Ukrainian piano duets in the context of 21st century performing practices

Abstract

The article examines concert programs and performance interpretations of the most famous Ukrainian piano ensembles of the 21st century, their areas of activity and leading trends. The aim of this article is to identify the characteristics of concert program development and to examine interpretive models in the work of the most renowned Ukrainian piano duos of the period in question. The research methodology is based on a synthesis of source research, comparative analysis of performance concepts, and empirical data collection methods (surveys, interviews). Four performance schools of piano duet performance and their representatives are distinguished: the school of conceptual innovation, which focuses on conceptuality, discovery of new music, original performance of works by Ukrainian and world composers of the 20th–21st centuries, around a central idea or theme, on structured programs according to various principles (monographic cycles, genre, conceptual-stylistic); the school of historical revival and popularization (focus on systematic research and revival of national heritage), the school of monumental orchestrality, which is distinguished by its scale, aspiration for large forms, orchestral piano sound, and the school of academic universality (the basis is the aspiration to present a wide range of musical literature from the 18th to the 21st centuries, including little-known compositions and works by Ukrainian authors, as well as concerts with an orchestra). The article also makes a comparative analysis of concert programs, repertoire strategies, and performance features. The study of this article allows us to comprehend and systematize the phenomenon of the piano duet, which is gaining increasing importance in music education and cultural life of Ukraine. In addition, attention is drawn to the interdisciplinary relevance of the study of this type of music making – the development of interpersonal interaction between co-performers. Studies by foreign scientists indicate that prolonged interaction in a piano duet forms the stability of emotional intelligence and affects the development of empathy. The Conclusions emphasize the originality of this type of music making as a separate phenomenon in the musical art of Ukraine, and further prospects for the development of the topic are determined. The results of the work can serve as the basis for the development of new curricula and methodological manuals for musical institutions.