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Transcultural Singing Between Continents: A Multimodal Reflection of Hybridity in the Ukrainian-Canadian Vernacular Song Repertoire
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- Author / Creator
- Zaitseva-Herz, Olga
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This study investigates the degree of multimodal hybridity observed in the collection of Ukrainian-Canadian vernacular songs. It is grounded in the compilation of songs assembled by Robert Klymasz during his field research in the 1960s, conducted among Ukrainian immigrants residing on the Canadian prairies. Historically, Canadian and European ethnomusicologists have usually regarded these songs, many of which demonstrate hybrid qualities, as being marginal. A significant portion of Klymasz's collection remains unexamined and unpublished, making this dissertation the first comprehensive analysis of this archive material. This research specifically centers on the analysis of vocal techniques employed by singers, a topic that has not yet been explored. The present study adopts an approach that incorporates both ethnomusicological and musicological perspectives to examine voice performances, melodies and forms. This investigation aims to conduct an analysis of the different components inside songs, with the expectation that this methodology will provide new perspectives and enhance our understanding of the degree of hybridity in components such as singing styles, techniques, and melodies in addition to the lyrical content. Moreover, this study incorporates statistical methodologies developed from mathematical analysis, namely empirical means and variances of melodic data. These techniques facilitate the depiction of the enduring qualities and changes within musical textures found in the songs. Previous scholarly inquiries have allocated less attention to the voice and performance-focused elements of Ukrainian-Canadian songs, in favour of their lyrics. They have also viewed them mainly from the perspective of pre-immigration surrounding without investigating their multifaceted hybridity. Therefore, the current research contributes to the academic discourse by reinforcing and expanding the concept that vernacular diaspora song traditions should not be solely perceived as preserved relics originating from pre-emigration cultures. The primary aim of this research is to develop a comprehension of the complex connections between pre-migration and post-migration encounters, as demonstrated in the musical textures found within the vernacular song repertoire. Rather than relying on traditional academic assumptions of marginalization, isolation, and contrast, the examination of diverse elements within these community songs reveals their sophisticated fusion and interconnection.
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- Graduation date
- Spring 2024
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- Type of Item
- Thesis
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- Degree
- Doctor of Philosophy
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- License
- This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.