Prayer for Ukraine is a choral work by the Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov, written in 2014 as a response to the political and social turmoil in his country. The work is part of a larger cycle of choral pieces, titled Maidan Cycle of Cycles, that Silvestrov composed during the Ukrainian Euromaidan protests, which opposed the Russian annexation of Crimea and demanded closer integration with the European Union. The work is part of a larger cycle of choral pieces, titled Maidan Cycle of Cycles, that Silvestrov composed during the Ukrainian Euromaidan protests, which resulted in Russia, which disagreed with the choice of Ukrainians, annexing Crimea and initiating the war against Ukraine.
Silvestrov, who was born in Kiev in 1937 and witnessed the horrors of World War II and the Soviet regime, expressed his solidarity with the peaceful demonstrators and his resistance to the Russian aggression through his musical means. He wrote numerous hymns, elegies, prayers, and requiem movements, using texts from the Ukrainian Orthodox liturgy, folk songs, and poetry.
Prayer for Ukraine is based on a simple text that asks God to protect the country and give it strength, faith, and hope. The music is serene, meditative, and poignant, reflecting Silvestrov’s characteristic style of “metaphorical music”, which transcends the boundaries of time and space and creates a sense of eternity and transcendence. The work was originally written for mixed unaccompanied choir, but later arranged for symphony orchestra by Andreas Gies and for chamber orchestra by Eduard Resatsch. The orchestral versions emphasize the rich harmonies and subtle timbres of Silvestrov’s music, creating a sonic tapestry of light and shade. Prayer for Ukraine is not only a musical expression of Silvestrov’s personal feelings and beliefs, but also a universal message of peace and hope for humanity.
Mennonite Community Orchestra 