PNW Kobzar Project: Solstice Celebration of Music & Light
$30 (ages 15 & under free)
- Emma Burge, violin
- Mia HyeYeon Kim, piano
- Valentyn Lysenko, bandura
Viktor Kosenko — Mazurka in F-sharp minor, Op. 3, No. 1
Valentyn Lysenko — Fantasy on Themes of Ukrainian Folk Songs
Roman Hrynkiv — Fugue Ostinato
Johann Sebastian Bach — "Air on the G String" from Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068
Johann Sebastian Bach — Violin Sonata No. 3 in C major BWV 1005 ("III. Largo" & "IV. Allegro assai")
Johann Sebastian Bach / Ferruccio Busoni — "V. Chaconne" from Violin Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004
Mykola Lysenko — 3 Esquisses, Op. posth. (No. 2)
Henryk Wieniawski — Légende, Op. 17
Frédéric Chopin — Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52
Franz Schubert — Ständchen ("Serenade"), D. 889
Valentyn Lysenko — Requiem
Bohdana Frolyak — Nocturne
Léo Delibes — "Duo des fleurs" ("Flower Duet") from Lakmé
Get ready for an intimate concert in celebration of the Summer Solstice.
Emma Burge (violin), Mia HyeYeon Kim (piano), and Valentyn Lysenko (bandura) will play together for only one evening to create a magical moment in time. Prepare to be delighted by their virtuosity and to witness beauty and passion!
Ukrainian bandura (a 62-string instrument of lute family) is often associated with folk music only. We will proudly present the bandura as an academic instrument that sounds wonderfully in both solo and chamber ensemble performances of classical music. As always, our music program includes something of renown composers, something of rarely performed East Central European music, and something Ukrainian.
Refreshments will be available at no additional charge.
About PNW Kobzar Project
PNW Kobzar Project continues the authentic Ukrainian kobzar tradition of story telling via the language of music and art songs.
Kobzar (Ukrainian кобзар) literally means 'kobza player', a performer on Ukrainian stringed instrument of the lute family, and more broadly — a performer of the musical material associated with the kobzar tradition. The professional kobzar tradition was established during the Hetmanate Era around the sixteenth century in Ukraine. Kobzars accompanied their singing with a musical instrument known as the kobza, bandura, or lira. Their repertoire primarily consisted of para-liturgical psalms and "kanty", and also included a unique epic form known as "dumas" (Ukrainian equivalent of epic ballads, literal translated to English as "thoughts").
Kobzardom in Ukraine is similar to Western European poet-musician tradition such as Celtic bards, Old Nord/Eddic scalds, French troubadours, and Greek kitharodes. In Ukraine the word kobzar is associated with the great national poet Taras Shevchenko who was greatly influenced by kobzar traditions. His most famous poetry collection is called Kobzar. Urkainians show Taras Shevchenko the deep respect to his contributions to Ukrainian language and literature by calling him Kobzar. In PNW Kobzar Project concerts, we will include art songs based on Taras Shevchenko’s lyrics as well as the instrumental chamber music inspired by his literary and artistic heritage.
In addition to artistic aspect, kobzars were also old Ukrainian tradition keepers and news spreaders while traveling town to town and village to village. They played the role of the social media independent from the state authorities. During the time of serf system introduced to Ukraine by the Russian Empire (1783-1861) kobzars were those few people in Ukraine who could travel and speak freely though both administrative state and religious authorities of the Russian Empire did everything possible to reduce the influence of kobzars.
https://pnwkobzarproject.bandzoogle.comAbout Emma Burge, violin
Violinist Emma Burge is an avid supporter of contemporary and new music, seeking to combine her classical training with improvisation. Emma is a third generation Suzuki violinist, whose grandparents Sandy and Joan Reuning were pivotal in bringing the Suzuki method to the U.S. Emma recently moved to Seattle from Boston, where she got a degree from the New England Conservatory and was an active freelancer/teacher. Because of her intense performance education, Emma has learned a lot about balance and how to use music as a positive force.
https://www.phoenixorch.org/emma-burge-violinAbout Mia HyeYeon Kim, piano
Born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, Mia HyeYeon Kim began her piano studies at age seven. Her accomplishments include prizes competitions including the Frances Walton Competition founded by Ladies Musical club of Seattle, the Metropolitan International Piano Competition, Texas International Piano Competition, Memphis International Piano Competition, Universal Music Competition, and Seoul Philharmonic Competition. Recently, she won the concerto competition at University of Washington, and performed Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 with the UW Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Rahbee. She has performed as a soloist at venues such as Alvin Johnson/J.M. Kaplan Hall in New York, Jordan Hall at New England Conservatory in Boston, Cypress Hall at California State University Northridge, Youngsan Art Hall in Seoul, and the Palazzo del Vignola with the Napolinova Orchestra in Todi, Italy. She also presented at masterclasses for legendary pianists including Richard Goode, John Perry, Julian Martin, Antonio Pompa-Baldi, Enrico Elisi, Boris Slutsky, Jason Kwak, Hieyon Choi, and Gary Graffman.
https://www.pianistmiakim.com/About Valentyn Lysenko, bandura
Valentyn Lysenko brings back to life the 17th-century bandura, the iconic Ukrainian psaltery. He graduated from Kyiv National Music Academy. Valentyn is a master builder of his own instruments. Valentyn has appeared as a headliner on numerous events in Ukraine and the United States including live TV shows, solo and gala concerts, and art exhibitions. He performs classical works for the academic bandura and variations of folk music as well as his own compositions. The unique and wonderful sound of Valentyn's bandura creates a lofty and festive atmosphere.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVBMXu-BnOzGany08Iy0-Rg