By Halyna Kravtchouk, Winnipeg, Canada
Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of Maestro’s passing
«The song saved me... It finally became the one thing I serve and worship, like my own sanctuary» (A. Koshetz).
An ancient legend speaks of a song and the Ukrainians. According to the version of this legend recounted by Winnipegger Stephania Zenewych, on the day when God was bestowing talents upon the nations of the world, the Ukrainian arrived late. Undeterred, he approached God, who, upon hearing his request, replied, «I have already given out all the talents. There is only a song left, so I will give you a song». Since then, the French have been renowned for their fashion designers and elegance, the Germans for their order and discipline, the Hungarians for their love of commerce and equestrian parades, and so forth. Meanwhile, Ukrainians are celebrated worldwide for their songs and their creators, with the people often saying, «That talent is a gift from God himself!».
One of those to whom these words fully apply is the world-renowned conductor, composer, ethnographer, promoter of Ukrainian folk songs and church music, and a true Ukrainian patriot, Alexander Koshetz (1875–1944). Over a century ago, while traveling with the Ukrainian Republican Capelle (later known as the Ukrainian National Choir), he introduced Europeans to his native songs, masterfully elevating them to new heights of beauty and spiritual depth. His work as a choir conductor and arranger received high praise from some of the most prominent music critics of the old world. Koshetz’s dream of showcasing the soul and musical creativity of the Ukrainian people to Europe came true.
On September 25, 1922, the Ukrainian National Choir made its historic arrival on the American mainland aboard the steamship Caronia, which had narrowly escaped disaster after colliding with an iceberg. For the first time, the triumphant march of Ukrainian song captivated audiences across the Americas. The choir’s success is underscored by «thousands of reviews written in twelve languages». Reflecting on his journey, Koshetz wrote to his friend Vasyl Benevsky in the Caucasus that he «had traveled 170,000 miles across North and South America and given over 400 concerts in just a year and a half» (О. Кошиць. Листи до друга. 1998. – P. 38-39).