Announcement,
Humanitarian Fundraiser for Ukraine
Like virtually the entire classical music world, we are shocked and appalled by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the subsequent humanitarian disaster unfolding before our eyes.
Looking for a positive contribution we could make amid this catastrophe, we’ve been researching and exploring Ukrainian classical composers, and have discovered some fascinating stories and real gems. We have looked through the range of currently available sheet music publications, and have made a selection of twenty items, including piano music, vocal and choral works, and chamber pieces, that might serve as a useful introduction to those looking to study and perform the music of these composers.
More importantly, we will donate all of the profits from sales of these items to supporting humanitarian causes in Ukraine. This includes absorbing the shipping and packaging costs ourselves, so that as much money as possible can go towards our target of raising £10,000 for the DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal via the Red Cross.
We have also launched a similar campaign over in our Classical recordings department, so please make sure you take a moment to browse through our selection of recordings by Ukrainian composers and to help us reach our target!
Piano Music
A native Ukrainian, Sergei Bortkiewicz continued the late-Romantic piano tradition with great melodic talent. Pensées Lyriques Op.11, a cycle of six pieces of moderate difficulty, was composed in 1909 and dedicated to Czech operatic soprano Emmy Destinn.
Available Format: Sheet Music
Written in 1909 while living in Berlin, the Sonata in B major, Op 9 is Bortkiewicz’s first large-scale work. Consisting of three movements, the Sonata has a conventional structure with a dramatic first movement, elegant second movement, and virtuosic third movement.
Available Format: Sheet Music
Viktor Kosenko was considered one of the leading pianists in Europe during his lifetime. The time he spent in Zhytomyr was the most successful in Kosenko’s life; he was at the centre of musical public life. Critical Edition of Koshenko's Piano Sonata No. 1 in Bb Minor, Op. 13.
Available Format: Sheet Music
Roslavets was one of the leading figures in musical life in the 1920s.The piano pieces in this edition date from the period between 1914-1922: their complex structures, finely shaded dynamics, and tone colour go beyond the familiar bounds of musical expressiveness and structure for that time.
Available Format: Sheet Music
In this edition, Silvestrov has compiled five cycles from a multitude of Bagatellen, his favourite genre in recent years.
Available Format: Sheet Music
Instrumental & Chamber Music
Roslavets studied, taught, and very often gave concerts on the violin. He composed numerous compositions for his favourite instrument: two violin concertos, six sonatas, cycles, and many individual pieces. Volume one contains six violin pieces by the composer.
Available Format: Sheet Music
Angel's Touch was commissioned for violinist Solomiya Ivakhiv, and premiered along with pianist Meng-Chieh Liu at Carnegie Hall in November 2013. Yevhen Stankovych is one of the central figures of contemporary Eastern European music. Like many of his Ukrainian born predecessors, Stankovych established himself a composer of great dramatic talent from his very first compositions.
Available Format: Sheet Music
Roslavets' Cello Sonata No. 1, composed in 1921. With preface in German and English by Marina Lobanowa.
Available Format: Sheet Music
Another prominent work by Roslavets, is the String Quartet No. 3, composed in 1920. With his third quartet, the composer explores new chords, non-classical rhythms and microthematic composition. Originally published in 1928, this is the third of five string quartets by Roslavets.
Available Format: Sheet Music
Throughout its three movements, this fourteen minute trio is a multi-coloured gem of visceral lyricism, full of dark beauty and mystical impressionism, which gradually grows into fire. The melodic influence and passion of Didorenko’s Ukrainian heritage are among the ingredients of this enticing concert work.
Available Format: Sheet Music
Choral & Vocal Music
Seventeen Ukrainian Folk Songs from the Schott Archive arranged for voice and guitar. Edited by Oksana Sowiak.
Available Format: Sheet Music
The first of three volumes edited by Marina Lobanowa. This volume features works based on poems by Konstantin Balmont, Nikolay Gumilyov, Vyaceslav Ivanov, Aleksandr Blok and Volosin.
Available Format: Sheet Music
Dmitry Bortniansky, is among the most famous and most performed composers of Slavic choral music. He is credited with developing the genre of the sacred choral concerto to its highest level. The editor of this edition has placed special emphasis on presenting an exact rendering of the dynamics and expressive markings as conceived by the composer himself, amending all inaccuracies of the edition edited by Tchaikovsky (1882).
Available Format: Sheet Music
Iwan Knorr’s Ukrainian Love Songs Op. 5 for four voices and piano. Inspired by the Ukrainian Cossack tradition, Knorr’s cycle of nine settings combines lyrically romantic vocal writing with spirited virtuoso piano accompaniments.
Available Format: Sheet Music
Chamber choir version of Silvestrov's Liturgical Chants. This edition includes performance notes, a Ukrainian pronunciation guide, and texts with translations. The score also includes transliterated texts.
Available Format: Sheet Music
“Euromaidan” and "Revolution of Dignity" were the names given to the Ukrainian citizens' protests, which began in November 2013. Again and again, during this period of turmoil, Valentin Silvestrov went to Majdan Square in Kiev, where he heard the prayers and songs of the peaceful demonstrators, and then the shots. Almost in the eye of the typhoon, he wrote numerous choruses - hymns, elegies, prayers, requiem movements - in this way fighting with musical means for his country, and manifesting his resistance as unshakeable faith in the roots of its culture and religion.
Available Format: Sheet Music
Two Ukrainian Folksongs arranged by W. H. Anderson for solo voice and accompaniment. Includes Alone and In the Garden the Flowers are Growing
Available Format: Sheet Music
Chris O'Reilly - Chief Executive
