Lesia Dychko: “I hear music in the rustling of the branches in the wind blows, in the strict lines of architectural ensembles …”

October 24, Lesia Vasilievna Dychko celebrates her 75th anniversary – one of the most influential figures of the Ukrainian classical music. It is her whom we decided to dedicate the fourth article of the series of stories about our authors. Lesia Dychko is the most famous Ukrainian choral composer whose works are included in the world’s concert programs and appreciated by domestic judges. Today being awarded with People’s Artist of Ukraine, laureate of Taras Shevchenko award, holder of the Order of St. Vladimir and Princess Olga she started her professional career with training in a special Lysenko music school.

Now her work belongs to the period of "the sixties" in Ukraine, which was characterized by creative enthusiasm, appeal to the historical roots and the search for new technical and textural means to express emotions methods of art. His first major work, a concert for piano and orchestra, Lesia Dychko completed before the end of the music school, which reflects not only the exceptional talent and efficiency, but also minimalism and youthful stubbornness – a complex compositional work was not included in the list of compulsory subjects of the school curriculum.

It was further studied at the Conservatory named after Tchaikovsky at the composition faculty, where the development of their own creative manner the future composer influenced by such well-known in the world of classical music figures as Constantine Dankevych and Boris Lyatoshinsky. At the same time her entourage were Leonid Grabowski, Valentin Silvestrov, Stephanie Pavlyshin – people of outstanding talent, who later became the luminaries of Ukrainian music. This circle formed a unique and flamboyant style of a young composer, later established in the first fundamental and adult choral works – the cantata "Chervona viburnum."

Unqualified success and innovation of the work done as a young composer, but did not put an end to its further experiments with form and color choral works. She continued volume, the incredible complexity of monumental works – oratorio "i narekosha name Kiev" cantata "We Kiєvі zorі" and other fundamental pieces of music.

Gradually sacred music began to occupy more and more place in her work. In the 90 Lesia Dychko refers to the style of Orthodox music and writes the liturgy, music for Christmas carols and psalms. None of her works Lesya Dychko repeats the classical canons of the genre, but creatively and boldly reinterprets its laws, creating a unique and distinctive musical fabric.

Lesia Dychko – composer of world renown, and at the same time very humble and sympathetic person. Since 2009, she has been working as a professor of the National Academy. P. Tchaikovsky, which teaches the younger generation what she loves the most in life – to be able to hear the music that surrounds us and play it in the form of notes. Taking this opportunity, we wish to Lesia Vasilevne talented and grateful pupils, creativity and inspiration to further musical achievements. Happy Anniversary!