Cappella Romana: A Ukrainian Wedding
By Ralph Graves
One of the root issues between Russia and Ukraine is cultural identity. From the time of Catherine the Great, Russia has sought to absorb Ukraine.
But Ukraine has its own language, its own artistic and folk traditions, and even its own brand of Eastern Orthodoxy. All of which Czarist Russia and later Soviet Russia actively suppressed.
And yet it all survived. This release features traditional wedding music from across Ukraine. The country has distinctive wedding traditions. And these traditions vary from region to region.
Nadia Tarnawsky has assembled wedding music from across the country. It jointly celebrates the diversity of the regions and the unity of Ukraine’s culture.
Ukrainian weddings are a week-long affair. The couple’s engagement is officially announced. Items are made for the wedding (gifts, decorations, clothing). Food is prepared. And each activity has its own traditional song, usually sung by the women doing the work.
Folklorists Inna Kovtun and Hanna Tishchenko join the Cappella Romana for this recording. The women have a rich full-bodied sound. Most of this music is celebratory, and the choir communicates that effectively. They sing with gusto and sometimes even abandon.
The music for the ceremony is liturgical, and therefore of a different character. Here the sound is quieter and more reflective. If you’re familiar with Eastern Orthodox chant (read: Russian), you might be surprised. Ukrainian sacred music has a very different character and a very different sound.
This album isn’t a faithful representation of an average Ukrainian wedding. Rather, it’s a composite look at the varied musical traditions of the country. And bringing them all together provides an invaluable musical gift to the world.
A Ukrainian Wedding
Cappella Romana; Nadia Tarnawsky, director
Cappella Records, CR431
