Volodymyr Ivasiuk

Biography

Composer. From 1972 he studied music under Anatol Kos-Anatolsky at the Lviv Conservatory. Although he composed instrumental music for piano and cello, Ivasiuk is best known for his popular songs, which number about 50. His first song, ‘Vidlitaly zhuravli’ (The Cranes Were Leaving), was released in 1965. In some cases—eg, in ‘Lysh raz tsvite liubov’ (Love Blooms but Once), ‘Balada pro mal'vy’ (Ballad about Hollyhocks), and ‘Ia—tvoie krylo’ (I am Your Wing)—he composed the melody only; in others—eg, in ‘Dva persteni’ (Two Rings), ‘Vodohrai’ (Water Fountain), ‘Pisnia bude pomizh nas’ (A Song Will Be among Us), and ‘Chervona ruta’ (Red Rue)—both the melody and lyrics. Ivasiuk’s tunes are a blend...