![Mykola Dmytrovych Leontovych](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6e/Mykola_Dmytrovych_Leontovych.png)
Mykola Dmytrovych Leontovych (23 January 1921; ua, Микола Дмитрович Леонтович, link=no (); also Leontovich) was a
Ukrainian composer, conductor,
ethnomusicologist and teacher. His music was inspired by the Ukrainian composer
Mykola Lysenko
Mykola Vitaliyovych Lysenko ( uk, Мико́ла Віта́лійович Ли́сенко; 22 March 1842 – 6 November 1912) was a List of Ukrainian composers, Ukrainian composer, pianist, conductor and ethnomusicologist of the late Romantic mus ...
and the
Ukrainian National Music School. Leontovych specialised in
a cappella
''A cappella'' (, also , ; ) music is a performance by a singer or a singing group without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. The term ''a cappella'' was originally intended to differentiate between Ren ...
choral music
A choir ( ; also known as a chorale or chorus) is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform. Choirs may perform music from the classical music repertoire, which sp ...
, ranging from original compositions, to
church music
Church music is Christian music written for performance in church, or any musical setting of ecclesiastical liturgy, or music set to words expressing propositions of a sacred nature, such as a hymn.
History
Early Christian music
The onl ...
, to elaborate arrangements of
folk music
Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has b ...
.
Leontovych was born and raised in the
Podolia
Podolia or Podilia ( uk, Поділля, Podillia, ; russian: Подолье, Podolye; ro, Podolia; pl, Podole; german: Podolien; be, Падолле, Padollie; lt, Podolė), is a historic region in Eastern Europe, located in the west-central ...
province of the
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War. ...
(now in Ukraine). He was educated as a
priest
A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particu ...
in the
Kamianets-Podilskyi
Kamianets-Podilskyi ( uk, Ка́м'яне́ць-Поді́льський, russian: Каменец-Подольский, Kamenets-Podolskiy, pl, Kamieniec Podolski, ro, Camenița, yi, קאַמענעץ־פּאָדאָלסק / קאַמעניץ, ...
Theological Seminary
A seminary, school of theology, theological seminary, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called ''seminarians'') in scripture, theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as clergy, ...
and later furthered his musical education at the
Saint Petersburg Court Capella, and by means of private lessons with
Boleslav Yavorsky Boleslav Leopoldovich Yavorsky (russian: Болеслав Леопольдович Яворский; June 22, 1877, Kharkiv – November 26, 1942) was a Russian musicologist, music teacher, administrator and pianist.
Through his teachings and e ...
. With the independence of the
Ukrainian state
The Ukrainian State ( uk, Українська Держава, translit=Ukrainska Derzhava), sometimes also called the Second Hetmanate ( uk, Другий Гетьманат, translit=Druhyi Hetmanat, link=no), was an anti-Bolshevik government ...
in the
1917 revolution, Leontovych moved to Kyiv, where he worked at the
Kyiv Conservatory
Pyotr Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of Ukraine ( uk, Національна музична академія України імені Петра Чайковського) or Kyiv Conservatory is a Ukrainian state institution of higher music e ...
and the
Mykola Lysenko Institute of Music and Drama. He composed
"Shchedryk" in 1904 (premiered in 1916), now known to the English-speaking world as "
Carol of the Bells
"Carol of the Bells" is a popular Christmas carol, with music by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych in 1914 and lyrics by Peter J. Wilhousky. The song is based on the Ukrainian folk chant " Shchedryk". The music is in the public domain; Wil ...
". He was murdered by a
Soviet
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...
agent in 1921, and is known as a
martyr
A martyr (, ''mártys'', "witness", or , ''marturia'', stem , ''martyr-'') is someone who suffers persecution and death for advocating, renouncing, or refusing to renounce or advocate, a religious belief or other cause as demanded by an externa ...
in the
Eastern Orthodox Ukrainian Church, where he is also remembered for his
liturgy
Liturgy is the customary public ritual of worship performed by a religious group. ''Liturgy'' can also be used to refer specifically to public worship by Christians. As a religious phenomenon, liturgy represents a communal response to and partic ...
, the first
liturgy
Liturgy is the customary public ritual of worship performed by a religious group. ''Liturgy'' can also be used to refer specifically to public worship by Christians. As a religious phenomenon, liturgy represents a communal response to and partic ...
composed in the vernacular, specifically in the
modern Ukrainian language
Ukrainian ( uk, украї́нська мо́ва, translit=ukrainska mova, label=native name, ) is an East Slavic language of the Indo-European language family. It is the native language of about 40 million people and the official state langu ...
.
During his lifetime, Leontovych's compositions and arrangements became popular with musicians across the Ukrainian region of the Russian Empire. Performances of his works in western Europe and North America earned him the nickname "the Ukrainian
Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach (28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his orchestral music such as the '' Brandenburg Concertos''; instrumental compositions such as the Cello Suites; keyboard w ...
". Apart from "Shchedryk", Leontovych's music is performed primarily in Ukraine and by the
Ukrainian diaspora
The Ukrainian diaspora comprises Ukrainians and their descendants who live outside Ukraine around the world, especially those who maintain some kind of connection, even if ephemeral, to the land of their ancestors and maintain their feeling of Uk ...
.
Biography
Early life
![Mykola Leontovych's parents Mariya and Dmytro Leontovych](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/Mykola_Leontovych%27s_parents_Mariya_and_Dmytro_Leontovych.png)
Mykola Leontovych was born on in Monastyrok, near the village of , in the
Podolia
Podolia or Podilia ( uk, Поділля, Podillia, ; russian: Подолье, Podolye; ro, Podolia; pl, Podole; german: Podolien; be, Падолле, Padollie; lt, Podolė), is a historic region in Eastern Europe, located in the west-central ...
province of Ukraine (then a part of the
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War. ...
),
the eldest of five surviving children (Mykola, Oleksandr (born in 1879), Maria (born in 1885), Victoria (born in 1886), and Olena).
His father, grandfather, and great grandfather were village priests.
Both his mother, Mariya Yosypivna Leontovych, and his father, Dmytro Feofanovych Leontovych, were singers.
Leontovych received his first musical lessons from his father, who directed a school choir, and was skilled at playing the cello, double bass,
harmonium
The pump organ is a type of free-reed organ that generates sound as air flows past a vibrating piece of thin metal in a frame. The piece of metal is called a reed. Specific types of pump organ include the reed organ, harmonium, and melodeon. T ...
, violin, and guitar.
Mykola's other siblings also grew up to have careers in music. His brother Oleksandr was a professional singer, his sister Mariya studied singing in
Odesa
Odesa (also spelled Odessa) is the third most populous city and municipality in Ukraine and a major seaport and transport hub located in the south-west of the country, on the northwestern shore of the Black Sea. The city is also the administrati ...
, his sister Olena studied
fortepiano
A fortepiano , sometimes referred to as a pianoforte, is an early piano. In principle, the word "fortepiano" can designate any piano dating from the invention of the instrument by Bartolomeo Cristofori in 1698 up to the early 19th century. Mo ...
at the
Kyiv Conservatory
Pyotr Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of Ukraine ( uk, Національна музична академія України імені Петра Чайковського) or Kyiv Conservatory is a Ukrainian state institution of higher music e ...
, and his sister Victoriya could play several musical instruments.
In 1879, Dmytro Leontovych was moved to serve as a priest in the village of .
In 1887, Mykola was admitted to a school at
Nemyriv
Nemyriv ( uk, Немирів, russian: Немирoв, pl, Niemirów) is a historic town in Vinnytsia Oblast (Oblast, province) in Ukraine, located in the historical region of Podolia. It was the Capital city, administrative center of former Nemy ...
. Due to financial problems a year later, his father transferred him to the Sharhorod Spiritual Beginners School, whose pupils received full financial support. At the school, Leontovych mastered singing, and was able to freely read difficult passages from religious choral texts.
Theological seminary
![Podillia Theological Seminary 1865](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/Podillia_Theological_Seminary_1865.jpg)
In 1892, Leontovych began his studies at the in
Kamianets-Podilskyi
Kamianets-Podilskyi ( uk, Ка́м'яне́ць-Поді́льський, russian: Каменец-Подольский, Kamenets-Podolskiy, pl, Kamieniec Podolski, ro, Camenița, yi, קאַמענעץ־פּאָדאָלסק / קאַמעניץ, ...
, which both his father and grandfather had attended. His younger brother Oleksandr was enrolled as well, graduating after his older brother.
During his studies there, Leontovych continued to advance his skills on the violin and learnt to play other instruments, including the flute and the harmonium. He participated in the seminary's choir, and when an orchestra was formed during his third year of study, Leontovych joined, Leontovych studied
music theory
Music theory is the study of the practices and possibilities of music. ''The Oxford Companion to Music'' describes three interrelated uses of the term "music theory". The first is the "rudiments", that are needed to understand music notation (ke ...
under Y. Bogdanov and started writing choral arrangements, including " ("Oh, from the stony mountain"), ''" ("Oh, I’ll go to a forest for firewood"), and, '' ("A mother has one daughter").
Leontovych conducted the seminary's orchestra and choir. Without his seminary teachers knowing, he attended the
opera
Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a librett ...
in Kamianets-Podilskyi. One of the last performances conducted by Leontovych was a concert on 26 May, 1899, when his friends wrote on a photograph: "To the future glorious composer". After graduating from the seminary in 1899, he broke the family tradition by becoming a school teacher, instead of a priest.
Early musical career and marriage
Leontovych's first teaching post, which commenced in September 1899, involved working as a teacher of singing and arithmetic at a
secondary school
A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' secondary education, lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) ...
in the village of (present-day
Vinnytsia Oblast
Vinnytsia Oblast ( uk, Ві́нницька о́бласть, translit=Vinnytska oblast; ; also referred to as Vinnychchyna — uk, Ві́нниччина) is an oblast of western and southwestern Ukraine. Its administrative center is Vinnytsia. ...
). Later, when recalling his time at the school, he wrote: "I cannot complain that the students and villagers treated me unfavourably; due to my inexperience and youth, I was not a good school teacher. Certainly, my mistakes and errors in general educational activities were compensated to some extent by my musical teaching." He would later write a book about this as a professor at the Kyiv Conservatory, titled ' (''How I Organised an Orchestra in a Village School'').
![Mykola Leontovych's family](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/Mykola_Leontovych%27s_family.png)
On 4 March, 1901, after disagreements arose with the school's administration, Leontovych got a new job teaching
church music
Church music is Christian music written for performance in church, or any musical setting of ecclesiastical liturgy, or music set to words expressing propositions of a sacred nature, such as a hymn.
History
Early Christian music
The onl ...
and
calligraphy
Calligraphy (from el, link=y, καλλιγραφία) is a visual art related to writing. It is the design and execution of lettering with a pen, ink brush, or other writing instrument. Contemporary calligraphic practice can be defined as "t ...
at the Theological College in
Tyvriv
Tyvriv ( uk, Тиврів; pl, Tywrów) is an urban-type settlement in Vinnytsia Oblast, Ukraine. Geographically it is in eastern Podolia on the shore of Southern Bug, southeast of Vinnytsia. It was formerly the administrative center of the Tyvri ...
. Besides working with the college choir, he organised the college's amateur orchestra. He included arrangements of
folk song
Folk music is a music genre that includes #Traditional folk music, traditional folk music and the Contemporary folk music, contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be c ...
s among the usual religious works sung in
theological schools. These included arrangements by Lysenko, his own choral arrangements of folk songs, and entirely original works. One such work was based on a poem by
Taras Shevchenko
Taras Hryhorovych Shevchenko ( uk, Тарас Григорович Шевченко , pronounced without the middle name; – ), also known as Kobzar Taras, or simply Kobzar (a kobzar is a bard in Ukrainian culture), was a Ukraine, Ukrainian p ...
, ''Zore moya vechirnyaya'' (''Oh My Evening Star''). He organized a choir and a small orchestra at the school, which performed some of his works, as well as others by Russian and European composers. Whilst working at the school, he began to collect songs from Polissia. The first set was not published, but ''The Second Collection of Songs from Polissia'' was published in Kyiv in 1903. Leontovych was however dissatisfied with it, and bought back all 300 copies, commenting as a joke, "Let me go to the Dnipro."
Leontovych met a
Volhynian girl named Claudia Feropontivna Zhovtevych, whom he married on 22 March 1902. The young couple's first daughter, Halyna, was born in 1903. They later had a second daughter named Yevheniya.
Financial hardships prompted Leontovych to accept an offer to move to
Vinnytsia
Vinnytsia ( ; uk, Вінниця, ; yi, װיניצע) is a city in west-central Ukraine, located on the banks of the Southern Bug.
It is the administrative center of Vinnytsia Oblast and the largest city in the historic region of Podillia. A ...
to instruct at the Church-Educators' College. Again, he organised a choir and, later, a
concert band
A concert band, also called a wind band, wind ensemble, wind symphony, wind orchestra, symphonic band, the symphonic winds, or symphonic wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of members of the woodwind, brass, and percussion famil ...
, with which he performed both secular and
spiritual music
Spirituals (also known as Negro spirituals, African American spirituals, Black spirituals, or spiritual music) is a genre of Christian music that is associated with Black Americans, which merged sub-Saharan African cultural heritage with the ...
.
During 1903/04, Leontovych attended lectures held at the
St. Petersburg Court Capella. He studied music theory,
harmony
In music, harmony is the process by which individual sounds are joined together or composed into whole units or compositions. Often, the term harmony refers to simultaneously occurring frequencies, pitches ( tones, notes), or chords. However ...
, and
polyphony
Polyphony ( ) is a type of musical texture consisting of two or more simultaneous lines of independent melody, as opposed to a musical texture with just one voice, monophony, or a texture with one dominant melodic voice accompanied by chords, h ...
, and choral performance. On 22 April 1904, he earnt his credentials as a choirmaster of church choruses.
In the autumn of 1904, M. Leontovych began working as a singing teacher in
Grishino (now Pokrovsk, Ukraine), a railway town in the
Donetsk region. Leontovych organised a choir of workers, who sang arrangements of
Ukrainian
Ukrainian may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to Ukraine
* Something relating to Ukrainians, an East Slavic people from Eastern Europe
* Something relating to demographics of Ukraine in terms of demography and population of Ukraine
* So ...
,
Jewish
Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...
,
Armenian
Armenian may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent
** Armenian Diaspora, Armenian communities across the ...
,
Russian
Russian(s) refers to anything related to Russia, including:
*Russians (, ''russkiye''), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries
*Rossiyane (), Russian language term for all citizens and peo ...
, and
Polish folk songs. He created a small orchestra that accompanied the soloists, prepared a repertoire consisting of works by
Mykola Lysenko
Mykola Vitaliyovych Lysenko ( uk, Мико́ла Віта́лійович Ли́сенко; 22 March 1842 – 6 November 1912) was a List of Ukrainian composers, Ukrainian composer, pianist, conductor and ethnomusicologist of the late Romantic mus ...
and . Leontovych's activity caused a deterioration in his relationship with the authorities, and in the spring of 1908, he was forced to move back to Tulchyn.
Tulchyn period
![Tulchin bazar 1908](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Tulchin_bazar_1908.jpg)
Leontovych moved to
Tulchyn
Tulchyn (, translit. ''Tul’chyn'', old name ''Nesterwar'' (from Hungarian ''Nester'' - Dniester and ''war'' -town), Latin Tulcinum, pl, Tulczyn, yi, טולטשין, ro, Tulcin) is a town in Vinnytsia Oblast (province) of western Ukraine, f ...
in 1907, a move that marked the beginning of a prolific period of composing. There, he taught vocal and instrumental music at the Tulchyn Eparchy Women's College to the daughters of village priests. He developed a lasting friendship with the composer
Kyrylo Stetsenko
Kyrylo Hryhorovych Stetsenko ( ua, Кирило Григорович Стеценко; May 12, 1882 – April 29, 1922) was a prolific Ukrainian composer, conductor, critic, and teacher. Late in his life he became a Ukrainian Orthodox Priest an ...
, who went on to influence his musical style. Stetsenko praised his friend's compositions, saying, "Leontovych is a famous music expert from Podolia. He recorded many folk songs... These songs are harmonised for mixed choir. These harmonisations have revealed the author to be a great expert of both choral singing and theoretical studies".
Leontovych's choir performed works by Russian composers
Mikhail Glinka,
Alexey Verstovsky, and
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky , group=n ( ; 7 May 1840 – 6 November 1893) was a Russian composer of the Romantic period. He was the first Russian composer whose music would make a lasting impression internationally. He wrote some of the most popu ...
, as well as music by Stetsenko, Lysenko, and the Ukrainian composer
Petro Nishchynsky.
From 1909, Leontovych studied under the
musicologist
Musicology (from Greek μουσική ''mousikē'' 'music' and -λογια ''-logia'', 'domain of study') is the scholarly analysis and research-based study of music. Musicology departments traditionally belong to the humanities, although some mu ...
Boleslav Yavorsky Boleslav Leopoldovich Yavorsky (russian: Болеслав Леопольдович Яворский; June 22, 1877, Kharkiv – November 26, 1942) was a Russian musicologist, music teacher, administrator and pianist.
Through his teachings and e ...
, whom he was to visit in Moscow and Kyiv over the next 12 years.
He became involved with the theatrical music scene in Tulchyn, and took charge of the local branch of the
Prosvita
Prosvita ( uk, просвіта, 'enlightenment') is a society for preserving and developing Ukrainian culture and education among population that created in the nineteenth century in the Austria-Hungary Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria.
By the ...
, a Ukrainian society dedicated to preserving and developing its culture and education.
Leontovych wrote choral arrangements of Ukrainian folk songs, including ' (''The Roosters are Singing'') In 1914, Stetsenko convinced Leontovych to have his music performed by the student choir of the
Kyiv University
Kyiv University or Shevchenko University or officially the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv ( uk, Київський національний університет імені Тараса Шевченка), colloquially known as KNU ...
under the leadership of
Alexander Koshetz
Alexander Koshetz (12 September 1875 – 21 September 1944) was a Ukrainian choral conductor, arranger, composer, ethnographer, writer, musicologist, and lecturer. He helped popularize Ukrainian music around the world. His name is sometime ...
. In December 1916, the performance of his arrangement of "Shchedryk" brought Leontovych great success amongst Kyiv's music lovers.
Career in Kyiv
During the
October Revolution
The October Revolution,. officially known as the Great October Socialist Revolution. in the Soviet Union, also known as the Bolshevik Revolution, was a revolution in Russia led by the Bolshevik Party of Vladimir Lenin that was a key moment ...
and the establishment of the
Ukrainian People's Republic
The Ukrainian People's Republic (UPR), or Ukrainian National Republic (UNR), was a country in Eastern Europe that existed between 1917 and 1920. It was declared following the February Revolution in Russia by the First Universal. In March 1 ...
in 1918, Leontovych relocated without his family to Kyiv, where he was active as both a conductor and composer. Several of his pieces gained popularity among professional and amateurs groups alike, who added them to their repertoire.
At one of the concerts, the "Legend" of Mykola Voronoi in Leontovych's arrangement was a great success. After the arrival of the
Bolsheviks
The Bolsheviks (russian: Большевики́, from большинство́ ''bol'shinstvó'', 'majority'),; derived from ''bol'shinstvó'' (большинство́), "majority", literally meaning "one of the majority". also known in English ...
, Leontovych worked in the music committee of the
People's Commissariat of Education, and taught at the
Music and Drama Institute, and, together with the composer and conductor
Hryhoriy Veryovka
Hryhoriy Huriyovych Veryovka ( uk, Григорій Гурійович Верьовка, 25 December 1895 in Berezna, Chernigovsky Uyezd, Chernigov Governorate, Russian Empire – 21 October 1964 in Kyiv, Ukrainian SSR) was a Soviet and Ukrai ...
, was employed to produce preschool education courses, and organise choir groups.
During this period, he taught choral conducting at the Kyiv Conservatory, and also taught at the
Mykola Lysenko Institute of Music and Drama.
He participated in the founding of the
Ukrainian Republic Capella
The Ukrainian Republic Capella (later known as the Ukrainian National Chorus) was a musical company during and after World War I which toured Europe and North America with the intent to promote Ukrainian culture abroad. The main sponsor of the Cap ...
of which he was the commissioner. When
Kyiv was captured by the White Army on 31 August 1919, the authorities began to persecute the city's Ukrainian intelligentsia. To avoid being arrested, Leontovych was forced to flee to Tulchyn.
Death
Upon his return to Tulchyn with his family, Leontovych started the city's first music school, since the college where he had worked was closed down by the Bolsheviks, and began to work on an opera, ' ("''The Mermaid's Easter''"), based on the fairy tale by
Borys Hrinchenko
Borys Dmytrovych Hrinchenko ( uk, Борис Дмитрович Грінченко, December 9, 1863 – May 6, 1910) was a classical Ukrainian prose writer, political activist, historian, publicist, and ethnographer. He was instrumental in the ...
.
During the night of 22/23 January 1921, Leontovych was murdered by a
chekist (Soviet state security agent) Afanasy Grishchenko. Leontovych was staying at the home of his parents, whom he was visiting for the
Eastern Orthodox
Eastern Orthodoxy, also known as Eastern Orthodox Christianity, is one of the three main branches of Chalcedonian Christianity, alongside Catholicism and Protestantism.
Like the Pentarchy of the first millennium, the mainstream (or "canonical") ...
Feast of the Nativity.
The undercover chekist had asked to stay the night at the house, and shared a room with Leontovych. At 7.30 in the morning he shot the composer, and robbed the family. By the time a doctor had arrived, Leontovych had died of
blood loss
Bleeding, hemorrhage, haemorrhage or blood loss, is blood escaping from the circulatory system from damaged blood vessels. Bleeding can occur internally, or externally either through a natural opening such as the mouth, nose, ear, urethra, vag ...
.
Music
Works
Mykola Leontovych specialised in
a cappella
''A cappella'' (, also , ; ) music is a performance by a singer or a singing group without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. The term ''a cappella'' was originally intended to differentiate between Ren ...
choral music, and composed over 150 choral compositions, generally inspired by Ukrainian folk songs. These range from artistic arrangements of
folk songs
Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has be ...
, religious works (including his liturgy),
cantata
A cantata (; ; literally "sung", past participle feminine singular of the Italian verb ''cantare'', "to sing") is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir.
The meaning of ...
s, and compositions set to the words of Ukrainian poets.
His most famous works are the choral miniatures "Schedryk" and "Dudaryk". His choral compositions feature rich harmony, vocal polyphony, and
imitation
Imitation (from Latin ''imitatio'', "a copying, imitation") is a behavior whereby an individual observes and replicates another's behavior. Imitation is also a form of that leads to the "development of traditions, and ultimately our culture. ...
. His earlier choral arrangements of folk songs were primarily
strophic arrangements of the melody. As the composer gained more experience, the structure of his choral compositions and arrangements of folk songs became strongly connected with the text.
As a person with a professional theological education, Leontovych kept up with the movement of the establishment and recognition of the
Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church
The Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC; uk, Українська автокефальна православна церква (УАПЦ), Ukrayinska avtokefalna pravoslavna tserkva (UAPC)) was one of the three major Eastern Orthod ...
, which was reestablished in 1918. The composer's output during this period became rich in new sacred music, following the examples of Stetsenko (a close friend of Leontovych's, also an orthodox priest and composer) and Koshetz. Leontovych's works form this time included (''On the Resurrection of Christ''), (''Praise ye the Name of the Lord''), and (''Oh Quiet Light''), among others. A milestone in the development of Ukrainian spiritual music was the composition of his
liturgy
Liturgy is the customary public ritual of worship performed by a religious group. ''Liturgy'' can also be used to refer specifically to public worship by Christians. As a religious phenomenon, liturgy represents a communal response to and partic ...
, which was first performed in the
St. Nicholas Military Cathedral
St. Nicholas Military Cathedral ( uk, Військовий Микільський собор, russian: Никольский военный собор), popularly known as ''The Great Nicholas'' ( uk, Великий Микола) was one of the m ...
at the Kyiv,
Pechersk on 22 May 1919.
Mykola Leontovych was highly critical of himself. According to his first biographer Oles' Chapkivskyi, a contemporary of the composer, Leontovych would sometimes work on one choral setting without letting anyone else see it for up to four years.
Leontovych compiled his "First collection of songs from Polissia", which remained unpublished His "The Second Collection of Songs from Polissia" (Kyiv, 1903) was dedicated to Lysenko. Leontovych was dissatisfied with the work, bought up all 300 published copies, and had them destroyed.
Leontovych commenced work on an
opera
Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a librett ...
' (''On the Water Nymph's Easter''), based on Ukrainian myths and the works of the Ukrainian author
Borys Hrinchenko
Borys Dmytrovych Hrinchenko ( uk, Борис Дмитрович Грінченко, December 9, 1863 – May 6, 1910) was a classical Ukrainian prose writer, political activist, historian, publicist, and ethnographer. He was instrumental in the ...
. By the end of 1920, he had finished the first of three acts, but he was murdered before he could complete the opera. Attempts to complete and edit the opera were made by Ukrainian composer
Mykhailo Verykivsky
Mykhailo Verykivsky ( 14 June 1962) was a Ukrainian composer, conductor and teacher. He was an Honored Artist of Ukraine in 1944.
Biography
In early years Mykhailo Verykivsky grows in an atmosphere of love and respect for Ukrainian native fo ...
.
The Ukrainian composer
Myroslav Skoryk
Myroslav Mykhailovych Skoryk ( uk, Мирослав Михайлович Скорик; 13 July 1938 – 1 June 2020) was a Ukrainian composer and teacher. His music is contemporary in style and contains idioms from diverse sources including G ...
and the poet Diodor Bobyr collaborated to turn the unfinished opera into a one-act
operetta, which premiered in 1977 at the
Kyiv State Opera and Ballet Theatre, 100 years after Leontovych's birth. The North American premiere was held in
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...
on 11 April 2003.
Lysenko was one of Leontovych's largest influences. Leontovych, who had admired his music since his student days, would perform it in concerts wherever he worked.
"Shchedryk"
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Mykola Leontovych's song "Shchedryk" is his most well-known piece.
"Shchedryk" is generally said to have been first performed on 25 December 1916, at St. Volodymyr's Kyiv University. However, it was first performed on 29 December 1916 in the Kyiv Merchants' Assembly Hall, now part of the
National Philharmonic of Ukraine
The National Philharmonic of Ukraine ( uk, Національна Філармонія України), often referred to as Kyiv Philharmonic and ''National Philharmonic'', is a complex of two adjacent concert halls in the Khrestchaty Park in ...
.
The Ukrainian National Choir's performance of "Shchedryk" during a tour of Europe in 1920/21. caused the song to become popular worldwide. The first recording was made in New York in October 1922 by
Brunswick Records
Brunswick Records is an American record label founded in 1916.
History
From 1916
Records under the Brunswick label were first produced by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, a company based in Dubuque, Iowa which had been manufacturing prod ...
.
"Carol of the Bells"
"Shchedryk" was performed during a concert in
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhatta ...
, where the American composer and conductor
Peter J Wilhousky heard it. In 1936, he published the song to Leontovich's music as a
Christmas carol
A Christmas carol is a carol (a song or hymn) on the theme of Christmas, traditionally sung at Christmas itself or during the surrounding Christmas holiday season. The term noel has sometimes been used, especially for carols of French ori ...
, with his own text in English that bears no resemblance to the original Ukrainian words of the song. The English version, known as "
Carol of the Bells
"Carol of the Bells" is a popular Christmas carol, with music by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych in 1914 and lyrics by Peter J. Wilhousky. The song is based on the Ukrainian folk chant " Shchedryk". The music is in the public domain; Wil ...
", has been arranged over 150 times since 2004.
The carol is one of the 25 most frequently performed Christmas songs of the 20th century. As listed by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), it ranked number 15.
Reception and popularity
Leontovych's best critic was his friend, and fellow priest and composer Stetsenko, who described him as "a great expert of both choral singing and theoretical studies".
He convinced Leontovych to publish his music and have it performed by Kyiv University students.
"Shchedryk"'s success led to Leontovych becoming popular in Kyiv with music specialists and fans of choral music alike.
At the Kyiv Conservatory, Yavorsky reacted positively to his new works.
During a concert, Leontovych's ''Lehenda'', set to
lyrics
Lyrics are words that make up a song, usually consisting of verses and choruses. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist. The words to an extended musical composition such as an opera are, however, usually known as a "libretto" and their writer, a ...
by the Ukrainian poet
Mykola Voronyi, gained great popularity.
After reviewing the composer's ''Second Compilation of Songs from Podolia'', Lysenko wrote:
The increase in popularity of Leontovych's music was aided by the head of the
Ukrainian National Republic
The Ukrainian People's Republic (UPR), or Ukrainian National Republic (UNR), was a country in Eastern Europe that existed between 1917 and 1920. It was declared following the February Revolution in Russia by the First Universal. In March 1 ...
,
Symon Petliura
Symon Vasylyovych Petliura ( uk, Си́мон Васи́льович Петлю́ра; – May 25, 1926) was a Ukrainian politician and journalist. He became the Supreme Commander of the Ukrainian Army and the President of the Ukrainian Peop ...
, who created and sponsored two choirs to promote awareness of the
culture of Ukraine
The culture of Ukraine is the composite of the material and spiritual values of the Ukrainian people that has formed throughout the history of Ukraine. It is closely intertwined with ethnic studies about ethnic Ukrainians and Ukrainian historiog ...
.
Stetsenko's choir toured across Ukraine, while the Koshetz's Ukrainian Republic Capella toured Europe and the Americas.
Performances by the Ukrainian Republic Capella made Leontovych known throughout the western world—in France, Leontovych earned the nickname, "Ukrainian
Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach (28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his orchestral music such as the '' Brandenburg Concertos''; instrumental compositions such as the Cello Suites; keyboard w ...
".
On 5 October 1921, the Capella performed "Shchedryk" in the
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhatta ...
in New York.
Leontovych's music is currently performed mostly in Ukraine, and few recordings are dedicated exclusively to him.
The
Ukrainian diaspora
The Ukrainian diaspora comprises Ukrainians and their descendants who live outside Ukraine around the world, especially those who maintain some kind of connection, even if ephemeral, to the land of their ancestors and maintain their feeling of Uk ...
remember him and perform his works. The Canadian
Oleksandr Koshyts Choir, based in
Winnipeg
Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba in Canada. It is centred on the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, near the longitudinal centre of North America. , Winnipeg had a city population of 749,6 ...
, performs music by Leontovych and other Ukrainian composers, and has made a recording of his works.
Commemoration
![Щедрик аверс](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a4/%D0%A9%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BA_%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%81.jpg)
On 1 February 1921, nine days after Leontovych's death, artists, academics, and students of the Mykola Lysenko Institute of Music and Drama in Kyiv gathered to commemorate him. They established the Committee for the Memory of Mykola Leontovych, which later became the
Leontovych Music Society, and which promoted Ukrainian music until 1928.
A number of musical groups are named in honour of the composer. The
Leontovych Bandurist Capella was a male choir whose members accompanied themselves using a Ukrainian
bandura
A bandura ( uk, банду́ра) is a Ukrainian plucked string folk instrument. It combines elements of the zither and lute and, up until the 1940s, was also often referred to by the term kobza. Early instruments (c. 1700) had 5 to 12 strings ...
. The choir was established in a
displaced persons camps
Displaced may refer to:
* Forced displacement, the involuntary movement of people from their home
* Displaced (2006 film), ''Displaced'' (2006 film), a 2006 British feature film produced by Skylandian Pictures
* Displaced (2010 film), ''Displaced ...
in Germany in 1946, and continued until 1949. The is named after him.
There is a memorial museum dedicated to him in the city of Tulchyn,
and another was established in 1977 in the village of , where he was buried. The museum was rebuilt after the premises became dilapidated, and reopened in 2016.
In 2018, a statue of the composer was unveiled in Pokrovsk.
In 2002, to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the composer's birth, Kamianets-Podilskyi held an all-Ukrainian scientific conference entitled "Mykola Leontovych and Modern Education and Science," with guests from the Ukrainian ministry of education and science, the Ukrainian composers' Union, and many local authorities. During this event, the city held a ceremonial opening of a memorial plaque to the composer, placed next to the old building formerly used by the Podollia Theological Seminary.
References
Sources
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linkto HTML version of the file).
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English text version
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Further reading
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External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Leontovych, Mykola
1877 births
1921 deaths
19th-century classical composers
19th-century conductors (music)
20th-century classical composers
20th-century conductors (music)
Classical composers of church music
Kyiv Conservatory faculty
Male classical composers
Male conductors (music)
People from Bratslavsky Uyezd
People from Vinnytsia Oblast
People murdered in Ukraine
Ukrainian classical composers
Ukrainian conductors (music)