Kharkiv regional school of chromatic button accordion playing: the history, the personalities and the priorities of performing
Authors: Strilets Andriy 
Published: January 2022

Background. The article focuses on articulating the role of chromatic button accordion in the modern sociocultural system of Ukrainian musical art, based on the case of one leading school established in 1951 on the basis of Kharkiv National Kotlyarevskyj University of Arts. Objectives. The objective of the article is to provide an analysis of Kharkiv regional accordion school (since the second half of the 20th century to the present day), as well as its personalities using as an example five generations of performersteachers. Methodology of the study includes researching of the history and practice of performing chromatic button accordion (the fundamental works of M. Imkhanycjkyj, U. Loshkova, I. Snjedkov, A. Mirek, А. Stashevskyj) Results. After the invention of the chromatic button accordion a little over 100 years ago, it went from a primitive musical instrument satisfying everyday needs to one recognized on the professional concert stage. The status of the instrument has been changing hand in hand with its improvement and the creation of original repertoire. Now the chromatic button accordion is on par with other academic instruments recognized worldwide. Currently there are four chromatic button accordion schools in Ukraine - in Kyiv, Odessa, Lviv and Kharkiv. Kharkiv has been viewed as a regional center of development of the chromatic button accordion performing since early 20-ies of the 20th century. However, the original “Kharkiv school of performing” was fully established with the opening of the chromatic button accordion class at the orchestra department of the University in 1951. This event became final in the formation of the system of professional chromatic button accordionists and teachers preparation. It is as follows: music school, music college, conservatory. The founder of the chromatic button accordion class was L. M. Horenko (1925- 1989). Volodymyr Yakovych Podgornyj (1928-2010), an outstanding performer, composer and teacher, played the key role in the formation of Kharkiv original chromatic button accordion school. His unique compositional and performing style dramatically changed the teaching methodology, performance priorities, approaches to transcription and translation of works for an chromatic button accordion, the “harmonic mindset”. Volodymyr Yakovych contributed greatly to the creation of original chromatic button accordion repertoire which surpassed existing samples in its quality, giving a new direction to the chromatic button accordion development not only in Kharkiv, Ukraine but also abroad. Thus, L. M. Horenko and V. Y. Podgornyj became the first generation of chromatic button accordion teachers in Kharkiv National Kotlyarevskyj University of Arts. The second generation of teachers at the department including Podgornyj’s students O. I. Nasarenko and A. P. Ghaidenko used to uphold these principles, but they also brought additional details generally related to their inherent features of character. The representatives of the third generation at the department - professors O. V. Mishhenko and I. I. Snjedkov brought innovative characteristics to the general terms of the performing school. They have been known to pay attention to the logic of dramatic development, conciseness of musical forms, technical perfection, academicism, the balance of the emotional and rational performance components, the perfection of small intonation pieces. The fourth generation includes Andrij Ghetman who`d been working since 1995 to 2007, and Andrij Strilets who started his career in 1998. They both were students of Kharkiv chromatic button accordion school taught by Professor I. I. Snjedkov. Following general principles of “Podgornyj school”, those personalities deviate significantly from the original source. A. Ghetman’s performing is characterized by specific academicism both in the quality of performing and in selecting a concert repertoire. A. Strilets distinguishes by advanced orchestral thinking, focused work with the viewer, attention to a musical phrase structure, expressiveness and emotional completeness of performance. The fifth generation consists of Dmytro Zharikov (a soloist of the regional Philharmonic society) who has received a Master’s degree at Rostov Academy of Music named after. S. V. Rakhmaninov under the direction of the world-famous accordion player Yurij Shyshkin and Yurij Djjachenko (a student of O. I. Nasarenko) who teaches the conducting course. They have worked at the department since 2015. Conclusion. The modern chromatic button accordion through developing in the plane of professional instrumental performing, repeats the path of other famous academic musical instruments. Moreover, Kharkiv regional accordion school, being one of the leading development centers of the chromatic button accordion in Ukraine, has entered the value system of the 21st century culture. Its development and increasing authority in the world arena are related to: 1) the further integration into the extensive network of European music universities; 2) experience exchange not only at the level of teaching methods, but also through the introduction of exchange programs with students from leading conservatories of different countries worldwide; 3) the creation of the conditions for the training of a certain unification specialists according to the existing genre and stylistic directions of performance on chromatic button accordion; 4) the orientation on the implementation of all the advanced instruments constructive capabilities (sound production and strokes) and timbral coloring; 5) the search for forms of the chromatic button accordion (as an academic instrument) creative synthesis: from established forms of ensembles (such as strings or wind) to modern theatrical, vocal and dance performances, music and light show.