Hryhoriy Skovoroda is a Ukrainian poet and Christian mystical philosopher from 18 century, the person of the highest level European education who has developed his original philosophical system. As the most valuable possession he considered his personal freedom, therefore after all he has refused ordinary career of the man of science, avoided secular life and has selected for himself a way of the wandering preacher. His wanderings around Ukraine became a part of a national mythology. His two poems taken for this composition (in original language, that is old bookish Ukrainian) glorify such important for Skovoroda vital values as unification with Christ on heaven and perfection of own reason. The calm of the celestial dwelling-place is opposed to vanity of terrestrial life. In the second movement not only the text but also the melody composed by Skovoroda himself to this text is used. The simple tune in style of the Ukrainian songs of 18 century sounds here with numerous rests and much slower, as if through two century stratification - like simple, a little naive, but surprisingly powerful message of the wise man, ethical maxim proved by his own life.
Alexander Shchetynsky
© 2000 by Alexander Shchetynsky