Choral culture of the Western Ukrainian diaspora: statement of the problem

Abstract

The article reveals the cultural and historical circumstances of the emergence of the choral culture of the Western Ukrainian diaspora and substantiates the features of its development, clarifies the temporal and spatial boundaries in the development of the choral culture of the Western Ukrainian diaspora; identifies centers, analyzes the work of the most famous groups, as well as the dynamics of changes in the context of the historical, political and socio-cultural circumstances of the studied period. In spatial terms, the Western Ukrainian diaspora is mostly located in the countries of North and South America, Western Europe, and Australia. Ukrainian choral culture has its own centuries-old traditions, a galaxy of world- famous artistic groups and conductors, and a repertoire of various styles and genres. Its main branches – folk, church and author’s, academic reflected the cultural-historical, socio-cultural existence, philosophy of life, attitude to the world, cherished aspirations of the Ukrainian person and community. Today, scientists explain the tendency and love of Ukrainians to sing in a group by natural abilities and mental characteristics, social priorities and historical and political conditions for the formation of an ethnos and later – a nation. This type of performance has established itself as one of the effective ways of identification, ethnic and collective self-expression of Ukrainians not only in their native lands, but also in the world.Evidence of this was and remains, among other things, the presence of choirs in diasporic centers, which began to be established in the second half of the 19th century. in the USA and Canada. An important factor in the development of choral art in the diaspora in the past and present is the personal factor – the activities of outstanding figures, in particular: V. Baley, V. Galan, V. Hrechynsky, O. Koshytsya, L. Krushelnytsky, P. Matsenko, Y. Plevako-Oransky, E.-O. Sadovsky, L. Turkevich and a number of others who played a significant role in their compositional activities, organization of musical and demonstration events, etc.