Visual Perception of Sound Images in Piano and Orchestral Music of "Vii" by Ukrainian Composers

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to analyse the visual perception of sound images in the piano and orchestral music “Vii” by Ukrainian composers (I. Aleksiychuk, M. Verykovskyi, V. Hubarenko, A. Rodin, S. Yarunskyi). The research methodology is based on the use of the following methods: analytical – to analyse the piano music using logical abstractions in the study of R. Arnheim’s works; historical – to draw parallels with different incarnations of “Vii's” sound images; generalising – to update and specify the basic information about piano and orchestral music “Vii”. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the fact that the analysis of piano and orchestral music “Vii” by Ukrainian composers from the point of view of visual perception of sound images is conducted for the first time. Conclusions. Based on R. Arnheim's definitions of visual perception from the point of view of psychology of creativity, piano suite based on the novel “Viy” by Iryna Aleksiichuk is analysed in comparison with other works of the same name: M. Verykivskyi, V. Hubarenko, O. Rodin, S. Yarunskyi. The use of fragmentary musicological and comparative analysis allowed us to state that composers' decisions in embodying the images of Gogol's novel "Viy" depend on time (M. Verykivskyi, V. Hubarenko) and creative comprehension, previous experience, and means of musical expression. The idea of Gogol's story is embodied in all works under this title in a similar way. Therefore, the visual perception of the audience is guided by the title of the source and the motifs, and the interpretation of the images depends on the experience of the recipients. The plot of the story in the musical and theatrical genres (M. Verykivskyi, V.Hubarenko) fits quite clearly into the libretto. In the ballet by O. Rodin – R. Poklitaru, the events are transferred to a timeless space. S. Yarunskyi's mystery-buff recounts the events of the story and synthesises the music and video sequences of the film of the same name (1967). The means of musical expression used to present images based on Gogol's story in different genres are quite similar. I. Aleksiychuk's suite is dominated by dissonant melodic and harmonic complexes. The titles of the pieces suggest that Gogol's story is reproduced in the sequence of the original source. Musical works by Rodin and S. Yarunskyi show similarity in the use of dissonant means of expression. Since M. Verykivskyi’s work is represented exclusively by the aria of Pannochka, the melodic and harmonic constructions here are classical-romantic. V. Hubarenko's opera-ballet is a unique combination of genres and embodiment of images: realistic ones in the opera numbers, mystical and fantastic ones in the ballet.

Key words: piano music, orchestral music, academic musical art, psychology of visual perception in the works of R.  Arnheim, programme music, ensemble performance, Vii, sound image, Ukrainian composers.