Artistic Phenomenon of Igor Ivashchenko: New Comprehension Dimension

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to study artistry of Ihor Yefremovych Ivashchenko (1931–2014), the outstanding Ukrainian conductor and composer, related to his job in the State Dance Ensemble of the Ukrainian SSR. The research methodology includes historical, analytical, and biographical methods that provide an opportunity to find out the extent of the artist's creative personality. The scientific novelty includes the fact that, for the first time in the context of the art history discourse, little-known pages from the master's biography are made public in the publication, and his worldview intentions are established. For the first time, I. Ivashchenko’s artistic achievements are analysed and summarised in the scope of the activities of the State Dance Ensemble of the Ukrainian SSR (1955–1980). Conclusions. I. Ivashchenko's creativity was most vividly revealed in the area of dance music, where the composer managed to expand the stylistic palette, as well as to convey the original author's aesthetics to already well-known folk songs and instrumental works. Ihor Ivashchenko brought the activity of the small symphony orchestra of the Dance Ensemble of the Ukrainian SSR to artistic perfection and the supremacy of academicism. In the creative tandem of I. Ivashchenko and P. Virskyi, unparalleled examples of musical and choreographic performances built on the Ukrainian national and cultural soil were generated. Key words: Ihor Ivashchenko, dance music, choreographic paintings, State Dance Ensemble of the Ukrainian SSR