MUSICAL DISCOURSE IN THE ART OF A WRITER AND A SCHOLAR DARIYA VIKONSKA

Abstract

The figure of Dariya Vikonska (1893-1945) – litteratress, arts critic, culture expert has recently returned from undeserved oblivion. Her life and studies in several European countries up to the age of twenty three had influenced the formation of a highly educated, independent in opinions personality. Obtaining a Degree in arts and mastering the piano had a great influence on Dariya Vikonska’s literary and scientific activity. Her love of music inspired different dimensions of her artistic and scholastic interests: 1) writing critical articles on musical issues; 2) application of musical themes in some of her literary works and inclusion of musical symbols into the others; 3) using of musical semantics in scientific articles concerning different domains. Her three revues have demonstrated the author’s competence in Ukrainian and Western-European music and musical critique. Her convincing and benevolent statements combined with literary remarks and a perceiving insight of the art connoisseur aimed at the appearance of the artists. Facts are complemented with the analyses of performance and sometimes philosophical speculations on music and interpretation. Also one can notice educational aspect concerning the role of choral art in consolidation of Ukrainians and the necessity of more intensive involvement of youth to choral singing etc. An important message is proclaiming the art as a means of national awareness. Two prose miniatures bearing the names of pieces for piano (F. Chopin’s Polonaise and V. Barvinskyy’s Prelude) demonstrate the synthesis of artistry and analysis (the first miniature with the musical example is referred to as the “studies”). Artistry, in its turn, incorporates visual, acoustic and tactile impressions into one unit, expressed by colorful metaphors, epithets and comparisons. Common peculiarities of these miniatures are intimate chamber atmosphere, implication of symbols of night and also a prominent structural embodiment of a triple musical form in the texts. In prose miniatures with musical accompaniment its symbolism is used mostly in metaphoric parallels for common real things. Often it’s a musical instrument identified with a person. Moreover musical impressions are being revealed in combination with other esthetic pheno-mena, as for example a shrub of purple fragrant flowers. Dariya Vikonska’s culture and art works include music not as a subject, but as a supplemen-tary means. It is regarded as the source of inspiration in fine arts. And it concerns not only folk or artistic music but also the sounds of nature like a skylark’s song. The research dedicated to the necessity of artistic perception of foreign cultures influence together with preserving own identity music written by J. Sibelius is provided as an example. Therefore musical discourse of Dariya Vikonska’s work is ample and multifaceted. It has become one of the axiological factors of her rich spiritual world, subtle mental organization, ethical and aesthetical principles reflected in her literary and scientific heritage.