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UKRAINIAN FOLK SINGER TAKES PART IN SMITHSONIAN FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL Ulana Petrivna Kot from the village Krupivie in the Rovyn oblast never dreamed of performing her native Ukrainian folk songs in America. That is until she was chosen to represent Ukraine at the Smithsonian Folklife Fetival in Washington, D.C. This summer the festival featured folk music from a number of the republics of the U.S.S.R. including Ukraine, Russia, Estonia, Georgia, and Azerbaidzhan. Kot is reported to know thousands of folk songs. “ I’ve been asked to write them all down, but that would take the rest of my life,” she laughs. "God has blessed me with a good memory. I have only to hear a song once, and I remember it for ever.” Her repertoire includes evrything from kolady and shchedryvky to love songs and seasonal songs. The wedding songs she kows number 370. Kot’s first chldhood memories are of her mother, a weaver, sitting at the loom singing as she worked. It was here that the young Ulana heard many of the melodies she now sings. Although Ulana first worked on a local farm, she soon followed her mother into weaving. Today she holds the title Meritted Artist of Ukraine and exhib its her work in museums throughout her country. Many of her weavings, embroidery and other artifacts were displayed at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Her career as a performer came later when her natural musical talent was discovered. Since then she has recieved numerous awards, has been the subject of a book, and recorded an album that sold out immediately. Presently Ulana conducts a women’s and a child ren’s choir. It is the children’s choir, which includes her grandaughter Irena, that is most important to her. “ I want to pass to our youth the songs that have been sung in our village for generations. By teaching them I am doing my small part in preserving our rich folk cul ture, which includes children’s songs," explains Kot. Unlike most other children’s choirs, hers performs only children’s songs. Kot is unique among folk artists because most of her repetoire of folksongs is native to her own village. “Other folklorists that I know,” she says “specialize in a large territory. I pride myself on not borrowing songs from other regions or villages.” Ulana has become a resource and teacher for many ethnologists. When asked whether people still sing in Ukraine she answers enthusiastically. “Our village is particularly fond of singing. People sing as they walk, as they work and often gather in the evening to sing as well. I remember walking through the village on the holiday of the Holy Trinity and hearing girls singing outdoors. They called out for me to join them, and as we sang I was moved by the beauty of Ukrainian song and was glad that in Polissia the tradition of communal singing still lives. Of course there is much singing at weddings, holidays and Ivan Kupala, which we still celebrate.” “Real folk music,” Ulana explains, “was created by the people. Today it is very easy to write a song — a composer writes the tune, a poet writes the words and a singer performs the song. But that song doesn’t last, it passes and is replaced by another one. That’s because the song isn't rooted in the soul of the people. In the old days, as people worked they created songs for every stage of the growing cycle. These songs help set the rhythm of life. Today’s popular music cannot take place of these songs that have evolved thorough time. That is the nature of folk songs — they belong to everyone. The daily life of the people is the essence of folk music.” About her experience at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Kot says “ I feel very fortunate to be represent ing Ukrainian folk arts here in Washington and I am touched by the kind reception I have recieved by the Festival organizers and patrons alike. Many people come up to my exhibit table wanting to know what the Ukrain ian woven and embroidered rushnyky represent. With the help of my Smithsonian translators I explain the uses of the rushnyky during wedding ceremonies and Ukrainian holidays. Although I do not understand the "НАШЕ Ж ИТТЯ”, БЕРЕЗЕНЬ 1989 21 Зліва: Орися Пипишенко і Уляна Кот співачка з України у Вашингтоні. Fr. I.: Orysia Pylyshenko and Ulana Kot, folk singer from Ukra ine.
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