Here’s the link to this programme coming Sunday at 5 pm Central European Time: https://www.concertzender.nl/programma/een_os_op_het_dak_717097/

An Ox on the Roof 50: The Ox in Time of War #14. An introduction to contemporary music in plain language.

Episode fifty of Een os op het dak by Thea Derks , inspired by her book Een os op het dak: modern music after 1900 in a nutshell .

The disturbing reports of Russia's war against Ukraine continue to fly around our ears. Secret information about morale and equipment of the Ukrainian army ended up on the street, we are not going to supply F16s and the beleaguered country gets just enough ammunition not to perish ingloriously, but not enough to win the war. To become discouraged.

Today, therefore, music from Ukraine again, as a tribute to the steadfastness with which the army and the residents who have not yet fled defend their – and our – freedom.

We start with Lacrimosa by Oleksandr Shchetynskyi [photo], who still lives and works in Kyiv. He composed this piece for the special instrumentation of violin, oboe, horn, two trombones and organ during the first weeks of the Russian aggression, when the city was constantly bombarded by Russian artillery.

Shchetynskyi wrote his lamentation on behalf of the Organ Hall of Lviv, where the piece was premiered on April 17, 2022, performed by musicians of the Luhansk Regional Philharmonic Orchestra. After the annexation of Luhansk, they sought refuge in Lviv, much more to the west.

In the previous episode you already heard music by Evhen Stankovych, who, like Shchetynsky, lives in Kyiv. He is currently working on a grand oratorio about the war. He himself does not speak English, so we communicate with his daughter Radmila. "Can you imagine trying to live a normal life when every day could be our last?" she asks rhetorically. Today a recording of his Second Violin Concerto.

The same broadcast also featured the fanfare Glory to Ukraine composed by Iryna Aleksiychuk for the first 'anniversary' of the war. The recording was made while the musicians were under Russian fire. To conclude this program again music by Aleksiychuk and two of her choral songs. Chamber choir Amphion will sing this on Saturday 10 June in the Oranjekerk in Amsterdam.

The 1st edition of Een os op het dak is sold out, but via Boekenbestellen.nl you will receive a copy of the 2nd edition

1. Oleksandr Shchetynsky. Lacrimosa. Musicians of the Luhansk Regional Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Ivan Ostapovych.

2. Evhen Stankovych. Violin Concerto No. 2. Valeriy Sokolov, violin. Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine conducted by Oksana Lyniv.

4. Iryna Aleksiychuk. a. Pisnya. Chrestsjatyk Academic Chamber Choir, conducted by Pavlo Struts.

b. Haide, Kato. Galician Chamber Choir Yevshan conducted by Iryna Kreslenko.

Composition, presentation and technique Thea Derks