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“We Are” – Yuri Shevchenko

[media=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_bxEdN3LWQ]

Short piece written by Ukrainian composer Yuri Shevchenko and performed at the Teatro Comunale di Bologna shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24th. Oksana Lyniv, a native of Ukraine, is the conductor.

During his life, Yuri Shevchenko created works for musicals, dramatic theater, and TV productions, as well as orchestral works for ballet, folk dance, and choral ensembles. Sadly, he passed away in Kyiv on March 24, 2022 at age 68.

Shevchenko drew from the melody of Ukraine’s national anthem in composing “We Are”, sometimes called “We Do Exist”. As the composer explained:

“This is a paraphrase on the theme of the national anthem of Ukraine. I remember that after singing the anthem with everyone on a cold winter evening on the Maidan during the Revolution of Dignity, I went home and wrote the score in a couple of hours. I wanted our hymn to sound like a quiet and bright prayer for Ukraine to the whole world."
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Such a melancholic nocturne….moved me to tears….pretty powerful and chilling piece this. 🥺😔💔

I’ve listened to Yuri before, but this was by far his best….it almost feels as though he knew his end was near.
Rutterman · 46-50, M
@Vivaci It is indeed. Also moved me to tears, especially when I watched the conductor. You could tell she was also affected by the music and the moment. I don't know how she held it together as well as she did. As I said in the post, she is from Ukraine, so how could she not have felt this deeply? 😞

It's the first I've heard by him. I need to listen to more of his music.
@Rutterman It’s even more poignant considering the times and challenges it faces, as a nation. 🥺 I can’t understand the ruthless slaughtering of civilians….putin should stop his senseless genocide! 😠

Yuri is pretty popular in Europe…I think Mugin had shared some of his music a while back. I’ll see if I can find them links for you. 🤗