Translation of the orchestral compositions for accordion by the example
of “Ukrainian fantasy” by Yaroslav Oleksiv
Authors: Oleksiv Galyna 
Published: March 2019

This article is devoted to the peculiarities of the translation orchestral
composition for the Ukrainian folk instruments orchestra Yaroslav Oleksiv
"Ukrainian fantasy" for the accordion.
The dynamic development of the Ukrainian musical art of the XXI
century is connected with the active attention to academic performance in
folk instruments, the creation of original compositions and the translation of
works for the folk instruments orchestra and Ukrainian folk instruments.
The high level of contemporary Ukrainian accordion art has inspired
many accordionists to musical creativity. Over the past decade, the arsenal of
original compositions for the accordion has considerably expanded, but a
significant place among the performing repertoire is the genre of translation
of works from the repertoire of other instruments, ensembles or orchestras for
the accordion.
Since the translation of the orchestral repertoire with account of the
timbre features of the accordion, has not yet become the subject of musicology research, the task is to elucidation of the main principles of this genre.
The combined analysis of translations and executive-methodical recommendations become the basis for a deep understanding of the ideological
conception, stylistic features and rethinking of the timbre transformations,
and therefore the quality of the performance of the work itself.
In the translations of orchestral compositions for the accordion it is
necessary to preserve figurative content in the new timbre conditions. The
expressive potential of the recipient tool reveals the "hidden" shades of
common figurative content, interpreting it through the prism of its own
timbre-sonorous palette. The accordion sound registers give the opportunity
to transfer the peculiarities of sounding various instruments with the slightest
losses. Modification of the timbre specificity does not change the nature of
music. The organic connection of the timbre with the general intonation and
sound complex is dominant in the translation works of orchestral literature.
Translation works for the accordion from the repertoire of the Ukrainian
folk instruments orchestra has favorable conditions for many parameters, as
demonstrated by Y. Oleksiv "Ukrainian fantasy". The timbre specificity - the
existenсe of a large number of different instrumental groups and voices in the
orchestra is successfully transmitted in the accordion translation due to a
number of timbre registers of the instrument, the diversity of which allows the
most complete transfer of orchestral coloration. The author takes into
account the slight difference in the sound of the right and left keyboards of the
accordion and demonstrates it in an advantageous applying for translation,
creating the effect of a multi-timbre "dialogue". The techniques of playing on the accordion fully reproduce the dynamic gradations of the orchestral sound,
as the characteristic feature of such orchestra is a chamber. The author
simulates the techniques of sound formation and the specifics of various
orchestral instruments. The bandura pinch, the overtones dulcimer "echo",
the reed pipe glissando, the violin detache and the articulation variety of
instrumental composition of the orchestra composer transmits using a detail
palette.
The translation of orchestral compositions for the accordion opens up a
wide range of sound-expressive features of the instrument and reproduces the
multi-timbre of the orchestra. Perfect constructive features of the accordion
allow you to successfully adapt the multi-layer orchestra texture. In the
accordion translations of orchestral compositions, the epic and poetics of folk
melodies are transmitted as clearly as possible. This type of accordion
translations enriches the repertoire and promotes the popularization of littleknown works of Ukrainian composers.
This work is aimed at deeper understanding of the content and expressiveness of translated works by the performers. May serve as a theoretical basis
for both members of the Ukrainian folk instruments orchestra, accordionists
and the authors of the translations. The research can be an impetus for
transmissions and their research on the repertoire of the chamber ensemble
for the accordion, as well as the translation of pieces for the accordion.