Professional Documents
Culture Documents
ensemble mcmixi liohdaii Kriiiiak. Without deUing into any more legal
Kryvenkyj's lyrics, howeser. were used detail, the danger of mislabclling an
MUSIC NOTES verbatim and should have been credited original song as a folk song becomes
to the original author. obvious. For example, Kryvenkyj's
1 he Vodohray band from New York, "Moyi Yaseny " is still protected by
Errors of omission on recordings: on its onlv LP titled "Jidemo Hraty"
(Vodohray P r o d u c t i o n s , 1979),
copyright law (as are also the other two
songs cited above). If an artist or
mistakenly identifies the song ensemble mistakenly assumes that it isa
unprofessional, unethical, illega "Vodohray" as being a Ukrainian folk
sonu. Quite the contrary. This is one of
lolk song and thus public domain. a.s
Promin did when recording it on its
into thinking that he is purchasing the best-known songs by the late album, he places himself in the position
by Oles Kuzyszyn Volodymyr Ivasiuk (both music and of infringing upon international
an original recording), none of Apon's
releases indicate the composers and/or lyrics). Ihis glaring error occurs also on copyright law. Thus, it becomes
When one takes into consideration the first LP of the Kobzari folk apparent, that for ethical and legal
the obstacles to be faced when authors of the individual selections.
ensemble from Nebraska (Monitor reasons, it is important to be aware of
attempting to release a new Ukrainian Considering that the original Soviet Records, MFS 779, 1976). which, like and to indicate all information
record, the efforts of those who try are recordings from which the Apon Vodohray, refers to Ivasiuk's popular regarding authorship of the musical
surely deserving of the highest praise. records are duplicated always provide song as a folk song. work to be recorded.
With recording and production costs this basic information. Apon's attitude
escalating to astronomical heights and displays extreme negligence of the most Finally, the Mria band from Chicago Although to most readers the
the virtual absence of professional amateurish proportions. This, together on its onlv LP by the same title, problem of crediting composers,
Ukrainian record labels (with the with the fact that a re-issue recording (Concept Records, CNCP 8101, 1981) authors and arrangers may appear to be
exception of the very successful costs much less to produce than an indicates t hat "Zacharovana Desna" is a trivial, it most certainly is not for the
Yevshan label of Montreal), Ukrainian original one (for obvious reasons), leads folk song, which it is not. Again, this is a reasons cited above. To the composers
artists arc forced to take on not only the one to conclude that Apon's intent is to song of relatively recent origin by two and authors ofthe works in question the
financial, but also the production-end make a "fast buck" rather than to prominent writers from Ukraine, D. matter is hardly trivial. It is their crea
responsibilities of a recording project. All produce a recording of true worth and Lutsenko (lyrics) and 1. Shamo(music). tions that are on exhibit - an
this, without the guidance of industry quality. For all three of the songs cited in the exponent of their artistic skill and
professionals, relying on the limited above examples, information regarding craftsmanship, and an integral element
AltKough re-issues of otherwise
experience of artists such as themselves authorship was easily available in of their personality and soul — as well
unavailable recordings are necessary
who had perhaps gone through the various printed song collections and on as their personal property. A parallel
and valuable since they enable the
process once or twice before. other recordings of these same works. can be drawn to the painter exhibiting
listener to be aware of the various
The particular case of miscrediting his canvases, a master carpenter taking
Yet. the Ukrainian releases of recent musical trends developing in present-
original songs as folk songs is more pride in his woodwork, or a scientist
years usually give evidence of the artists' day Ukraine, the label must provide
serious than it may appear. According presenting his patent.
genuine aspiration toward a information regarding the origin of the
recording and the authorship of the to United States copyright law, a folk Thankfully, in the free world, original
professional-quality final product.
various selections. Otherwise, the result song or any other musical work written creation in any field is valued very
Four-color jackets (often more
is misinformation and a disservice to before 1910 (in the case of Ukrainian highly. To a creative artist, it often
expensive to produce than the record
both the artist and the listener. folk songs, this is true 99 percent of the represents the meaning and purpose of
itselO predominate, and the quality of
time), is considered "public domain." his existence. Failure to acknowledge
the recordings is usually very adequate Apon, unfortunately, is not the only
This means that it may be performed the credit due to the creator of an
and, in some cases, superb. label at fault here. Similar omissions
without the permission of the composer original work, no matter how small or
Very often, however, perhaps due to occur on releases of other Ukrainian
or author (usually anonymous in the specialized the scope of the project and
inexperience or ignorance, there are labels.
case of the folk song). its intended market, shows an extreme
some serious shortcomings which do Because of the lack of professional
Ukrainian record labels, producers or This is due to the fact that a copyright lack of professional ethics and
not necessarily have anythingto do with discredits the industry as a whole.
other sponsors, artists or ensembles are claim (according to U.S. copyright law)
the visual or audio aspect of the record,
often forced to undertake the recording can extend for a maximum of 75 years
but with standard industry procedures
process on their own. Although a large after the original date of copyright. The immediate correction of this
and regulations. The most serious and
majority are "greenhorns" at this, this Thus, for example, an artist performing error of omission on the part of
common of these shortcomings, in my
again does not excuse the frequent lack or recording in 1975 is permitted by law Ukrainian recording artists, producers
opinion, is the failure to credit
of information provided on the record to use any musical work copyrighted and record labels alike would be a
composers, authors and arrangers of
jacket. It is the responsibility of the before 1900 without requesting the major step forward in the effort to
the various selections. In the eyes of the
artists to find out who wrote the author's permission to do so. For works elevate the Ukrainian recording
record industry, this alone reduces an
selections that they are recording, and written outside of the United States, the industry to a professional standard of
otherwise high quality recording to
in most cases, this involves no more copyright claim can be extended to 50 excellence, worthy of the admiration of
"bootleg" status.
research than looking at the sheet years after the composer's death. Ukrainians and non-Ukrainians alike.
Needless to say, it probably doesn't
matter to most buyers who wrote or music, consulting previous recordings
arranged the songs recorded on the of the same work, or asking a
album. This, however, is no excuse, knowledgeable individual. In the very ART SCENE
because in any artistic endeavor, no infrequent case where, after extensive
matter how commercial the intent, one research, this information is truly
should never be content to simply unavailable, the title of the selection
"satisfy the masses," but should strive to should be followed by the phrase Ethnocultural treasures in Winnipeg
meet at least the minimum standards set "author unknown" or "anonymous."
by the art form in question. The In comparison to the countless hours WINNIPEG - The recent multicul defined as "ethnic."
willingness to ignore standards is one of spent in the studio recording the tural art exhibit at the Ukrainian "The one thing that struck me was
the greatest dangers facing the project, the relatively minimal effort Cultural and Educational Centre how much art work there was around."
Ukrainian record industry today. required to find out a selection's received praise from both Doug White- she said "[But] I didn't want items
Not only is the failure to credit composer and/or author is certainly way and Randal Mcllroy, reviewers for people normally think of as ethnic art-
composers, authors and arrangers a justified. The lack of this information the Winnipeg Free Press. not tapestries, or easter eggs. 1 didn't
disservice to them as artists, it also displays negligence, ignorance and In his article, dated March 2, Mr. know what I would find but I wanted to
breeds carelessness and ignorance questionable aesthetic principles. Whiteway said the exhibit, titled broaden the definition [of ethnic art)
among those involved in record Regrettably, there are numerous "Treasures and Traditions - Art from specifically to find painting, sculpture
production, and - above all — is examples of this type of negligence on E t h n o c u l t u r a l C o l l e c t i o n s in and drawing," she added.
illegal. Imagine, for example, the part of Ukrainian recording artists. Manitoba," "might be called ethno- "About the only common thread in
purchasing a book which nowhere Equally incorrect is the miscrediting culture's greatest hits." Although he this app'opriately named exhibition."
indicates the author of the work. of certain selections. This occurs most said that the display was not overly wrote Mr. Whiteway, "is that the art
By far the most serious offender in often in the case of original songs, which large, only about 60 items are exhibited, and artifacts do not derive from any of
this respect is the once prolific, but have achieved such widespread "the variety is so broad as to almost defy Canada's Anglo-Saxon, French and
recently inactive, label from Astoria, popularity that they are mistakenly categorization." native Indian cultures."
N.Y.. called Apon Records. Aside from identified as "folk" or "traditional" Mr. Mclllroy, in his review, dated After listing some of the items on
the fact that 36 of 42 of the company's songs on the record jackets. Following March 23, noted that the show was "rich display, including a Gregorian chant
releases are re-issues (often of are several examples of this type of mis- and often elevatingly beautiful" even if manuscript dating to 16th century
questionable quality) of Soviet releases, crediting. it didn't "talk enough for a historical Spain, and oils merely five-years old.
a fact never indicated on the record The Promin vocal-instrumcnial exhibition... Treasures and Traditions Mr. Mcllroy noted that the show is an
jackets (an infringement of industry ensemble from Chicago, on its only LP turns out treats buy the trunkload from intersection not only of culture, but of
standards which deludes the consumer titled "Promin" (Dub Records Ltd . the Chinese. Icelandic, Jewish, time and style.
UKR 1003. 1979). credits the Mennonite, Polish, Serbian and Although he had some reservations
Oles Kuzyszyn, a member of the Iskra authorship of the words lo "Moyi Ukrainian communities," he added. about the exhibit, which included the
band, is a musician and music critic. Yaseny," a very popular song from Susan Turner, a Winnipeg print- fact that although a S2 catalogue
Ukraintf, as being "traditional." This, of maker and curator of the exhibit, told provided information on the pieces,
The author would like to express his course, is incorrect. I he words and Mr. Whiteway that this was the first information actually accompanying the
sincere gratitude to Myron Surmach of music to this song were written by S. time the province had seen such a display in the museum was lacking.
the Surma Book and Music Co.in Лей Kryvenkyj. a composer and lyricist diverse grouping of ethnic art and craft. "Yet." he continued, "this is still a
York for so ^^raciously allowitJ^ his from Ukraine. Promin, incidentally, did According to Ms. Turner, there are 120 magnetic and provocative show, a show
extensive record inventory to he used not use Kryvenkyj's melody in its museums in Manitoba, about 18 of of surprises. The stylized, commanding
for researcliini' this article. rendition, substituting a new melodv bv which serve communities which may be (Continued on page 11)
No. 17 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 1985
human-rights issue a matter of East-West tensions or crucial goals and methods must be to mobilize private
The U.S. view... bilateral relations, and makes it clear that the issue is opinion in the West, sothat our scientists, ourdoctors.
(Continued from page 5) an unavoidable one for free nations. our writers, carry on the campaign for human-rights
Certainly we have learned that we must always keep progress themselves - personally and in their own
the USSR or the East European countries. It is human rights on our agenda with the Soviets. If one organizations, and directly with their counterparts in
customary to discuss them at international gatherings thinks of carrots and sticks, one often gets too literal. the Soviet elite. For this human-rights struggle is not
;П and out of the CSCE. Discussion ot these issues is The fact is the Soviets care a great deal about what we fundamentally that of Western governments, but that
common in parliaments and in the press. say about them. Too often we think only in terms of of Wcsterji societies.
linkage between human-rights improvements and a
And third, the issue has proved to be one on which It is easy to be pessimistic, but let us recall again the
variety of relations with the Soviets on trade matters,
there is substantial unity among the free nations. desire of the Soviet regime for acceptance and
cultural affairs, scientific exchanges and the like. All
Thinking back to Madrid, the harmony among the legitimi/ation by the West. We speak of a regime
are crucial, but let us never forget that our pressure on
neutral and non-aligned and NATO countries on East whose ideology is discredited and unpopular and
human-rights issues is itself viewed as a stick by the
Bloc human-rights violations was quiet remarkable. whose economy has never been made to function
Soviets and that any reduction of that pressure is itself
There may be divisions on arms matters or some effectively except for the production of weapons.
a carrot. Or, to change the metaphor, one of the most
political questions, but there are no divisions on
important forms of linkage is between Soviet human- It craves the legitimacy that we in ihc West can
Sakharov.
rights performance. One of the great prices they pay confer. This gives us a great asset in holding firm to our
From this experience of 10 years, perhaps there are for their miserable repression is that we tell the world standards of human-rights performance. The CSCE is
some lessons we can learn. Certainly we have learned about it agam and again, and there is obviously a a valuable forum for carrying on the human-rights
that pressure and attention are crucial: pressure and direct link between how they behave and what we say struggle between the free societies in which we live and
attention from governments, from parliaments, from about them. those which, denying freedom, will forever be seeking
the press, from public groups, through international It is important here to delinethat"we."lt isanerror from us the approval their repressive systems deny
organizations, and in every possible way. And to think only of relations between our governments them from their own populations. Weerr if weideali/.e
certainly we have learned that joint pressure is much and the Soviet government, and forget relations the CSCE, but we are also greatly mistaken ifwefailto
the preferable form. Joint pressure avoids making the between our societies and Soviet society. One of our utilize the CSCE.
j^v'^^ ^їїх'ічїчійй^ V' ^-iv^.'''^'.'V'" ^(-''/іЛ'ЇУ X'" ' '''
30 Montgomery St.
Українська Будівля - Ukrainian Building Jersey City, N.J. 07302
(201) 451-2200
14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY. APRIL 28, 1985 No. 17