Composers

Ihor Shamo was born in Kyiv on the 21st of February, 1925. After having completed his studies of piano in the Lyssenko school of music (an art school for highly gifted children in Kyiv), in the class of Arsenii Yankelevych, Ihor Shamo tried to enlist for the army, but was declared too young. He then went to study medicine (Feldsher) at Oufa. In 1942, aged 16, he finally enlisted, and fought in Europe as far as Berlin, where he got wounded in the leg. After the war, he stayed in Vienna for a year, then went back to Ukraine and dedicated his life to music.

He studied composition in the National Conservatoire in Kyiv, with Borys Lyatoshynsky, and became a member of the National Union of Ukrainian Composers in 1948. He received many distinctions during the course of his career, among others the Ukrainian Order of Merit in Art  (Заслужений діяч мистецтв України) and the Shevchenko National Prize (Національна премія ім. Т. Г. Шевченка). In the 50s he was invited to come and live in Moscow but he declined because he was too attached to Kyiv.

Ihor Shamo remained faithful to his style throughout his life. He never wanted to become a modernist, and used to write in a simple and accessible manner. His favourite composer was J. S. Bach. In his piano works he uses a seemingly classical langage, but in which the accompaniments and counter melodies are always narrative. He makes use of the possibilities of resonance. The harmony is based on classical and popular modes. It is often enriched by chromaticism or jazz chords. Folkloric elements are also present. However, his harmony and polyphony are extremely refined. Everything is inspired and natural. In his way of using popular melodies to enrich his style, he has precedents in composers such as Piotr Tchaikovsky or Béla Bartók. According to his daughter, Tamara Shamo, he used to write music very naturally, occasionally without touching the piano. He never used a draft, and gave his music fully prepared to performers or editors.

He died on the 17th of August 1982 and is buried in the Baïkove cemetery (Байкове кладовище) in Kyiv. He leaves an important body of work for the piano. He also composed chamber music, orchestral works, songs, as well as film and theatre music. His music, very popular in Ukraine and unjustly unknown in Europe or in the world, is finally taking off!

Translation: Patrick HEMMERLÉ