem – a space for young musicians and listeners created by the VERE MUSIC FUND. It consists of an upper hall with 100 seats for concerts, recordings, master classes, lectures, etc. and a lower rehearsal hall. The venue is located at 21/8 Malopidvalna Street, Kyiv.
VERE MUSIC FUND A charitable fund established in 2017 by Tetiana Verevska. The Fund provides grants to Ukrainian musicians to participate in international competitions and master classes, and implements festival projects and educational initiatives. It also supports international music competitions in Ukraine.