POSTCARDS FROM UKRAINE is a charming-yet-fiery suite of six character pieces reflecting the culture and music of Didorenko’s homeland. The work was composed in early 2022 following the invasion. Movements 2 & 3 are inspired by folk music with the piano imitating sounds of the bandura, and the other four movements are free settings of authentic folk melodies.
More and more in recent times, I turn to the musical heritage of my native Ukraine for inspiration. Shortly after the start of the war in Spring 2022, my friend and New York pianist Evelyne Luest approached me with a suggestion to compose a piece based on Ukrainian folk music. As I began to research authentic song and dance styles, I was immediately drawn to their soulful melodies and stirring rhythms. Postcards from Ukraine came into being in just under a month.The second of these six pieces is written in the style of duma, a sung epic poem recited by itinerant bards, accompanied on a bandura; strumming on the high piano strings imitates the bandura’s sound. In the third piece, an ostinato bass is another impression of bandura playing, while the violin references Carpathian dance tunes. The other four pieces are my interpretations of true Ukrainian folk songs, typically sung a cappella by a women’s choir, from small villages that keep their vocal traditions alive.
