We are thrilled to announce that we have commissioned Ukrainian composer Natalia Tsupryk to write a new choral work reflecting on the devastating ongoing conflict in her home country.
The piece will set text by renowned Ukrainian poet Serhiy Zhadan with quotations from one of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s many powerful speeches. Together, we aim to create a musical expression of solidarity with the people of Ukraine as they continue to suffer at the hands of Vladimir Putin.
We also hope that the piece will be a catalyst for connection, providing a creative vehicle for choirs to meet and sing with displaced Ukrainians in their communities. If you would like to register interest in performing Natalia’s piece with your choir, please get in touch.
We will be recording the piece in the coming weeks and will share updates on our social media channels and dedicated mailings.
natalia tsupryk
© Olena Korniienko
“With the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, my life was split into before and after, and although the Russian war really started eight years ago, I was still deeply shaken.
Everything I do now, both professionally and personally, is about Ukraine. Death is everywhere and people never know which of their loved ones might be next. Ukrainians desperately need the world’s assistance to win and end this cruel war.”
Defined by a distinctive use of strings and vocals, Natalia's music draws from her classical background to combine elements of folk, electronic, and classical.
One of her most recent solo works Elegy for Spring is a part of Piano Day Vol.1 Compilation released with Nils Frahm's label Leiter. Another single The Trees Will Swing is a part of STRING LAYERS VOL. II compilation released by 7K!
Natalia has scored award-winning films across fiction, documentary, and animation that have screened internationally at festivals such as Palm Springs, Indy Shorts, PÖFF, and were short-listed for BAFTAs.
TEXT
It is us who sing in the quiet of the night
when the inner town is silent
burying the seeds of our sighs
in the breath of black earth.
- from The History of Snow by Serhiy Zhadan
(trans. Sasha Dugdale, Oksana Maksymchuk)
Our land was sown with bullets and shells, but no enemy was able to take root here.
There is no occupier who can take root in our free land.
We are free people who have their own path.
- from President Volodymyr Zelensky’s speech on the Day of Victory of Nazism in World War II (9 May 2022)
Artwork
Prayer by Masha Krivopishina
SUPPORT
This project has been made possible through our collaboration with several key partners, from the commissioning phase through to recording and release.
Commission
We were able to commission Natalia thanks to generous support from Chris Gunness, Director of the Myanmar Accountability Project.
Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral
We are grateful to Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski of the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Family of London for allowing us to record the single at the Cathedral in Mayfair and for connecting us with VIVO Vocal Quartet who sing the liturgy there every Sunday.
