Forming Musical Sketches From Themes
Yesterday I finally sat down to watch “Winter on Fire”, a documentary about the brutal and deadly government response to peaceful student protests at Maidan Independence Square in Kyiv that started in November of 2013. These events ensued after traitor President Yanukovich turned away from a deal with the EU and instead signed an agreement with Russia. Ukrainian people fought for democracy and forced Yanukovich to flee the country and away from presidency, directly into Putin’s open arms. This exhibition of strength by Ukrainian people made people who were trying to control the country from the outside, angry, and catalyzed the annexation of Crimea and the war that was started in eastern Ukraine by Russia in 2014. If you have not seen this documentary, please make time to watch it. It depicts a raw and graphic backstory to today’s war.
Some updates on the project. I have completed six of the seven composition sketches. I wrote mostly on piano, but came up with guitar, bass and drum ideas for some songs. The sketches are in a music software, which I can use to plan out and create the arrangement for each song (how the basic ideas will develop and whether there will be any other sections in the song). I can also use this software to simulate different instruments that I want to add to my songs. I am a little stuck on how to approach the last theme: “Resourceless”. This theme reflects the lack of electricity, heat, water and food that many people in Ukraine are faced with right now. Although I have thought about different ways to translate this theme into music, I have not started it at all. Right now, I think that the only way I can honestly reflect this theme is by not using any instruments, and instead trying to create something out of nothing. I am thinking of using regular, everyday sounds to create this composition, like a dripping tap, wind, footsteps and other similar sounds. If you have any suggestions or thoughts on this theme, please let me know.
A few weeks ago, I was able to meet someone in person, whom I interviewed over zoom in October while they were still in Kyiv. They arrived in Winnipeg with some of their family but not all, attempting to get settled before others in their family receive visas to be able to join them. It is reassuring to meet these people in person. It gives me hope to contrast the worrisome thoughts I have regarding the well-being of a few people in Ukraine who have not returned my messages.
Thank you for joining me in this project.
This project is made possible with the support of Canada Council for the Arts.