Renowned Ukrainian Musicologist Falls in War

Ivan Kuzminskyi

The leading Ukrainian musicologist Ivan Kuzminskyi was killed by Russian forces during a combat mission in the Luhansk Region near the settlement of Dibrova. This heartbreaking incident was reported by the Berdychiv City Council.

Since the onset of the full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation, Ivan had been an ardent defender of Ukraine, joining its ranks from the very beginning. He valiantly participated in the defense of Kyiv and later served in the 67th separate mechanized brigade, undertaking combat missions in the Bakhmut direction.

Ivan Kuzminskyi was graduated from the National Academy of Music in Kyiv, supervised by Professor Nina Gerasymova-Persydska. He successfully defended his candidate’s thesis “Origins, musical theory, and performance practice of partes polyphony.” Furthermore, he dedicated himself to researching medieval Ukrainian music, leaving behind a significant heritage. His remarkable scholarly contributions include several notable articles, which shed light on the rich heritage of Ukrainian music. Ivan’s works have delved into topics such as:

History of the Origin of the Bogurodzica Song. A Musical Monument of 1407

On the influence of the Catholic musical culture of Lviv and Vilnius on partes polyphony at the end of the 16th and during the 17th centuries

Account books of the Musical Chapel of Lviv Uniate Bishop Leon Szeptycki (1760–1779)

Joint and Divergent Elements in the Vilnius Treatises of the Second Half of the 17th Century: Musical Grammar by Mykola Dyletsky and Ars et Praxis Musica by Sigismundus Lauxmin

Ivan Kuzminskyi’s legacy extends far beyond his academic achievements. He embodied the spirit of a true patriot, fearlessly defending his country and its values. Ivan’s selfless dedication and unwavering determination serve as an inspiration to all who knew him.

He was 39 years old at the time of his death.

About the Author

The Claquers is a Ukrainian online magazine devoted to classical music that unites a group of music critics with the mission to foster a critical conversation about art music in Ukraine and beyond. The Claquers organization was founded in June 2020 by musicologist Stas Nevmerzhytskyi and three colleagues: musicologist Dzvenyslava Safian, music theorist Liza Sirenko, and cultural critic Oleksandr Ostrovskyi.

The publication’s provocative name suggests the context in which The Claquers was conceived. After two previous generations of proactive critics who had careers in education and cultural promotion, classical music criticism was limited to either positive reviews or no reviews at all. A fresh and uncensored eye on events in classical music life in Ukraine was needed to shake up the musical community and complete the country’s classical music ecosystem.

Unlike in western Europe and North America, art music audiences in Ukraine are much younger. The collective of writers with The Claquers is also young, and has taken on the task of explaining to these new listeners why a long tradition of classical music in Ukraine exists, and how it became a part of today’s cultural life. As a group The Claquers considers its main goals: to educate about contemporary classical Ukrainian music, to build bridges with popular culture by publishing about diverse musical genres and other arts (such as music in literature or in film), to expand the critical tools of music criticism with audio podcasts, and to cultivate audiences abroad via an English version of the website.

The Claquers was made possible by generous funding that enabled its establishment and is sustained by the generosity of donors on Patreon. This singular and engaged Ukrainian online hub devoted to classical music continues to engage people in this music and invite new authors.

Stas Nevmerzhytskyi (ФОП Станіслав Невмержицький), individual proprietor

The registration number of the taxpayer's registration card, or the series and number of the passport:
3376417436

Location of a individual proprietor:
Ukraine, 04212, Kyiv city, TYMOSHENKA STREET, building 2K, room 302
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Date and number of entry in the Unified State Register of Legal Entities, individual proprietor and public organizations:
10/16/2020, 2000690010002052048

IBAN
UA153052990000026006036800851

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