Historical and heroic epic of the Ukrainians on the modern stage in the interpretation of Taras Zhytynsky

Abstract

The presentment of historical and heroic epic of the Ukrainians on the modern stage is an isolated event, so the purpose of our study is the coverage of this issue on the example of the creative work of the Ukrainian rock musician and singer-songwriter Taras Zhytynsky. An attempt to generalize the artists’ creative work in this regard involving the source base of the study specifically singer’s sound recordings, face-to-face communication with him was made.

Survey methodology included the use of interdisciplinary, concrete historical, culturological, and acmeological approaches which help to consider the presentment of the Ukrainian historical and heroic epic on the modern stage in the creative works of a performer in its dynamics and varieties. The interdisciplinary involved the reference to the history of Ukraine, musical folklore, popular music studies. The concrete historical approach is used to investigate the song and corresponding event background, the culturological approach helps to find out the part and significance of the Ukrainians’ historical and heroic epic for the development of the modern popular music, patriotic and aesthetic education of the listeners. The acmeological approach directs the study of the Taras Zhytynsky’s artistic activity in dynamics highlighting the importance of his self-improvement and self-realization for his creative development.

The study presents and classify the background of performed by Taras Zhytynsky’s works and their content in the historical and heroic plan. It also outlines the author’s different genres performing manners (male authentic singing in folk style, academic style, country style, folk rock, rock and roll, chanson, bard singing). The author’s creative career started more than 30 years ago. Self-improvement, constant search for new and forgotten songs, the presentation of his works to wide audience promote the author’s evolution. The versatility of Taras Zhytynsky’s talent is represented by the use of different performance manners, instrumental technique, a composer’s gift, researcher's inquiry, and managerial competence.