Dnipro Choir in Calgary September 27,2014

After Calgary's snow dump of September 2014 the warm weather has returned. Gardeners across the city are busily cleaning up broken branches, and salvaging vegetables that survived the thick blanket of snow. As I picked my kiwi's (thrilled with my little bowl of green grape size babies), pondered over the grapes (they will become raisins this year), collect the last few tomatoes that hid from the cold, and pick the frozen raspberries left on the branch, I start singing. Of course, the garden songs are usually my favorite Ukrainian folk songs. My heart fills with warmth, my ears remember the resonant harmonies of friends singing together and.....

There is a compassion bred of being connected to the Ukrainian idea, but there is a deeper spiritual and soulful connection that warms the heart when choristers synchronize their hearts, minds and breath. And anybody who knows Edmonton's Ukrainian community recognizes there is something special about its embrace. Part of the hromada's resilience, in my opinion, has to do with the feeling of gratitude, and feeling of belonging fostered through choral singing. And Edmonton's Ukrainian Dnipro Choir is celebrating its 60th anniversary of music making by bringing their Musical Kaleidoscope to Calgary on Saturday, September 27, 2014 at the Cathedral Church of the Redeemer in Calgary, located on the corner of 7th avenue and 1st Street.

Dnipro Choir presents an all Canadian program featuring the choral works of Canadians of Ukrainian heritage: Serhiy Eremenko, Yuri Fiala, Roman Hurko, Oleksander Koshets, Larysa Kuzmenko, Zenoby Lawryshyn, Denis Lucyshyn, Joanna Estelle-Storoschuk, and Willi Zwozdesky.

Is it possible that this wonderfully diverse Ukrainian community has been breathing together, synchronizing their heartbeats, and harmonizing, and sharing the pleasures of Ukrainian choral music for 6 decades? And going strong!!  Sixty years of choral programs, sixty years of eager singers, sixty years of printed music, sixty years of musical leadership, and sixty years of choral excellence. For more information check www.dniprochoir.com

Wear Your Sorochka

In the mad press that is contemporary life, it takes courage to stand still for a moment and consider what is real, what will become of all the mad activity. My personal life has been a blur of colours, fast paced interactions, effective and less effective tumultuous volleys into the fray. Busy life, with really important priorities. So I have been trying to select the opportune moment to return to blogging, astounded, as everyone seems to be, with the public media frenzy around Ukraine and her aspirations in the 21st century.

Recent events in Ukraine have certainly impressed upon the world how difficult it has been for Ukraine to thread the needle under her neighbor's watchful eyes lately.  The intensely woven grid of social and public media has many millions of common minded people contributing their strong feelings about her independence, sovereignty and freedom.

Public awareness perhaps, but most have no awareness of the 360 degrees (years) of courage shown by the people of Ukraine.  What to understand of the three centuries of government bans on language, culture and ethnic awareness?  What to say of three centuries of smiles, stage presence, traditional embroideries, joyous singing, delicious traditional foods served to guests both trusted and not, resolutely and steadfastly presenting a brave face in spite of threats, danger and pain. Call it folly, call it bravery? 

Threading the needle has been difficult for Ukraine, but time continues to weave its tapestry.  The common thread (pun intended) is the Ukrainian blouse.  It is everywhere, including the fashion runways of late.  Why the sorochka?

I have always had a hunch that, like so much of the Ukrainian ethos, and much like Ukrainian folk songs, ancient Ukrainian embroideries encrypt sensitive information, perhaps powerful language or symbols for survival. Images of physical and mystical trials, the emblems, amulets, symbols and patterns are endowed with great power. The sorochka (embroidered blouse) confers on the wearer the collective aspirations of heroes past. 

What of the quiet weavers, threading their needles in silence at home?  Perhaps theirs is the true power, not the sword, not the pen, but the single thread that embroiders the hopes, dreams and aspirations of a people into an armour that empowers community identity.  

Do you know who you are wearing?  

(ідеальний настрій на полотні створили Роман та Марія Федини)

Psalms to the Almighty - Luminous Voices - August 23. 24, 2014

Calgary and Edmonton events of this sort are rare and special! Sacred Music of Ukraine, a programme sung by Calgary's "Luminous Voices" will be presented on Saturday, August 23, 2014 in Edmonton and on Sunday, August 24, 2014 in Calgary! Please share this information widely with friends, family and the entire community of music lovers!

Artem Vedel's (1767-1808) Masterpieces of Ukrainian Classical Choral Music will be presented through the Artistic Leadership of Timothy Shantz, and the Luminous Voices of Calgary. Luminous Voices, Calgary's first professional choir, has turned its attention to the great majestic beauty of Artem Vedel's musical legacy. A recording project seems imminent!!

Two performances will be shared.  In Edmonton at St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral, and in Calgary at St. Vladimir's Ukrainian Orthodox Congregation. Attendance is free, and the churches will offer opportunities to donate to Orthodox and Catholic charities working in Ukraine.

Quoting Lilea Wolansky of the UMF, "In view of the critical situation in Ukraine, it is fitting that on the 22nd anniversary of Ukrainian Independence, we have this opportunity to lift our hearts with these beautiful psalms to the Almighty."

From the Pacific to the Atlantic

Joining millions of interested viewers, lately most of us have watched news and social media with trepidation. The events of winter 2013-2014 truly have galvanized community, concern and care for Ukraine. For me, the feeling of Ukrainian-ness seemed to be fading into Canadian-ness, but the world response to Ukraine has changed this! Ukraine's unique position in the world, and complex challenges are being publicly confirmed. The centuries old aspirations of Ukrainians, the historical neighborhood, the impatient tenacity, and unhappy consequences for nationhood, for economic security, and political sovereignty is finally reaching a world audience. Recognition has fostered a spirit of hope, of freedom, of pride, and this acknowledgement has seeped into the social consciousness of Ukraine's people - including the diaspora. The can-do spirit seems reborn in so many people, including family and friends of ours! Seeking a better future, they have made very hard decisions, and acted upon them!

A surprising and well received film entry into the Cannes Festival of 2014 by cinematographer brothers Andrew and Phillip Rozhen documented Ukraine's "Winter that changed us". The gentlemen will be touring CANADA to share this remarkable, powerful and informative account of Ukraine's civil protest of 2013-2014 - the MAIDAN. The tour starts in Vancouver, and I know they will be at Vegreville's Ukrainian Pysanka Festival! Surely this is an event to pencil into your schedule! More information to come!

2014 Ukie Stampede Stomp

Calgary is the home of the world's largest and best known Rodeo - the Calgary Stampede! And just over a century ago a huge number of new immigrants to Canada from the mountains, foothills and steppes of Ukraine joined the Stampede fans - even participating wholeheartedly in the horse-play, lasso competitions, and horse riding hijinks! It was, of course a time when Calgary's first Ukrainian church community was taking their prayerful steps in setting root here, and just before Canada's First Internment Operations. But those are a lot of other stories about Ukrainians in Calgary!

A little connection you may not know though - there is increasing evidence supporting the hypothesis that horses were domesticated during the copper age, in the Eurasian Steppes centered in Dereivka, Ukraine between 3380-4570 BC! Dereivka is located in the Dnipro valley in Kirovohrads'ka oblast Ukraine. The herding and breeding of horses, beginning with the domestication of the horse, transformed Ukraine's steppe culture, and every subsequent society that adopted horse culture.  Horses increased mobility, and had an impact on transportation, trade, hunting and warfare. While the glorious age of Ukrainian Cossack State resonates in the memory, jump forward many centuries to the timely establishment of the Calgary Stampede! It must have been extremely enticing for new Canadians from Ukraine to join with their new countrymen in celebrating the horse culture on Canada's new frontier. The wild open spaces, the tradition, the colourful stories of Ukrainian cowboys - the kozaky - and everyone was a cowboy!

Lots of reasons to join in the Calgary Stampede Fun - and it is never too early for a Pre-Stampede Stomp! Getting your cowboy boots on?

St. Stephen's Cultural Centre is again the great venue for a Barbeque Steak and Perogie Supper on Saturday, June 21, 2014! Make sure to get your tickets soon! Yee! Ha!