On a small green hill

Kupalo songfolkComposerArranger

Mar 19

Written By andrew waller

Translated Text

Score Ukrainian

Score Transliterated

On a small green hill | На зеленому горбочку | Na zelenomu horbochku

Composer: Alexander Nekrasov | Олександр Некрасов
Lyricist: Lesia Ukrainka | Тарас Шевченко

In many of her poems, Lesia Ukrainka used nature and natural events as metaphors for her life of political persecution and physical limitations. In this song, the sun emerges with its warmth and brightness, completely changing her day to one of temporary tranquillity, as represented by the little white house in the orchard. One of Ukraine's best-known poets and writers and the foremost woman writer in Ukrainian literature, Larysa Petrivna Kosach-Kvitka (1871-1913) assumed the pseudonym Lesia Ukrainka at age 13 because at that time publications in the Ukrainian language were forbidden. Diagnosed with tuberculosis of the bone at an early age and often house-bound, her writing became the main focus of her life. Due to her illness, she spent extended periods of time in Germany, Austria, Italy, Bulgaria, Crimea, the Caucasus, and Egypt. Knowing that her life would be short often led her to share her joy in nature, as well as her regrets and anguish, through her poetry.

Vesnivka's music archives include classical works with text drawn from poetry from many of Ukraine's great literary figures, including the foremost women writer of Ukrainian literature, Lesia Ukrainka. Vesnivka included this piece in a tribute concert to Lesia Ukrainka held in November 2013 in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of her death.