On August 22, as part of the project “Donetsk Region: Preserve for Future Generations,” the Donetsk Regional Educational and Methodological Center for Culture, with the support of the Donetsk Regional State Administration, held an artistic event dedicated to Folklore Day in Ukraine, entitled “Authentic Singing: Echoes of the Steppes.”
The master class brought together more than fifty participants – teachers of art schools, leaders of amateur groups, professional singers, and those who are just starting their journey in the world of folk song. Together with Lyudmila Savchenko and Elena Parfenova, bearers of authentic singing in Donetsk region, the participants immersed themselves in the unique musical space of Donetsk region, got acquainted with elements of the song heritage included in the regional list of intangible cultural heritage, and reproduced authentic melodies.
The works they studied, performed in a joint polyphony, became a true testimony to how folklore can unite people of different ages and experiences. A special gift for the participants were the songs “Chorna Stezhechka” from Lozove in the Kramatorsk district and “Vesnyanka-Panyanichka” from Yegorivka in the Volnovakha district, which were revived and given new life in a modern performance.
This master class proved once again that the traditions of Donetsk region are alive, inspiring and creating a space for unity. And thanks to the enthusiasm and love for their native culture of our authentic singers, the region's song heritage confidently continues its journey into the future.