MUSICAL AND SCIENTIFIC HERITAGE OF OLEKSANDR KOZARENKO
Authors: MYROVSKІY Oleksiy 
Published: December 2024

The article presents a comprehensive examination and detailed analysis of the life, career, and creative output of Oleksandr Kozarenko (1963-2023), a renowned Ukrainian composer, pianist, musicologist, and former Dean of the Faculty of Culture and Arts at the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv. In addition to being a prominent figure in Ukrainian academic and cultural circles, Kozarenko was a multifaceted artist whose work encompassed a broad spectrum of musical and scholarly activities. The article delves deeply into his contributions to the field of musicology and provides an overview of his extensive body of work, which includes symphonic compositions, piano and chamber music, spiritual and liturgical works, and his contributions to musical theater.

A detailed analysis of his scientific and musical activities is presented, shedding light on the multiple dimensions of his work. It offers insights into the various directions Kozarenko explored throughout his prolific career, ranging from symphonic and piano music to chamber music and spiritual creativity. Special attention is given to his engagement with musical theater, a medium through which he expressed his innovative and unique approach to Ukrainian cultural heritage. Furthermore, the article highlights his deep intellectual engagement with the genesis and evolution of the Ukrainian national musical language, providing an in-depth look at his theoretical contributions to the field of musicology. The author outlines Kozarenko’s profound understanding of the connections between music and national identity, focusing on how his theoretical insights influenced the interpretation of Ukrainian music in a global context.
The article also examines the impact of key historical events on Kozarenko’s work, most notably the proclamation of Ukraine’s independence in 1991. It explores how this pivotal moment in Ukrainian history shaped the development of the country’s musical art and Kozarenko’s role in this process. The composer’s artistic and intellectual journey is framed within the broader socio-political changes occurring in Ukraine during the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Specific historical moments and personal experiences that influenced Kozarenko's creative output are discussed in detail, with an emphasis on how his work mirrored and contributed to the burgeoning Ukrainian cultural renaissance that followed independence.
Significant episodes from the life and career of Oleksandr Kozarenko are carefully documented, providing readers with a clear understanding of his most important achievements. The article highlights key works that defined his career and cemented his place as a central figure in the development of modern Ukrainian music. Kozarenko’s influence on the cultural and artistic life of Ukraine is analyzed in depth, demonstrating how his compositions and scholarly writings impacted the nation’s cultural landscape. The text also delves into his contributions to Ukrainian nation-building, particularly in terms of shaping a distinct national identity through music.
In the final sections of the article, the author reflects on Kozarenko’s influence not only within Ukraine but also on an international scale. His efforts to promote Ukrainian national culture beyond the country’s borders are discussed, with particular attention given to his role in elevating Ukrainian music to the global stage. The article underscores Kozarenko’s lasting legacy in the field of modern Ukrainian musicology, as well as his broader influence on the cultural and historical processes of both Ukraine and the wider world. His work is positioned as a vital contribution to the establishment and recognition of Ukrainian national culture within the global cultural dimension, and his legacy is framed as a continuing influence on future generations of Ukrainian artists, scholars, and musicians.
Keywords: musical art, Oleksandr Kozarenko, pianist, composer, chamber and ensemble instrumentalism.