Vasyl Barvinsky


Vasyl Oleksandrovych Barvinsky was a Ukrainian composer, pianist, conductor, teacher, musicologist, and music related social figure.
Barvinsky was one of the first Ukrainian composers to gain worldwide recognition. His pieces were published not only in the Soviet Union, but also in Vienna, Leipzig, New York, and Japan. Barvinsky directed a post-secondary musical institution in the city of Lviv the Lysenko Higher Institute of Music, and was considered to be the head of musical life at the time. Currently there is a College of Music named after Barvinsky in Drohobych city of Ukraine.

Biography

Vasyl Barvinsky was born in Ternopil, on 20 February 1888. Barvinsky descended from an older aristocratic family. Barvinsky's father, Oleksander Barvinsky, was famous Ukrainian pedagogue, politician, and public figure. In 1917 he was appointed a member of the Austrian upper chamber. Vasyl's mother, singer and pianist, became his first music teacher.

Education

Barvinsky gained professional music education in Lviv conservatory. Barvinsky continued his music education in Prague. Among his teachers were Vilém Kurz, and Vítězslav Novák. When he began to teach, one of his first students was Stefania Turkewich.

Works

Barvinsky has written about 30 works. Barvinsky's compositions are said to be impressive by their “… matureness’, thoughtfulness and delicacy”. Barvinsky composed in various genres except ballet and opera. His style, late romantic with impressionistic features, was also strongly influenced by Ukrainian folklore. Although many of Barvinsky's works were lost, most of his creative inheritance remained and is performed worldwide.

Compositions

"Ukrainian Rhapsody"

Piano cycle "Love"

Piano Sonata in C sharp minor

Piano Trio in A minor

Piano Preludes

Piano Concerto in F minor

Five miniatures on Ukrainian folk themes

Cycle for piano "Koliadky i Shchedrivky"

Piano collection for children: "Our Sun is Playing Piano"

"Ukrainian Suite"

"Lemkiv's Suite"

"Lemkiv's Dances"

Choir miniature: "The Sun is Already Down"
Children Choirs:

"On the Christmas Tree"

"Summer" -

"The song of pupils"

Folk-song Arrangements:

"There on the Hill are Two Oaklets"

"Two Lemkiv's folk songs"
Six Solo Arrangements of Folk Songs, composed in 1912:

Yanhil-yahilochka

Oi, khodyla divchyna berizhkom

Chy ty virno mene liubysh

Vyishly v pole kosari

Oi, ziydy, ziydy, yasen misiatsiu

Lullaby Oi Khodyt Son
Chamber music:

Sonata for Cello and Piano

Nocturne for Cello

Variations on folk-song theme for Cello

"Dumka" for Viola

Sonata and Suite for Viola and Piano

Suite for Viola

Sextet for piano and five string instruments

String Quartet "Molodijniy"

String Quartet in B flat major

For Violin: "Humoreska", "Sumna Pisnia", "Kozachok", "Metelytsia", "Pisnia bez sliv" also known as "Harodna Melodiya"

Music related literary works

"Bela Bartok in Lviv"

"An overview of Ukrainian Music History"
"Ukrainian Music"

"The New Age of Ukrainian Music"

"My Memories about Mykola Lysenko"
"Viktor Kosenko"

"Creative Work of V. Novak"

"Ukrainian Folk Song and Ukrainian Composers"

"Characteristics of Ukrainian folk song and its Research"