Ukrainian pop songs in the contemporary repertoire of a bandura ensemble

Abstract

The article examines the specifics of the functioning of the Ukrainian pop song in the contemporary repertoire of bandura ensembles. The aim of the study is to identify the genre and stylistic priorities in the selection of songs, the peculiarities of their arrangement and stage interpretation, as well as the role of Ukrainian pop repertoire in the processes of actualization of bandura art in the modern musical space of Ukraine. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the interpretation of the Ukrainian pop song as a component of the contemporary repertoire of bandura ensembles within the context of the current performing environment. The genre and stylistic directions of incorporating classical and contemporary pop music into ensemble bandura performance are systematized; the differences between academic-concert and show-oriented models of interpretation are outlined; and the specific features of arrangements are identified (reproduction of orchestral texture, expansion of the timbral palette, the use of sound amplification technologies, phonogram accompaniment, and collaborations with various instruments). It is demonstrated that stylistic hybridity and interpretative variability become defining features of the performance of contemporary Ukrainian pop songs. Conclusions. Ukrainian pop songs occupy a significant place in the contemporary repertoire of bandura ensembles and serve as an effective means of renewing the performance model. Classical pop songs are organically integrated into the academic tradition due to their melodicism, reliance on folk-song intonations, and the tradition of the art song, whereas contemporary pop music demonstrates new principles of processing and adapting musical material, intensification of stage expressiveness, and expansion of communicative potential. The inclusion of pop repertoire contributes to overcoming stereotypes associated with the bandura, the formation of a new audience, and the integration of bandura art into the contemporary artistic space through the development of a new model of ensemble bandura performance that combines academic tradition with contemporary stylistic hybridity.