The Life of Borys Liatoshynsky: What A Composer’s Name Can Tell Us About Our Cultural Space?
3 October 2024
Folklore Lunch: The Life of Borys Liatoshynsky: What A Composer’s Name Can Tell Us About Our Cultural Space?
Presented by Illia Pokotylo, Graduate Student MLCS
October 18, 2024 | 12pm MST | Kule Folklore Centre
In-person presentation.
Borys Liatoshynsky (3 January 1895 – 15 April 1968) — a significant, yet enigmatic figure in Ukrainian classical music. As one of the founders of Ukrainian contemporary classical music, Liatoshynsky holds a legacy that extends beyond his role as a composer. Nowadays, his name has become a powerful symbol in Ukraine's existential effort to move away from its Russian imperial cultural past.
This talk will explore Liatoshynsky's influence on modern Ukraine, delving into his fascinating biography and the controversies surrounding a relatively recent debate over the renaming of Kyiv's National Music Academy, still bearing the name of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. As we discuss his impact, we'll also listen to excerpts from his evocative musical works, immersing ourselves in the spirit of Ukrainian modernism in classical music.
Illia Pokotylo is a Graduate Student at the University of Alberta (Media and Cultural Studies), and a new member of the communication team of the Kule Folklore Centre. Building on the foundation laid during his interdisciplinary Music Cultural Studies BA program at the Ukrainian National Tchaikovsky Academy of Music, Illia focuses on exploring how Music (in its broad sense) is portrayed across various non-sounding artistic media. His current research examines the representation of music in graphic narratives, such as comics and graphic novels.
This is an in-person event, however, the presentation will be available on our Youtube channel and our website after the event.
See the full presentation on our Youtube Channel or below: