Melodies, music, sweets, and souvenirs – a little bit of Ukraine in Leiden.
📍 Cesar Franckstraat 38, Leiden
📅 June 22, 2024
In June 2024, we had the joy of bringing a little piece of Ukraine to Leiden during our summer concert “Ruta and Friends.” On a bright and sunny Saturday afternoon, our voices filled the church with melodies old and new, telling stories from our homeland and inviting everyone to share in the spirit of Ukrainian culture.
We opened our program with “Bozhe Velykyi, Yedynyi” (“Great and Only God”) – a solemn prayer for Ukraine – to ground the concert in what connects us most deeply. From there, the music blossomed into scenes from village life, poetry, and tradition.
🎶 “Chom ty ne pryishov” (“Why Didn’t You Come?”) and “Sadok vyshnevyi” (“The Cherry Orchard”) painted tranquil images of spring evenings in the countryside.
🌙 “Oi ty misyatsiu” (“Oh You, Moon”) reached into Ukrainian mythology and nature symbolism.
💛 Our youngest participants charmed the audience with short poems about their mothers, introducing “Ridna maty moya” (“My Dear Mother”), a heartfelt tribute to maternal love.
The atmosphere shifted with “Charivna skrypka” (“The Enchanted Violin”) – a song where emotion poured through music. Then came a classical interlude:
🎻 Violin Concertino, Op. 21, performed by Anna Golov and Alena Khmelova,
🎹 followed by the moving “Melody” by Skoryk, performed by guest pianist Natalia Abdulina, who recently made the Netherlands her home.
Our folk music segment featured:
🎵 “Po sadkochku chodzhu” (“I Walk Through the Garden”), a nostalgic village tune,
🎵 and “Oi tam na hori” (“Oh, There on the Hill”), a traditional wedding song performed with flair by Inna Schipper.
As we approached midsummer, we shared the mystery of Ivan Kupala Night with “Na Ivana Kupala” (“On Ivan Kupala Night”) – a magical tradition of flower wreaths and whispered hopes, brought to life by Julia Pylypchenko.
A special moment of connection came when we invited the audience to sing with us. Together, we performed two well-known Dutch songs:
🎶 “Aan de Amsterdamse grachten” (“On the Canals of Amsterdam”) and
🎶 “Tulpen uit Amsterdam” (“Tulips from Amsterdam”) – a gesture of gratitude to the people of the Netherlands for their warmth and support.
The concert closed with a burst of rhythm and color:
🎵 “V’iazanka zakarpatskykh pisen” (“Medley of Transcarpathian Songs”) – a joyful finale that had everyone smiling.
But the celebration didn’t end with the final note.
🎁 Throughout the event, guests could browse a small market with handmade Ukrainian souvenirs and take home a token of the day in exchange for a donation. At the end of the concert, we also shared a selection of sweets and snacks, offering a chance to gather, chat, and enjoy the moment together.
We are deeply thankful to everyone who joined us – those who listened, sang along, smiled, and supported. For us, this wasn’t just a performance. It was a way to keep our culture alive, to create joy, and to share stories that matter.
Thank you for being part of this beautiful day. 💙💛
