UKRAINIAN CHORAL MUSIC AS A FACTOR OF NATIONAL CULTURAL IDENTITY

Abstract

The article presents a comprehensive study of Ukrainian choral music as a fundamental factor in the formation and preservation of national cultural identity amidst contemporary globalization. The relevance of the topic is driven by the need to counter socio-cultural unification and the erosion of national distinctiveness by reclaiming the spiritual and artistic roots of the people. Choral art is examined as a unique «vocal code» of the nation, accumulating historical memory, linguistic specificities, and the emotional-psychological experience of many generations of Ukrainians. The historical genesis of the Ukrainian choral tradition is analyzed: from the ancient Rus’ monodic Znamenny Chant and the activities of singing schools at spiritual centers (notably the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra) to the establishment of polyphonic partes singing a cappella in the 16th-17th centuries. Particular attention is paid to the era of Classicism and the works of M. Berezovsky, D. Bortniansky, and A. Vedel, who elevated the Ukrainian choral school to a pan-European level. It is proven that the close connection with folk melos and folklore foundations provided Ukrainian choral music with national recognition and high emotional representativeness. The article identifies the key functions of choral art: historical-representative, language-affirming, socio-consolidating, and identificatory. Special emphasis is placed on the role of choral arrangements of folk songs in transmitting authentic cultural codes. The current state of the field, characterized by a synthesis of traditions and innovations, is reviewed. The influence of digital technologies on the promotion of choral singing and the role of collective performance in strengthening the morale of society during periods of crisis are investigated. The conclusions emphasize that choral music remains a dynamic mechanism of self-identification, ensuring the continuity of the cultural process and the formation of a positive image of Ukraine in the global space.