Hermeneutics of Hutsul Individual Violin Performance in Kosmach-Brustury Regional Tradition (as Exemplified by Ivan Sokoliuk’s Creative Work)

Abstract

Research with regard to Ivan Sokoliuk's violin and performance activity, born 1944 (native of Brustury village, Kosiv district, resides in Kovalivka village, Kolomyiia district, Ivano-Frankivsk region) is aimed at revealing the peculiarities of his individual performance style. The musical environment is summarized of folk professionals representing Kosmach-Brustury musical tradition, where he grew up and developed. The ethno-educational criteria described of his father-cymbalist, according to which he taught his sons. The opinion presented on violin mastering by violin I. Sokoliuk evolving in the continuum of the following actions: search with the instrument of melody heard (1), its technical improvement (2), individual interpretation of articulatory and expressive means (3), an individual style formation during the solo and group performance (4). Interpretation provided for I. Sokoliuk’s individual style according to the following parameters: repertoire, performance aesthetics, phrasing, breath marking, ornamentation, combinatorics, improvisation, dynamics, articulation, intonation, stroke and fingering techniques, violin and hands positioning.Repertoire covers all the well-known genres of Hutsul traditional instrumental music and a significant number of borrowed multi-national and multi-regional melodies. Performance aesthetics is marked with the sound flow, which combines the complex of ornamental, stroke and sound-expressive techniques. Phrasing is due to the structuring periodicity of melodic material. Breath marking occurs predominantly in cadence parts of the form, rarely – in the middle of sentences. Ornamentation is specified by decoration of main melody’s sounds by small rhythmic figures and melismas. Melismatic groups play the role of “stresses” and accents or singing individual tones. Combinatorics associates with the left and right hands technique, embellishment and form-generating process. Improvisation is characterised by three types: regulated, free and fantasy-based level. Dynamic gradations depend on the nature of work, acoustic conditions and music-making form. Articulation – legato and non-legato – is characterized by a coherent transition from a note to note and “pronunciation” clarity of ornamentation. Stroke technique is represented by alternating legato, “folk” detache, accentuation and individual sounds marking. Fingering technique determined by the desire to minimize the movement of comfortably grouped fingers on the fingerboard and under position changing conditions. Intonation associated with the scale structurization of musical piece, variability of its tuning inclinations, individual features of intonation “feeling”. Hands positioning implies their natural position during performance due to individual violinist style requirements.