Description

Mykola LYSENKO – Overture TARAS BULBA (Ukrainian Nationalistic Piece)

(composed between 1880 and 1891)

Transcribed by Boris Korolyov

Cello Preparation by DAVID  JOHNSTONE

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PDF 1 – General Score

PDF 2 – All Individual Parts

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Notes:

‘Taras Bulba’ is an opera in four acts by the Ukrainian composer Mykola Lysenko. The libretto was written for Lysenko by his cousin Mykhailo Starytsky, and is based on Nikolai Gogol’s novella ‘Taras Bulba’. The story was about a Cossack who discovers his son has betrayed their own people, and kills him.

Lysenko worked on his opera ‘Taras Bulba’ from 1880 to 1891, but the history of the present form of the great work is somewhat complex. A piano score was published in 1913, but much of Lysenko’s original orchestration has been lost. The composer – on the piano – played to Tchaikovsky much of the material, and Tchaikovsky subsequently embraced Lysenko and “congratulated him on his talented composition.” The opera does mark a great advance on the composer’s earlier works, such as Natalka Poltavka and Utoplena. Its folklore and nationalistic elements, which are more closely integrated in a continuous musical framework, show that Lysenko was influenced by Tchaikovsky.

However, he insisted that all performances of the work should be sung in Ukrainian, which prevented any productions during his lifetime. Intent on elevating Ukrainian culture to a level commensurate with European standards, he refused to allow the opera to be translated.

 The opera, which was not definitively revised at the time of the composer’s death in 1912, was first performed some years later in 1924. Present-day performances are therefore based on the revised versions of the opera carried out during the 1930s and 1950s, all of which altered the text, and even the music and orchestration.

At the end of this opera’s overture the choir enters singing a common Ukrainian folk song entitled “Zasvit vstaly kozachen’ky” (‘At Daybreak the Cossacks Arose’). The text describes how the Cossacks depart at dawn to fight a campaign from the north. A young girl watches with eyes filled with tears as her loved one departs. A mother instructs her son to go and not delay. She is hopeful that in 4 weeks he will return to her…..and so things develop!

This music for cellos is based on an admirable transcription by Boris Korolyov for four bassoons. Of course it is not possible to include every for full symphony orchestra for four solo instruments but this was a good effort. Johnstone has changed a few notes – but not many! – and made it “cellistic” (occasional tremolos, double-stopping etc.), offering full bowing guidance for the cellists.

It is not that difficult technically, but musically it is very important to hear this music to get a good idea of the part-writing; as a quartet chamber work the important lines are often placed with the second, third and even fourth voices, although these may not be clear from first reading if one is not acquainted to the sound already.

Enjoy the music!

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