The role of Ukrainian folk music in the formation of cultural heritage and its preservation in the digital age

Abstract

The article examines the role of Ukrainian folk music as a key element in the formation of national cultural heritage and outlines approaches to its preservation in the context of digital transformation.Special attention is paid to choral art as a form of authentic transmission of folk song heritage, capable of adaptation in modern media environments. The purpose of the study is to scientifically substantiate the importance of Ukrainian folk music in the formation of cultural heritage and to determine effective strategies for its preservation in the digital age. The methodological basis is an interdisciplinary approach that combines cultural, art history, and information and analytical components. Methods of qualitative analysis of scientific publications, comparative analysis of cultural practices, and content analysis of digital initiatives for the preservation of intangible heritage were applied. The study found that digital technologies (digitization of audio and sheet music collections, creation of online archives, multimedia formats, virtual museums) open up new opportunities for the preservation of Ukrainian folk music. At the same time, problems have been identified - primarily the lack of a unified state strategy, fragmentation of initiatives, limited involvement of young people and risks of loss of authenticity in the process of digital adaptation.It is noted that choral art in Ukraine is evolving from traditional academic formats to hybrid experiments with electronic music and social media, while maintaining the role of a carrier of folk heritage. Special attention is paid to the impact of digital communications on musical identity – in particular, on the example of war folklore, which became a manifestation of collective resistance in the conditions of the Russian-Ukrainian war. It is generalized that Ukrainian folk music, adapted to digital formats, is able not only to preserve authentic meanings, but also to perform the function of a cultural mediator between generations. Prospects for further research include: studying the perception of digital forms of folk music by young people; analyzing the effectiveness of integrating folklore into digital educational platforms; studying the impact of artificial intelligence on the processes of preservation and interpretation of musical heritage.