Ukrainian Easter Music

Music is an extremely important part of Ukrainian culture. During WW1 and WW2 the Soviet Union took over the Ukraine and the traditional music of Ukraine was threatened by the USSR because it 'supported a specific national identity'. Religious music and ceremonies were not tolerated during the Soviet regime. Ukrainians were unable to celebrate Easter during this time as the members of the USSR did not believe in God or support any religion. After Ukraine gained independence in 1991, they were free to celebrate Easter and play their traditional music. On Easter Sunday, old Orthodox hymns are sung in Ukrainian. The music is slightly more up beat than typical Sunday gatherings as Easter is a joyous celebration. The overall atmosphere of the church service and music is still relatively sombre and there is definitely no clapping or hooting and hollering like in Ukrainian dance music!  Instruments are not commonly played during Easter mass, instead vocals are the main instrument. 

A Great Example of a Ukrainian Easter Hymn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sA7PLpNb7zg

After the church service the congregation gathers downstairs or outside the church building to enjoy an Easter meal as well as sing Ukrainian folk songs, dance and play games. This type of Ukrainian music is high-energy and upbeat where everyone is clapping, shouting, singing a dancing - quite a contrast to the slower more solemn music sung in the mass earlier on in the day. Here music and dance go hand in hand, both of equal importance in Ukrainian holidays and celebrations. The songs and dances are accompanied by a Ukrainian band which would consist of a violin, a button accordion, guitar, bandura, mandolin, tambourine, and drums. This is also a setting where the the young men and women dress in Ukrainian dance costumes and perform the Pryvit, Hopak and the Kalmeyka.  

Here's a link of Easter Celebrations in Ukraine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO4T7qHU3oA