Wednesday 13 April 2011
Tune of the Day: Shche ne vmerla Ukraina
National anthem of Ukraine
In 1862, Ukrainian poet and ethnographer Paul Chubynskyi wrote a poem titled "Ще не вмерла Україна" (“Ukraine has not yet perished”), which gained a wide popularity. It also caught the attention of Mikhail Verbytskyi, a priest, who decided to compose music to accompany the text. Upon the declaration of Ukrainian independence in 1917, a number of patriotic works were used as national anthems, including this work, but in 1920 they were all banned by the incoming Soviet regime. It was only in 1991, after the breakup of the Soviet Union, that Ukraine regained its independence and its anthem.
Thanks to Roseanna for suggesting this tune!