The Works by Alla Sirenko of the War Period: Designing the National Identity

Author

Kushniruk Olha

a Ph.D. in Art Studies, a senior research fellow at Musicology and Ethnomusicology Department of M. Rylskyi Institute of Art Studies, Folkloristics and Ethnology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (Kyiv, Ukraine), a visiting research fellow at the University of Cambridge (Cambridge, UK).

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0766-2555

The Works by Alla Sirenko of the War Period:
Designing the National Identity

Abstract

The composing and producing experience of Alla Sirenko as a prominent representative of the Ukrainian diaspora in Britain is analysed in the article. Important events of the artist’s life and creative path those have influenced the formation and self-realization of her artistic personality are described. These are her musical education in three specialties across various artistic centers – Kyiv, Lviv, Tallinn; international internships in Gothenburg, Lübeck, and Cambridge; her relocation to the United Kingdom; the implementation of her own musical project, the Cirencester Festival; the staging of the opera The Golden Penguin at the Royal Opera House in Britain; her activities as the Artistic director of the concert hall at the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Cathedral in London; founding the Ukrainian Cultural Association in the Great Britain (UCA–UK) with its headquarters in London, where she serves as president; and the launch of the concert series Spirit of Ukraine.

The problem of designing the national identity in A. Sirenko’s works is considered exemplified by two wartime compositions – Ukrainian Fantasy for violin, viola, and symphony orchestra, and Elegy for string sextet (or string orchestra). The theme of national unity, Ukraine’s territorial integrity amid its regional diversity is comprehended in the first work. The technique of stylizing the intonations of the kozachok, kolomyika, and Crimean Tatar melodies are chosen as the marker for this work. They interact fluidly and organically within the musical material development.

The artistic direction of Elegy, dedicated to the heroic Ukrainian people during Russia’s war against Ukraine, is connected with the composer’s contemplations on the current stage of Ukrainians’ existence. The work is reflecting the process of changes from the tragedy of the situation through the poignant memories of peaceful life to solidarity and an unwavering resolve to persevere in the fight for their homeland’s liberation. In such a way an elegy in A. Sirenko’s interpretation evolves into a philosophical variant of the genre, enriched by choral elements as a cross-genre feature, which is typical for elegies.

A detailed analysis of the works of Ukrainian composer A. Sirenko hasn’t been submitted yet, as well as particularly in the context of constructing national identity in her music. The novelty of the submitted article is determined by this fact.

Several methods are used in the research, belonging to the trend of historical musicology (which focuses on preserving musical cultural heritage, uncovering previously unknown artistic phenomena, and integrating them into scholarly and performance practices): theoretical analysis and synthesis to conceptualize national identity within the realm of musical art; biographical analysis to trace chronologically the stages of Sirenko’s development as a composer and producer; comparative and holistic musical analysis to examine her works.

It is emphasized in the conclusions on Alla Sirenko’s distinctive role, marked by her multifaceted creative expression and a profound commitment to affirming Ukrainian national identity while living abroad.

Keywords

Ukrainian music, national identity, creative works by diaspora’s composers, works by Alla Sirenko, a fantasy, an elegy.

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