The rapids

Kupalo songfolkComposerArranger

Mar 19

Written By andrew waller

Translated Text

Score Ukrainian

Score Transliterated

The rapids | Тече вода | Teche voda

Composer: Bohdanna Filts | Богдана Фільц
Lyricist: Taras Shevchenko | Тарас Шевченко

This song evokes turbulent political times with the imagery of rapids. Taras Shevchenko, poet, writer, painter, political figure, and ethnographer, is considered by many to be Ukraine’s bard. His writings formed the foundation for modern Ukrainian literature in the middle of the 19th century, contributing greatly to the growth of Ukrainian national consciousness. Influenced by Romanticism, his unique manner of poetic expression encompassed themes and ideas germane to Ukraine and to his personal vision of its past and future. Shevchenko’s influence on various facets of Ukrainian intellectual, literary, and national life is still felt to this day, even inspiring some of the protestors during the Euromaidan movement of 2013-14.

This composition by Bohdanna Filts is set to the words of Taras Shevchenko. Vesnivka's music archives include classical works with text drawn from poetry from many of Ukraine's great literary figures.