Victoria Poleva facts for kids
Victoria Vita Polyova (born September 11, 1962) is a talented Ukrainian composer. She won the important Shevchenko National Prize in 2018 for her amazing music.
Biography
Victoria Polyova was born in Kyiv, Ukraine, on September 11, 1962. Her father, Valery Polyovyj, was also a composer. She followed in his footsteps, studying composition at the Kyiv Conservatory. She graduated in 1989 and continued her studies there until 1995.
From 1990 to 1998, Victoria taught composition at the Kyiv Conservatory. Later, from 2000 to 2005, she taught music technology. Since 2005, she has been a freelance composer, meaning she works independently. She has also been a judge for the "Sacrarium" International Composers Competition in Italy.
Victoria Polyova's Musical Style
Victoria Polyova writes many different kinds of music. Her early works were more experimental, using styles like "avant-garde" and "polystylistics." This means she liked to try new sounds and mix different musical styles together. Examples include her ballet "Gagaku" and "Transform" for symphony orchestra.
In the late 1990s, her music changed. She started focusing on a style called "sacred minimalism." This style uses simple, clear sounds and often has a spiritual or peaceful feeling. Other famous composers like Arvo Pärt and John Tavener also use this style. Victoria Polyova often uses texts from church services in her music.
Performances and Collaborations
Victoria Polyova's music is played all over the world. Her works have been performed at famous music festivals and concert halls. These include the Beethovenfest Bonn in Germany and the Lockenhaus Chamber Music Festival in Austria. Her music has also been heard in cities like Paris, Berlin, Madrid, Toronto, and Shanghai.
In 2006, she was a special composer at the Menhir Chamber Music Festival in Switzerland. In 2010, she joined an international project called "The Art of Instrumentation." This project, led by Gidon Kremer, was about the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. Victoria Polyova was invited back by Gidon Kremer in 2011 as a composer-in-residence at the Lockenhaus Chamber Music Festival.
Her ballet "Gagaku" was performed by butoh dancer Tadashi Endo in 2012. In 2013, the famous Kronos Quartet performed her piece "Walking on Waters" for the first time. She was also a composer-in-residence at the Darwin Vargas Festival of Contemporary Music in Chile in 2013.
Many talented musicians have performed her works. These include violinists like Gidon Kremer, conductors like Volodymyr Sirenko, and various choirs and ensembles from Ukraine and other countries.
Awards and Recognition
Victoria Polyova has received several important awards for her music.
- In 2013, she won the Municipal Prize "Kyiv" in honor of Artemy Vedel.
- In 2008, she won the "Spherical Music" international competition in the USA.
- She received the Prize of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Ukraine in honor of Borys Lyatoshynsky in 2005.
- In 2001, she won first prize in the All-Ukrainian Competition "Psalms of the Third Millennium".
- In 1995, she was awarded the Prize of the Ministry of Culture and Arts of Ukraine in honor of Levko Revutsky.
Since 2006, her musical works have been published by the Swiss agency "Sordino Ediziuns Musicalas".
Works
Victoria Polyova has composed a wide range of musical pieces. Her works include music for the stage, large orchestras, choirs, and smaller groups of instruments.
Stage Music
- 2021: "Mirror, Dreams or Little Life," a ballet for a chamber orchestra.
- 2020: "Boundless Island," a small opera for three voices and a chamber ensemble.
- 2012-1986: "Ars Moriendi" ("The Art of Dying"), a mono-opera for one singer and piano.
- 1994: "Gagaku", a ballet based on the story "Hell Screen" for a chamber orchestra.
Symphony Orchestra Music
- 2022: "Nova" for symphony orchestra.
- 2006: "Null" for symphony orchestra.
- 2004: "Nenia" for violin and symphony orchestra.
- 2003: Symphony No. 3 ("White interment"), a version for symphony orchestra.
- 1993: "Transform", a two-part piece for soloists and symphony orchestra.
Choir and Orchestra Music
Victoria Polyova has written many pieces that combine voices with orchestras.
- 2020: "Warm Prayer" for voice and strings.
- 2016: "Poverty" for voices and chamber orchestra.
- 2009: «Ode an die Freude» Ode to Joy, based on verses by F. Schiller for soprano, mixed choir, and symphony orchestra.
- 2008: "Summer music", a chamber cantata for violin solo, children's choir, and strings.
- 2002: "Word" based on text by Symeon the New Theologian for soprano, mixed choir, and symphony orchestra.
Choir Music (without instruments)
She has composed many pieces for choirs singing without instruments (a cappella).
- Mixed Choir a cappella: Includes several "David's Psalms" (Psalm 50, 91, 22, 3, 2, 1) composed between 2018 and 2022. Other works include "Luminous canticles" (2016) and "Liturgy" (2013).
- Women's Choir a cappella: Features "Liturgy of John Chrysostom" (2013) and "Song of St. Silouan" (2012).
- Men's Choir a cappella: Includes "Simeon's word" (2001) and "Men's canticles" (1999).
- Children's Choir a cappella: Such as "Evening singing" (2002) and "Cherubic chant" (1999).
Chamber Orchestra Music
These pieces are for smaller orchestras.
- 2022: "Passacaglia" for solo violin and strings.
- 2019: "Winter's Tale" for chamber orchestra.
- 2006: "Pieta" for solo violin and strings.
- 2005-2006: "Cricket in the darkness" for flute, clarinet, and strings.
Chamber Ensemble Music
These works are for small groups of instruments.
- 2022: "Amapola" for violin, cello, and piano.
- 2020: "Sermon to the Fishes" for piano and chamber ensemble.
- 2013: "Walking on the Waters" for string quartet.
- 2005: "Voice" for two cellos.
- 2002: "Songs of Innocence and of Experience", a song cycle for soprano, clarinet, and accordion.
Voice and Piano (or other instrument)
- 2020: "Eter" for voice, cello, and piano.
- 2013: "More Tender than Tender" for soprano and piano.
- 1983-2012: "Ars moriendi", 18 monologues about death for soprano and piano.
- 2003: "Slouan's psalm" for soprano and cello (or piano).
Piano Music
- 2021: "Simurgh" for piano (or two pianos).
- 2021: "Marginalia," a cycle of 10 pieces for piano.
- 2011: Sonata No. 2 «Quasi una Fantasia».
- 1999: "Serene-sonata".
Instrument Solo Music
- 2021: "Miro" for solo violin.
- 2005: "Null" for button accordion (or organ).
Electroacoustics
- 2004: "Rooms of the Turbin's house", an electroacoustic installation.
Transcriptions
Victoria Polyova has also arranged music by other composers.
- 2012: J.S. Bach. Goldberg Variations arranged for violin, marimba, vibraphone, harpsichord, and cello.
- 2011: H.Vieuxtemps op.39 Duo brillant arranged for violin, cello, and chamber orchestra.
