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UMCE puts on a triumphant Festive Mosaic

Dec 29, 2022 | Featured, Arts & Culture

Ukrainian Male Chorus of Edmonton

Marco Levytsky, NP-UN Western Bureau.

The Ukrainian Male Chorus of Edmonton’s Festive Mosaic has long been a Christmas tradition in Edmonton. Due to the Covid pandemic they haven’t been able to stage a live performance for three years, although they did do two online concerts based on pre-recorded music in 2020 and 2021.
But the choir returned with a triumphant production at the Robertson-Wesley United Church, December 10 with guest performers Quartetto Con Brio, the Zemlia Vocal Trio, and the Holly Sangster Trio, making it a true Festive Mosaic.

Over the past 38 years, the Ukrainian Male Chorus of Edmonton (UMCE) has pursued the objective of developing, promoting, and fostering a greater appreciation of the traditions of choral singing.

With performances locally, provincially, nationally, and globally, the Chorus has established itself as a cultural institution delivering Ukrainian experiences and stories to audiences while earning the respect and admiration of the choral and music communities.

Currently it is conducted by Slava Morozov and accompanied by Roman Soltykevych.

UMCE opened the performance with a majestic Бог предвічний (God Eternal), followed by У надії Божа Мати (The Mother of God’s Hope) with soloists Petro Tarnawsky and Taras Baydala, У Вифлеємі (In Bethlehem), На Йорданській Річці (On the River Jordan), closing that segment with Ой, во граді Вифлеємі (In the town of Bethlehem), with soloist Andrij Hladyshevsky.

They were followed by the Zemlia Vocal Trio, consisting of Natalia Onyschuk, Irena Tarnawsky, and Ksenia Maryniak. Zemlia specializes in presenting a diverse repertoire of a cappella, folk and classical music in various languages, entertaining at community events, and at private functions. The singers of Zemlia trace their roots back through several waves of Ukrainian immigrants arriving in Alberta: Lamont, Plain Lake, and Two Hills.

Zemlia opened with На Рождество Христовеє (Nativity Bells), followed by the Basque Carol Gabriel’s Message, Le sommeil de l’Enfant Jésus (The Sleep of the Child Jesus), Спи, Ісусе, спи (Lullaby For Jesus), closing with two humorous carols, Ішов Дід на став (Dido and Baba’s Quarrel) and Йшли три бабусі колядувати (Three Grandmothers Went Carolling).

Quartetto Con Brio, consisting of Hsing Jou (violin I), Natalie Ozipko (violin II), Michele Moroz (viola) and Joanna Parlee (cello) closed the first half with a delightful rendition of Concerto grosso ‘Fatto per la Notte di Natale’, Op.6 No.8 “Christmas Concerto”.

Quartetto Con Brio is an Edmonton-based string quartet providing music for a variety of events for over 20 years. Members have numerous years of combined performing and touring experience in ensembles including the Edmonton Youth Orchestra, the University of Alberta Symphony Orchestra & Academy Strings, Orchestra Borealis, Viter Ukrainian Dancers and Folk Choir, and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.

The Holly Sangster Trio opened the second half with Free Jazz renditions of My Favourite Things, The Christmas Song, and Let It Snow.
Zemlia returned with Павочка ходить (The Pea Hen and the Maiden), Нова рада стала (The Star Brought Great News), What Child is This? and the 17th Century canticle Радуйся! (Rejoice!).

UMCE made their second appearance with А вчора з вечора (Yesterday, in the evening), Що то за предиво? (What is this great wonder?), the New Year’s Carol Щедрик (Song of Generosity) which has been adapted into the English-language Carol of the Bells, followed by Ой коляда, колядниця (A Little Carol) and Щедрівонька (New Year’s Carol). All the performers came on stage to close off the evening with an inspiring rendition of O Holy Night.

Master of Ceremonies for the evening was Mitchell Palahniuk.

Post Script: The Ukrainian Male Chorus of Edmonton recently posted a very moving video of the anti-war Stepom, Stepom set against a visual background of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine. One significant difference between their version and others is UMCE’s use of the Ukrainian word вoяки instead of the Russian сoлдати. This video can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuRTagD-TeI

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