Polyphony in Ukrainian Instrumental Music

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to explore the phenomenon of polyphony in Ukrainian instrumental music from a historical and theoretical perspective, within the context of traditions and contemporary trends in the development of musical art. The research methodology is based on the principles of systematisation and generalisation of information, as well as methods of historical-theoretical and musicological analysis. These approaches made it possible to examine and synthesise existing scholarly studies on the development of Ukrainian instrumental music, to investigate the works of Ukrainian composers, and to summarise knowledge regarding the polyphonic features of their instrumental and symphonic compositions. The scientific novelty of the research lies in its presentation of Ukrainian instrumental music within the framework of polyphony as a characteristic of contemporary artistic thought, while also grounding it in the folkloric origins of Ukrainian melos. Conclusions. The use of polyphonic techniques, particularly the polyphonic arrangement of folk songs – which remains a popular genre in Ukrainian instrumental art – represents a deeply rooted tradition in national musical culture. This is evidenced by the large number of works across genres and performance ensembles. Polyphony in the works of Ukrainian composers can be regarded as a fundamental basis of artistic thinking, underpinning the artistry of musical expression. Polyphonic texture, as a defining feature of Ukrainian folk song creativity and the frequent recourse of instrumental composers to folk sources, endows their works with genuine uniqueness. It also serves as a crucial means of preserving and promoting the folkloric musical heritage while integrating traditions with contemporary academic performance practices.