“King of the Regents” Yakiv Kalishevsky (1856–1923) in the Ukrainian choral culture: vocal and choral tradition continuity

Based on the analysis of scientific literature and sources, life and creative work of Yakiv Kalishevsky, a famous Ukrainian conductor, whose influence on the quality and level of the Ukrainian choral art at the turn of XIX–XX century, in particular, choral sound-formation standards, was extremely significant, is considered in the article. Regency was fundamentally important in his activity. St. Sophia Cathedral, the ancient residence of Kyiv Metropolitans, was among the key centres for cultivation of the original liturgical singing style in the city of Kyiv. In terms of its performance level, the choir of St. Sophia Cathedral competed even with powerful choirs of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. The highest level of performance has been achieved when the choir was led by Yakiv Kalishevsky – from 1886 to 1920. His achievements were largely preconditioned by cultivating a special singing style intended for the highest level of professional training of both adults and children. Liturgical singing performance standard created by Ya. Kalishevsky consisted in the synthesis of timbral (nucleus) concentrated sound with elements of Italian bel canto in the sound reproduction of the whole choir. Particularly, in applying his professional skills and knowledge as a solo vocalist, Myroslaw Antonowycz, the Ukrainian musicologist and conductor of the Byzantine Choir, continues the line of Kalishevsky, for whom the individual voice placement was of paramount importance. The performing choral style, which was implemented by Ya. Kalishevsky and which combined an individual approach to the placement of voices and stylistic principles of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra tradition, has successfully found embodiment and further development in the choirs of Dmytro Kotko, Oleksandr Koshyts and Myroslaw Antonowycz, evidencing the continuity of the historical experience of vocal and choral performance practice.