O moon, shine bright

Kupalo songfolkComposerArranger

Mar 19

Written By andrew waller

Translated Text

Score Ukrainian

Score Transliterated

O moon, shine bright | Ой гори, ой світи | Oj hory, oj svity

Composer: Mykola Leontovych | Микола Леонтович
Lyricist: Borys Hrinchenko | Борис Грінченко

Mykola Leontovych, Ukrainian composer and musico-ethnographer, began working on this opera in 1919 and by 1920 had almost completed the first act. Tragically on January 23, 1921, Leontovych was assassinated during a wave of terror initiated by the Soviet Bolshevik Regime in Ukraine. The "Feast of the Water Nymphs" (Na rusalchyn velykden) is based on a story by poet and folklorist Borys Hrinchenko. This folk-fantasy weaves together the intonations and rhythms of the various elements of Ukrainian spring, kupalo and rusalka songs and dances. The main theme of the opera is the conflict between fantasy and reality. Composer Myroslav Skoryk and poet D. Bobyr undertook the task of finishing the one-act opera, working closely to match Leontovych's style in order to maintain the work's integrity. This song is one of the opera choruses. It evokes a scene in the woods by the lake where the mischievous water nymphs have temporarily left their water sanctuary and assumed human shapes of maidens to sing, dance and play under the moonlight.

Vesnivka has performed excerpts from Mykola Leontovych's unfinished opera "Feast of the Water Nymphs" (Na rusalchyn velykden) since its inception as a girls choir. In 2003, the choir presented an in-concert performance of the entire opera with chamber orchestra and guest soloists. This performance was the North American premiere of this opera, which performance was repeated a year later.