Bandura's Music: "The Strings of the Soul"

A new cassette, "Strings of the Soil" prodused and distributed by the Yevshan Co. of Canada, features composer-vocalist bandura-player Oksana Herasymenko of Lviv. This well-traveled featured artist is the daughter of and student of Prof. Vasyl Herasymenko, longtime lecturer at the Lysenko State Music Institute in Lviv, himself an eminent performer and recognized builder of a new, augmented concert bandura.

After graduating from the Lviv Conservatory, Ms. Oksana Herasymenko showed the bandura to best advantage at the International Guitar Festvival in Havana, where she performed at the invitation of Ichiro Suzuki, with whom she toured festivals in Spain, France and Japan. A winner of several international competitions, Ms. Herasymenko now teaches at the Lysenko Music Institute.

The first part of her new recording explores the intimate chamber music atmnosphere of voice and strings in such compositions as "A Day Without You", lyrics by Olesia Babiy. "There Stands a High Mountain" features melanholy variations, and "Strong Winds" is a lament on lover's separation. In the latter instance one is tempted to compare Ms. Herasymenko - a prolific, gifted, melancholy songstress - to the legendary Marusia Churai.

The second part of the recording focuses on the bandura as solo instrument and as performed with flute, played by Kateryna Nemesh. Conceived independently of any folk influences, the abstract music conveys a wide range of feelings marked by an impressionistic mode; this is conveyed in such works as "Fall Dreams" and "On Wings of Daydreams".

All in all, the music on "Strings of the Soul" is of a lyrical persuasion, expressed in melancholy musings tinged with impressionism. This style relates somewhat to what of early 20th century composers of Lviv but with an added twist: gentle jazz harmony.

The performance, including duets with flute, are entirely convincing. This hearfelt effort can provide a relaxing pause at the end of a long day. It should be noted that the new, augmented concert bandura projects further that the old folk prototype. (Contemporary composer Yuriy Oliynyk has produced four concertos for just such an instrument with symphony orchestra. When professionally presented, the concert bandura can perform the music of many lands and eras - and thus can serve as an excellent public relations medium between Ukraine and the West. If music speaks all languages, why not communicate the best we have to offer to the rest of the world?

Oksana Herasymenko has some 60 bandura works to her credit; hers is a strong commitment to the Ukrainian folk idom. On this cassette she is assisted by folk musician Myron Bloschychak. The recording has a technical finesse captured with closely miked sound coming out of perfect silence, setting a standard for other Lviv bandurists such as Taras Lazurkevych and Oleh Sozansky. The song titles and notes appear in Ukrainian only with exact timings given for each selection. "Strings of the Soul" is available by mail order from: Yuriy & Ola Oliynyk, 5253 Glancy Drive, Carmichael, CA 95608-5458. Tel. (916)482-4706. Cost $10.00 plus $1.50 for shipping.