Electro-Nova (Нью-Йорк, США)

JERSEY CITY, NJ — In recent years Ukrainian music production has been exposed to many different styles and trends. Classical, so-called «easy listening,» and folk songs have been re-arranged by many of today’s younger musicians to display a fresh and contemporary beat.

Other Ukrainian songsters have taken their music through «rock ‘n’ roll» arrangements and jazz styles.

But one of the newest Ukrainian LP’s on the market possesses a bold style, and has entered a field of music production which is new, and even unorthodox, on the non Ukrainian music scene.

New Sound

Computerized music has Has around for several years, and now Marko Sydorak, a specialist in electronic music, and three other members of «Electro-Nova» have made it part of the Ukrainian music scene as well.

With the aid of the computer, or synthesizer, Ukrainian music takes on a totally different form. Through the magic of electronics, the sound of the electric piano or the strum of the guitar do not sound the same in any two measures.

Marko, who arranges the music for the group, plays the keyboards and works the synthesizer, holds a Bachelor’s degree in music theory and piano from Mannes College of Music, and a Master’s degree in electronic music from Queens College.

He also studied computer sound synthesis at the University of New Hampshire, synthesizer programming at Hofstra University, and studio technology at the Institute of Audio Research.

In addition to arranging computerized Ukrainian music, Marko is also engaged in creating music backgrounds and special effects for radio and television commercials.

The idea of producing this type of Ukrainian music materialized in the summer of 1974, and work on the album began in December. The LP was completed in August 1975.

The group worked evenings and nights because of other commitments. The project was difficult, said Marko, because the synthesizer is a monophonic instrument and only one voice can be taped in a single session.

Other members of the ensemble include Myroslav Mahmet, electric and acoustic guitar, and two non-Ukrainians, Marcelo Millan, electric lead guitar, and Gary Naegel, percussion.

Myroslav holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in history from Rutgers University. He also studied piano for eight-and-a-half years with the Ukrainian Music Institut.

He studied guitar at Mannes College of Music and has performed with many rock groups around the country. Myroslav is presently working with the «Our Gang» group.

Artistic Family

Marcelo comes from an artistic family. His mother was a pianist, his brother a flamenco guitarist, and his uncle is the Argentinian poet.

Jorges Borges. He studied law and music at the University of Belgrano in Argentina. He is presently on tour around the United States.

Gary was a pre-med student at the University of Connecticut and Manhattanville College before he become captivated by music. He also studied at the Westchester Academy of Music. Apart from appearances with various ensembles, Gary recently played at the Westport Jazz Festival.

Both Marko and Myroslav agree that the enthusiasm Marcelo and Gary showed toward Ukrainian music was a telling factor in their work. The two non-Ukrainians said that computerized arangements are very good and interesting approaches to ethnic music.

Vocalists for the group are Vala Nalyvajko, Eugene Kotlarchuk and George Kuzyna.

«Pysanka» on a Switchboard

The front of the album jacket shows a «pysanka» superimposed over an electronic switchboard.

Nine Ukrainian melodies are included in «Electro-Nova’s» first LP, among them such popular songs as «Red Ruta Flower,» «Two Colors,» «Kolomyika,» and others, and an international hit, «Bashana.»

The Ukrainian Weekly
November 28, 1975, №223