Ivan NOVOBRANETS. Wild goos fly. 1979. Canvas, oil.
Ivan NOVOBRANETS. Cuckoo, cuckoo...
1987. Canvas, oil. Center of three parts.
(p.2-4) A FOLK SONG IN MODERN CULTURE - a view of a People's Artist of Ukraine, corresponding member of the Academy of Arts of Ukraine Volodymyr Priadka, of the fate and meaning of Ukrainian folk song. The author recollects the 60s of the last century, when the Institute of Folklore and Ethnography planned to issue a 30-volume publication of folk songs. Quite a lot of those plans have been realized, but public is still awaiting a fundamental work. Just half a century ago Ukrainians had been singing from the early morning until cocks crow the next day. Now people turned into silent consumers of tape recorders, radio and TV. There are just a few folklore ensembles and only those, who are over 70 sing unique Ukrainian songs. The things have not improved in Ukraine for more than a decade. Young people are not familiar with the national values of art and literature, and the mass media spreads the idea, that the Ukrainian traditional culture is so-called "wide trousers" one (too primitive, not updated), it needs to be modernized. Our task is to as soon as possible synthesize the product of national heritage in all its wealth in modern culture for it to enter the cultural blood circulation of the society. To make it compulsory for young generations to study. Since late 80s the public demanded from the Ministry of Education to implement a compulsory program to learn "100 Ukrainian songs" as well as authentic folk singing. It'll take 6 - 10 years to train professionals for teaching, but during these years ignorance among young people is to be extirpated. Lessons of aesthetic training are needed. The Ministry of Education and Science is to plan essential budget funds for issuing songs' textbook as well as for paying teachers and leaders of ensembles. The author suggests to hold festivals-competitions and to institute prizes for folk singers and ensembles of authentic song.