STEREO BAROQUE

About the concert

We are used to seeking new sound sensations in technology—surround sound, IMAX, spatial audio. But long before electroacoustic systems existed, musicians were already experimenting with space: placing choirs and instrumental groups in different parts of a church, creating a striking acoustic effect as sound reached the listener from various directions, moving through the architecture.

Modern acoustic research on historic churches allows us to objectively measure how the placement of performers changes the characteristics of sound and its perception. What musicians once discovered through experience, acoustic scientists can now describe in the language of science.

In our research, St. Sophia Cathedral itself will serve as the acoustic system. Human voices will meet instruments that similarly transform breath into sound—flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and French horn will perform music written for a cappella choir from different corners of the cathedral, altering its timbre, volume, and sonic perspective.

This idea echoes the ancient practice of cori spezzati—spatially separated choirs and instrumental groups. We are not attempting to reconstruct historical performance practice. Instead, we pose a different question: what happens to music when the location from which sound originates changes?

The program features double-choir compositions by Mykola Dyletsky, Maksym Berezovsky, and Dmytro Bortniansky, arranged by Yurii Litun for choir and winds. Performed by the Liatoshynskyi Capella: Choir and Kyiv Chamber Winds. Your location in this space also matters and will become part of this experiment.

Concert Program

Mykola Dyletsky – "Body of Christ" (transcription by N. Herasymova-Persydska, arranged by Y. Litun)
Mykola Dyletsky – "My Name Is Treble" (arranged by Y. Litun)Mykola Diletsky – Resurrection Canon, excerpts (transcription by N. Herasymova-Persydska, arranged by Y. Litun)
Mykola Dyletsky – "Heavenly King" (transcription by I. Herasymova)
Maksym Berezovsky – Double-Choir Concerto "Give Ear, O My People" (transcription by O. Shumilina, arranged by Y. Litun)
Dmytro Bortniansky – Choral Concerto No. 15 "O Come, All Ye People"
Maksym Berezovsky – Choral Concerto "Clap Your Hands, All Ye Nations" (transcription by O. Shumilina, arranged by Y. Litun)
Dmytro Bortniansky – Choral Concerto No. 24 "My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord" (arranged for woodwind quintet)
Dmytro Bortniansky – Double-Choir Concerto "We Praise Thee, O God" (transcription by O. Shumilina, arranged by Y.Litun)

Performers:
Liatoshynskyi Capella: Choir
Kostyantyn Lenchyk, conductor
Kyiv Chamber Winds:
Ihor Chura /flute/
Yurii Litun /oboe/
Yurii Nemyrovskyi /clarinet/
Serhii Mykhailov /bassoon/
Ruslan Pashkov /French horn/