SOUNDING THE UKRAINIAN SOUL: AESTHETIC AND CIVIC DIMENSIONS IN YAKIV STEPOVYI’S VOCAL MINIATURES

Abstract

The article presents a comprehensive study of Yakiv Stepovyi’s vocal miniatures based on the verses of Oleksandr Oles as exemplary manifestations of poetic-musical synthesis in Ukrainian chamber music of the early 20th century. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of intonational structure, harmonic language, and piano accompaniment, as well as to the disclosure of the emotional, symbolic, and cultural significance of these works. The article highlights how Stepovyi’s miniatures, through their poetic and musical fusion, form a psychologically nuanced artistic space where melody and harmony serve as vehicles of both aesthetic experience and cultural memory. In addition to musicological and literary analysis, the article explores the civic-educational potential of Stepovyi’s vocal works in the 21st century. It argues that this repertoire can function as an educational resource that fosters historical reflection, cultural empathy, and national self-awareness, thus becoming a tool for civic education and identity formation. Keywords: chamber vocal lyrics, Ukrainian modernism, musical impressionism, poetic-musical synthesis, civic education