The Life Way and Oeuvre of I. S. Polskiy (On the Occasion of the 95th Anniversary of the Artist’s Birthday)

Abstract

The aim of the article is to highlight the main milestones of I. S. Polskiy’s creative biography and to give a general description of his artistic and scientific activity. Research methodology. The article is based on the integrative approach, proceeding from a combination of general scientific (phenomenological, historical, system, biographical) and special art criticism methods and approaches. Novelty. In August 2019, 95 years have passed since the birth of the well-known Ukrainian composer and musicologist, a member of the Union of Composers of the USSR and the National Union of Composers of Ukraine, a scientist-folklorist and public figure, a professor at the Kharkov State Academy of Culture Ilya Polskiy (1924-2001). The multifaceted work of this talented artist has covered almost all genres of music art. At the same time I. S. Polskiy was a prominent scientist, one of the founders of the Kharkiv School of Ethnomusicology, who devoted many years of his life to the study of fundamental problems of the theory of Slavic music folklore and their artistic reflection in art. However, despite the significant artistic and scientific importance of the artist’s creative achievements and the importance of his cultural role in the development of music culture of the second half of the twentieth century, scientific issues related to the study of I. Polskiy’s creative heritage are still insufficiently studied in Ukrainian musicology. This is what determines the relevance and scientific novelty of the proposed article, which highlights the main milestones of the artist’s biography and gives an overview of his work. Results. For many decades, the name of I. S. Polskiy enjoys well-deserved respect and authority in the creative and scientific circles, national and foreign. It is no coincidence that the achievements of this scientist, composer and public figure have been recognized not only in our country but also at the international level. In 1999, the American Biographical Institute recognized I. S. Polskiy as “Person of the Year” in the nomination “Outstanding Scientists of the World”. Throughout his life, I. S. Polskiy conducted significant creative, scientific, pedagogical, music and journalistic, educational and public activities. One of Kharkiv’s outstanding music theorists, I. S. Polsky has created a powerful scientific and creative school. Its representatives are hundreds of workers of science, culture and art, including well-known Ukrainian and Russian composers, scientists and artists, performers and musicologists, teachers and professors establishments of all levels. I. Polskiy is the author of numerous musicological studies published in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Moldova. One of the founders of the Kharkiv School of Ethnomusicology, Ilya Polskiy grew up a whole scientific school of musicologists-folklorists, which was established at the Kharkiv State Academy of Culture and at the Kharkiv Branch of the Union of Composers of Ukraine. His scientific concept has many followers working in higher educational and research institutions of culture and art of Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Moldova and others. The composer’s creative heritage includes many works of different genres, among them — 6 operas (“Terem-teremok”, which bypassed the scenes of almost all opera theaters of the USSR and became the most visited Soviet opera for children, still retaining its popularity; “The Area between Seven Rivers”, “Heroes of Brest”, “Silent Forest, or Favorite”, “Bravo, Tailor!”, “People, Don’t Forget!”, 2 Ballets (“The Snowdrop” and “The Red Carnation”), 4 Symphonies, Symphony, 4 Cantates, 9 instrumental concerts, 6 instrumental sonatas, 2 string quartets, 5 suites, overtures, chamber-instrumental and vocal ensembles, piano or plays, choirs, songs, music for drama performances and others. A reputable scholar and musician, I. Polskiy has been a regular participant in numerous international, all-union and republican scientific conferences and symposia in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Moldova. I. Polskiy has initiated and organized many international and regional cultural, artistic and scientific projects. The practical significance . The theoretical findings of the article can be applied for the developing of the issues of the Ukrainian Music Culture of the second part of 20 th century in the musicological issues (first of all, for the reflection of the issues of personalities and oeuvre of Ukrainian composers, also as the issues of ethnomusicology and the history of Kharkiv Music Art). The material in this article can be used in the educational research, in particular, in the academic courses «The History of Ukrainian Music», «Seminar of Modern Music», «Methodology of the Theoretical Musicology», «The Etnomusicology», etc.