Nykolaieva by Prylypchany Brothers is a Pinnacle of World Traditional Instrumentalism

Abstract

Instrumental perfromance of pastoral songs, especially in large-format recreational instrumental and dance activities, occupies a peculiar place among the unusual phenomena of traditional musical culture of Ukrainians alongside the ancient manifestations of musical-heroic epics – bylynas and dumas, and the renown culture of group singing – calendar and ceremonial-ritual melodies and lyrical-sub-vocal songs. In this article, on the basis of a unique Hutsul «performance» on three homogeneous instruments, where the three main functions (melody, «contra» / «second» and «bass») are executed on three folk violins by a family group of three brothers, respectively – Spyrydon, Kyrylo and Luka Prylypchany – the form of a construction complex in structure and typology recreated the work from Kolomyia of Hutsul composition – Nykolaieva is analyzed. It gives all grounds to put forward the mentioned work, as well as the whole tradition of a large-scale ensemble-violin performing of the Ukrainian highlanderers – the Hutsuls and the Boykos – for consideration to the UNESCO Commission on Intangible Heritage as a work of traditional culture, that is the property of all mankind.