02-24-2023, 01:03 AM
Artemy Lukyanovich Vedel (Russian: Артемий Лукьянович Ведель, Ukrainian: Артем Лук'янович Ведель, romanized: Artem Lukianovych Vedel; 13 April [O.S. 1 April] 1767 – 26 July [O.S. 14 July] 1808), born Artemy Lukyanovich Vedelsky, was a Ukrainian-born Russian composer of military and liturgical music. He produced works based on Ukrainian folk melodies, and made an important contribution to the music of Ukraine. Together with Maxim Berezovsky and Dmitry Bortniansky, Vedel is recognised by musicologists as one of the "Golden Three" composers of 18th century Ukrainian classical music, and one of Russia's greatest choral composers.
Vedel was born in Kyiv, the son of a wealthy wood carver. He studied at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy until 1787, after which he was appointed to conduct the academy's choir and orchestra. In 1788 he was sent to Moscow to work for the regional governor, but he returned home in 1791 and resumed his career at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. The Imperial Russian Army general Andrei Levanidov acquired his services to lead Kyiv's regimental chapel and choir—under Levanidov's patronage, Vedel reached the peak of his creativity as a composer. He moved with Levanidov to the Kharkov Governorate, where he organised a new choir and orchestra, and taught at the Kharkiv Collegium.
Vedel's fortunes declined when the cultural life of Kharkiv was affected by decrees issued by Tsar Paul I. Lacking a patron, and with his music unable to be performed, he returned to home to Kyiv in 1798, and became a novice monk of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. The monastery authorities discovered handwritten threats about the Russian royal family, and accused Vedel of writing them. He was subsequently incarcerated as a mental patient, and forbidden to compose. After almost a decade, the authorities allowed him to return to his father's house to die.
Vedel's music was censored during the period that Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. More than 80 of his works are known, including 31 choral concertos, but many of his compositions are lost. Most of his choral music uses texts taken from the Psalms. The style of Vedel's compositions reflects the changes taking place in classical music during his lifetime; he was influenced by the Ukrainian baroque traditions, but also by new West European (in particular Italian) operatic and instrumental styles.
Vedel was born in Kyiv, the son of a wealthy wood carver. He studied at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy until 1787, after which he was appointed to conduct the academy's choir and orchestra. In 1788 he was sent to Moscow to work for the regional governor, but he returned home in 1791 and resumed his career at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. The Imperial Russian Army general Andrei Levanidov acquired his services to lead Kyiv's regimental chapel and choir—under Levanidov's patronage, Vedel reached the peak of his creativity as a composer. He moved with Levanidov to the Kharkov Governorate, where he organised a new choir and orchestra, and taught at the Kharkiv Collegium.
Vedel's fortunes declined when the cultural life of Kharkiv was affected by decrees issued by Tsar Paul I. Lacking a patron, and with his music unable to be performed, he returned to home to Kyiv in 1798, and became a novice monk of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. The monastery authorities discovered handwritten threats about the Russian royal family, and accused Vedel of writing them. He was subsequently incarcerated as a mental patient, and forbidden to compose. After almost a decade, the authorities allowed him to return to his father's house to die.
Vedel's music was censored during the period that Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. More than 80 of his works are known, including 31 choral concertos, but many of his compositions are lost. Most of his choral music uses texts taken from the Psalms. The style of Vedel's compositions reflects the changes taking place in classical music during his lifetime; he was influenced by the Ukrainian baroque traditions, but also by new West European (in particular Italian) operatic and instrumental styles.
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