Cultural Diplomacy Through Song: Presentation of Marika Kuzma’s 'Carols of Birds, Bells, and Sacred Hymns from Ukraine' in New York

In her introductory remarks, Dr. Kuzma pointed out the lack of critical analysis of Ukrainian carols in music research. She noted that although the Oxford Book of Carols contains carols from around the world, it does not include a single Ukrainian carol. As a result, Dr. Kuzma’s book is divided into two parts. The first offers a critical analysis of the choral arrangements of Ukrainian carols composed over the past centuries, along with biographies of the composers. The second part includes the musical scores of these carols. Dr. Kuzma acknowledged that while her work analyzes the broader Ukrainian carol tradition, it focuses specifically on choral arrangements, emphasizing how composers used voices and harmonies—like stained-glass windows—to communicate the story of the Nativity of Christ.

In his remarks, Metropolitan Borys emphasized that the publication of this book represents an important step in Ukraine's cultural diplomacy. “We need to go to Europe not only with an outstretched begging hand, but with a contribution,” he said. “When I expressed this in interviews, people asked, ‘What is Ukraine going to give?’” The Metropolitan also noted that this book could pave the way for future theological analysis of the carols, in addition to their musical study.

At the end of the vibrant discussion with attendees, Dr. Kuzma shared that she is working on a project to record the carols as an accompaniment to the book, so readers will be able to hear the music as well as read about it.

Dr. Marika C. Kuzma received her doctorate in choral conducting from Indiana University. She has directed music in renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York City, Stephansdom in Vienna, Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, and the Kyiv Mohyla Academy in Ukraine. She is a professor emerita at the University of California, Berkeley.