A Guide to Ukrainian Music
SplenDoor to Ukraine was an engaging series of events in Amsterdam and Den Haag, featuring a mix of stories, chamber concerts, and experimental electronic performances that celebrated avant-garde Ukrainian music. Supported by VATAHA, the initiative was organized in collaboration between Nomadische Boekenplank, CLASSIC NOW!, and Splendor Amsterdam, showcasing the hidden gems of Ukrainian classical and contemporary music and allowing audiences to discover Ukrainian musical heritage for themselves.
The Ukrainian classical music tradition, rooted in Orthodox chanting, evolved alongside European classical movements as early as the 17th century. Yet, Ukrainian composers faced immense challenges under empires that sought to appropriate and suppress their cultural identity. By the mid-20th century, during the Soviet era, a group of musicians known as the “Kyiv avant-garde” emerged, crafting bold, innovative compositions that mirrored Western modernist trends despite the stifling censorship of the USSR.
Classical Music
The first block of SplenDoor events was dedicated to classical music, featuring works by luminaries like Valentyn Silverstrov, Volodymyr Zahortsev, and Leonid Hodziatsky. These composers were students of modernist composer Borys Lyatoshynsky, who passed the torch of classical musical tradition to a new generation. These composers formed the informal group “Kyiv avant-garde” of the 1960s, creating music that challenged socialist realism, the only acceptable musical and aesthetic style in the USSR. Defying restrictions, their work resonates with a timeless spirit of rebellion, creativity, and connection to global music movements.
Each event was accompanied by lectures by Ihor Sukhorukov, a Ukrainian culture enthusiast and lecturer, and founder of the Nomadische Boekenplank project. The lectures provided an in-depth look at the era’s socio-political and cultural context. At the same time, Ukrainian pianist Antonii Baryshevskyi recited avant-garde masterpieces at each concert.
Electronic & Experimental
The second block bridged past and present, exploring the intersection of Ukrainian experimental music and modern electronic soundscapes, featuring the Aircraft performance on December 6 at the Splendor Amsterdam. Aircraft is a one-person band, a dark synth-pop project of Ukrainian-born, Berlin-based artist Danyil Merkulov. His performances—blending new wave, synth-pop, and Ukrainian dream-pop—create an immersive and unforgettable experience. During the event, Danyil presented his tracks from the latest album, Evidence, a hypnotic mix of brooding synths, drum machines, and live vocals. In case you have not experienced the performance yourself, see the atmosphere by checking VATAHA’s Instagram page here.
The SplenDoor to Ukraine project was more than a celebration of music—it was a journey into the heart of Ukrainian culture and music tradition. By bridging the compositions of the 1960s avant-garde with the innovative electronic sounds of today, the events highlighted the global creativity and relevance of Ukrainian music.
This exploration offered audiences not only an appreciation of the rich history behind these works but also a glimpse into how they resonate with and inspire today’s artistic practices. With its captivating performances and insightful lectures, SplenDoor to Ukraine underscored the enduring power of music to connect and inspire.
If you missed the previous concerts, you still have a chance to join the last event of the year. On December 28, experience The Carol of the Bells, a concert dedicated to folk singing and music by Ukrainian musicians. The pieces will be performed by Oksana Mukosii (viola), Maryna Golovchenko (voice), Vladyslas Petryk (clarinet), and Antonii Baryshevskyi (piano). Click here for more information.
SplenDoor for Ukraine: A Guide to Ukrainian Music was organized by Nomadische Boekenplank, CLASSICAL NOW!, and Splendor Amsterdam and supported by information partners VATAHA and Haarlem for Ukraine.
If you would like to support VATAHA in organizing events like these, you can make a tax-deductible donation here.