This album is the world premiere recording of Benedict Sheehan's Ukrainian War Requiem, recorded in April 2024 at St. Basil the Great Ukrainian Catholic Parish in Edmonton, Alberta.
Composition History
Benedict Sheehan's Ukrainian War Requiem was commissioned by Damein Zakordonski and Steven Brese of Axios Men's Ensemble in response to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Compositional Technique
The Ukrainian national anthem, Shche Ne Vmerla Ukraïna by Mykhailo Verbytskyi, serves as a unifying leitmotif throughout the Requiem, appearing in various guises across its twelve movements.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Sheehan's Ukrainian War Requiem aims to honor Ukraine's struggle for independence, which he views as a global conflict for human rights and self-determination.
Performer Biography
The Axios Men's Ensemble, which commissioned this work, is a Canadian men's choir primarily composed of singers from Ukrainian Catholic and Orthodox backgrounds.
Compositional Technique
The Requiem incorporates a mix of languages (Ukrainian, English, Latin) and musical influences, including Ukrainian and Galician plainchant, Gregorian chant, and a Ukrainian Jewish psalm tone (nusach).
Historical Context
The work's liturgical structure reflects Ukraine's historical religious and cultural diversity, contrasting with Moscow's emphasis on centralization and hierarchy.
