Bella Rudenko

Artist: Bella Rudenko

LP: Ukrainian Hit Parade

Song: "Solov'inyi Romans (Ballad of the Nightingale)"

[ listen ]

Here's a chirpy little spring-like ditty from Ukraine for a cold, grey, and moist December evening in Seattle. As you can see for yourself in the LP notes below, "Ballad of the Nightingale" was composed by Anatoly Kos-Anatolskyi; that's V. Anatonov working some fast-fingered flute magic, and the dramatically gifted Bella (or Bela) Rudenko does the warbling. You can read this lovely Ukrainian coloratura soprano's possibly outdated and ideologically biased biography here, and go here to ponder whether or not this could be the very same Bela Rudenko who's currently on staff at the Moscow P. I. Tchaikovsky Conservatory. I wonder why these kinds of songs never make it to the United States of American Hit Parade. One of the best things about this record is the woman on the cover who's sticking out her tongue.

Bella Rudenko on YouTube:

[ "Les Filles de Cadix" ]

[ Bella Rudenko ]

The Panio Brothers

Artist: The Panio Brothers

LP: The Panio Brothers Present Dance Music Ukrainian

Song: "In the Spring"

[ listen ]

Here's a lovely something from Ukraine, by way of Saskatchewan, to help celebrate the onset of springtime in Seattle—which this weekend mostly just meant lots and lots of rain. There isn't much info about John and Vlad Panio on the internet, but I did learn that the talented Canadian brothers received the Ukrainian Musicians Association's Legendary Achievement Award last year, along with another Panio named David. Notes and info from the back of this 1977 LP are included below.

Mykhailo Hryshko w/ the Ukrainian Radio Folk Instruments Orchestra

Artist: Mykhailo Hryshko w/ the Ukrainian Radio Folk Instruments Orchestra

LP: Ukrainian Songs and Dances—Volume 7

Song: "Chy Tse Zh Taya Krynychenka (Is This the Water Well)"
[ listen ]

This jaunty dance number from Ukraine got my blood flowing this morning faster than any cup of coffee ever did. When you next find yourself in Kiev, be sure to visit the National Mykhailo Hryshko Botanical Gardens.