Ukrainian Village Voices Perform Free Concerts at 2 sites
The Folklife Center continues its popular Live! Folklife Concert series with Ukrainian Village Voices, a New York City-based collective singing in the polyphonic village style, often focusing on songs of seasonal celebrations. UVV will be performing at 2 sites, Thursday, April 25 at Crandall Public Library (Glens Falls, NY) and Friday, April 26 at the Historic Salem Courthouse (Salem, NY). There are no reservations, seating is first come first served. Doors open at 6:30 for the 7 pm free concerts.
Ukrainian Village Voices’ repertoire is constantly evolving, frequently focusing on seasonal celebrations, ritual songs, as well as lyrical music. The group often sings songs recorded by ethnomusicologists from the oldest dwellers in rural Ukraine. As of 2018, these songs include those they heard themselves while on expeditions to various villages across Ukraine. UVV pays homage to the ancient spirit of these songs while also naturally bringing a unique North American feel to the music.
For nearly a decade, the ensemble has performed for a wide range of audiences in the New York metropolitan area as well as in Canada and Ukraine. The group also organizes public vocal workshops led by accomplished singers, musicians, and scholars in the various folk traditions of Ukraine. UVV released an album on Jalopy Records, and currently 100% of proceeds from album sales on Bandcamp are being donated to help Ukrainian refugees. www.ukrainianvillagevoices.com
“Since their inception, Ukrainian Village Voices has staked a claim as one of the premier performance ensembles of Ukrainian vocal traditions in the West.” – Dr. Adriana Helbig, Ethnomusicology, Winter 2020.
The Folklife Center records the Glens Falls performance with a 3-camera video shoot, later edited, with portions posted on the Folklife Center’s YouTube page.
Live! Folklife Concerts are produced by the Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library, and funded in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Governor’s office and the New York State Legislature.