Volodymyr Ivasyuk
Encyclopedia
Volodymyr Mykhailovych Ivasyuk or Volodymyr Ivasiuk (4 March 1949 Kitsman
, Ukrainian SSR
– 18 May 1979 Lviv
, Ukrainian SSR
) was a very popular Ukrainian songwriter
, composer
and poet
from the Ukrainian SSR
. He is the author and composer of the widely popular song Chervona Ruta
, popularized by Sofia Rotaru
in 1971 but later covered by other singers as well.
, Chernivtsi Oblast
, on March 4, 1949. His father Mykhaylo Ivasyuk was a well-known writer from Bukovyna. His mother Sofiya Ivasyuk, from the Zaporizhia Oblast
by birth, was a teacher in a local school. As early as the age of five, Volodymyr began learning to play the violin
at a music school. Later, he learnt to play the piano
as well. In 1964 he created an ensemble - "Bukovyna" - in his school and wrote their first songs, the first of which was "Lullaby".
After Volodymyr had already graduated from secondary school, his family moved to the city of Chernivtsi
where his father was offered a teaching position at the University of Chernivtsi. Volodymyr went on to study at the Lviv Medical Institute while he continued his musical career. He joined the "Karpaty Ensemble" at a local community centre and played the violin and offered his songs to be performed.
He became an overnight national sensation in the Soviet Union, after a public performance on September 13, 1970 of his compositions "Chervona Ruta
" (Ukrainian for 'Red Rue
') and "Vodohray" with Olena Kuznetsova. This performance took place in a theatre in Chernivtsi and was televised throughout the USSR.
Ivasyuk’s fame became viral. In 1971 his "Chervona Ruta", performed live in Moscow with along fellow Chervona Ruta co stars Vasyliy Zinkevych and Nazary Yaremchuk, and won the Best Song of the Year award of the Soviet Union. His composition "Vodohray" won the best song award the next year as well. Particularly "Chervona Ruta", sung by Sofia Rotaru
was featured in the musical-film "Chervona Ruta
", directed by Roman Oleksiv.
Ivasyuk moved to Lviv
to formally study composition at the Lviv Conservatory
of Music. Upon graduation from the medical institute, he worked as a doctor, and joined the post-graduate courses at the Department of Pathological Physiology to work for his next degree. In Lviv Volodymyr created the songs: "I am your wing" , "Two rings", "Ballad about mallow", "Ballad about two violins". All these songs and other works of Ivasyuk were premiered by Sofia Rotaru
.
On May 18, 1979 Ivasyuk was found hanged in a forest located on the outskirts of Lviv
. The official cause of death was listed as suicide but the exact circumstances of his death remain unknown to this day. He is buried at Lychakivskiy Cemetery
.
His celebrity status in the Soviet Union and his cultural contributions in general, and Ukrainian in specific, drew the attention of Soviet authorities. His songs, mostly about love to geographical features and regional customs, were perceived as rousing nationalist sentiment in listeners. After his death his compositions were removed from a period from sale and radio play.
Among the legacy left by Ivasyuk was the first Soviet rock-opera, whose scenario and songs were specifically written for performance by Sofia Rotaru
.
In 2009 the criminal investigation into his death was reopened on orders of President Viktor Yushchenko
.
Kitsman
Kitsman is a city located in the Chernivtsi Oblast of western Ukraine. It is the administrative center of Kitsman Raion, and is located at around . The town is about northwest from Chernivtsi on the road to Zalishchyky....
, Ukrainian SSR
Ukrainian SSR
The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic or in short, the Ukrainian SSR was a sovereign Soviet Socialist state and one of the fifteen constituent republics of the Soviet Union lasting from its inception in 1922 to the breakup in 1991...
– 18 May 1979 Lviv
Lviv
Lviv is a city in western Ukraine. The city is regarded as one of the main cultural centres of today's Ukraine and historically has also been a major Polish and Jewish cultural center, as Poles and Jews were the two main ethnicities of the city until the outbreak of World War II and the following...
, Ukrainian SSR
Ukrainian SSR
The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic or in short, the Ukrainian SSR was a sovereign Soviet Socialist state and one of the fifteen constituent republics of the Soviet Union lasting from its inception in 1922 to the breakup in 1991...
) was a very popular Ukrainian songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
from the Ukrainian SSR
Ukrainian SSR
The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic or in short, the Ukrainian SSR was a sovereign Soviet Socialist state and one of the fifteen constituent republics of the Soviet Union lasting from its inception in 1922 to the breakup in 1991...
. He is the author and composer of the widely popular song Chervona Ruta
Chervona Ruta (song)
Chervona Ruta is a popular Ukrainian song written by Volodymyr Ivasyuk in 1968 and performed by many singers. The song was never copyrighted and therefore is considered the Ukrainian folk song....
, popularized by Sofia Rotaru
Sofia Rotaru
Sofia Mykhailivna Yevdokymenko-Rotaru known as Sofia Rotaru is a Soviet and Ukrainian pop singer of Romanian/Moldavian heritage....
in 1971 but later covered by other singers as well.
Biography
Ivasyuk was born in the city of KitsmanKitsman
Kitsman is a city located in the Chernivtsi Oblast of western Ukraine. It is the administrative center of Kitsman Raion, and is located at around . The town is about northwest from Chernivtsi on the road to Zalishchyky....
, Chernivtsi Oblast
Chernivtsi Oblast
Chernivtsi Oblast is an oblast in western Ukraine, bordering on Romania and Moldova. It has a large variety of landforms: the Carpathian Mountains and picturesque hills at the foot of the mountains gradually change to a broad partly forested plain situated between the Dniester and Prut rivers....
, on March 4, 1949. His father Mykhaylo Ivasyuk was a well-known writer from Bukovyna. His mother Sofiya Ivasyuk, from the Zaporizhia Oblast
Zaporizhia Oblast
Zaporizhia Oblast is an oblast of southern Ukraine. Its capital is Zaporizhia.This oblast is an important part of Ukraine's industry and agriculture.-Geography:...
by birth, was a teacher in a local school. As early as the age of five, Volodymyr began learning to play the violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
at a music school. Later, he learnt to play the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
as well. In 1964 he created an ensemble - "Bukovyna" - in his school and wrote their first songs, the first of which was "Lullaby".
After Volodymyr had already graduated from secondary school, his family moved to the city of Chernivtsi
Chernivtsi
Chernivtsi is the administrative center of Chernivtsi Oblast in southwestern Ukraine. The city is situated on the upper course of the River Prut, a tributary of the Danube, in the northern part of the historic region of Bukovina, which is currently divided between Romania and Ukraine...
where his father was offered a teaching position at the University of Chernivtsi. Volodymyr went on to study at the Lviv Medical Institute while he continued his musical career. He joined the "Karpaty Ensemble" at a local community centre and played the violin and offered his songs to be performed.
He became an overnight national sensation in the Soviet Union, after a public performance on September 13, 1970 of his compositions "Chervona Ruta
Chervona Ruta
Chervona Ruta is a flower, but also part of the Ukrainian culture related to the holiday of Ivan Kupala Day. According to the legend, still respected in Carpathian mountains and Bukovina, rue is a yellow flower which turns red only for a couple of minutes on the night of Ivan Kupala...
" (Ukrainian for 'Red Rue
Rue
Rue is a genus of strongly scented evergreen subshrubs 20–60 cm tall, in the family Rutaceae, native to the Mediterranean region, Macaronesia and southwest Asia. There are perhaps 8 to 40 species in the genus...
') and "Vodohray" with Olena Kuznetsova. This performance took place in a theatre in Chernivtsi and was televised throughout the USSR.
Ivasyuk’s fame became viral. In 1971 his "Chervona Ruta", performed live in Moscow with along fellow Chervona Ruta co stars Vasyliy Zinkevych and Nazary Yaremchuk, and won the Best Song of the Year award of the Soviet Union. His composition "Vodohray" won the best song award the next year as well. Particularly "Chervona Ruta", sung by Sofia Rotaru
Sofia Rotaru
Sofia Mykhailivna Yevdokymenko-Rotaru known as Sofia Rotaru is a Soviet and Ukrainian pop singer of Romanian/Moldavian heritage....
was featured in the musical-film "Chervona Ruta
Chervona Ruta (film)
Chervona Ruta is a 1971 Soviet Ukrainian musical film written by Miroslav Skochilyas and directed by Roman Oleksiv, starring Sofia Rotaru and Vasyl Zinkevych alongside popular Soviet Ukrainian ensembles...
", directed by Roman Oleksiv.
Ivasyuk moved to Lviv
Lviv
Lviv is a city in western Ukraine. The city is regarded as one of the main cultural centres of today's Ukraine and historically has also been a major Polish and Jewish cultural center, as Poles and Jews were the two main ethnicities of the city until the outbreak of World War II and the following...
to formally study composition at the Lviv Conservatory
Lviv Conservatory
The Lviv National Musical Academy, M. Lysenko is a state conservatory of Ukraine based in Lviv.-History:...
of Music. Upon graduation from the medical institute, he worked as a doctor, and joined the post-graduate courses at the Department of Pathological Physiology to work for his next degree. In Lviv Volodymyr created the songs: "I am your wing" , "Two rings", "Ballad about mallow", "Ballad about two violins". All these songs and other works of Ivasyuk were premiered by Sofia Rotaru
Sofia Rotaru
Sofia Mykhailivna Yevdokymenko-Rotaru known as Sofia Rotaru is a Soviet and Ukrainian pop singer of Romanian/Moldavian heritage....
.
On May 18, 1979 Ivasyuk was found hanged in a forest located on the outskirts of Lviv
Lviv
Lviv is a city in western Ukraine. The city is regarded as one of the main cultural centres of today's Ukraine and historically has also been a major Polish and Jewish cultural center, as Poles and Jews were the two main ethnicities of the city until the outbreak of World War II and the following...
. The official cause of death was listed as suicide but the exact circumstances of his death remain unknown to this day. He is buried at Lychakivskiy Cemetery
Lychakivskiy Cemetery
-History:Since its creation in 1787 as Łyczakowski Cemetery, it has been the main necropolis of the city's inteligentsia, middle and upper classes. Initially the cemetery was located on several hills in the borough of Lychakiv, following the imperial Austro-Hungarian edict ordering that all...
.
His celebrity status in the Soviet Union and his cultural contributions in general, and Ukrainian in specific, drew the attention of Soviet authorities. His songs, mostly about love to geographical features and regional customs, were perceived as rousing nationalist sentiment in listeners. After his death his compositions were removed from a period from sale and radio play.
Among the legacy left by Ivasyuk was the first Soviet rock-opera, whose scenario and songs were specifically written for performance by Sofia Rotaru
Sofia Rotaru
Sofia Mykhailivna Yevdokymenko-Rotaru known as Sofia Rotaru is a Soviet and Ukrainian pop singer of Romanian/Moldavian heritage....
.
In 2009 the criminal investigation into his death was reopened on orders of President Viktor Yushchenko
Viktor Yushchenko
Viktor Andriyovych Yushchenko is a former President of Ukraine. He took office on January 23, 2005, following a period of popular unrest known as the Orange Revolution...
.