Задумливий та журливий жанр елегії споконвіку  приваблював композиторів та поетів. У цьому відношенні я не є винятком – завжди хотів написати щось у стилі «Торіхи». 
Незважаючи на те, що «Елегія» написана в мажорній тональності, смуток та меланхолія, відчуття невгамовної юнацької закоханості, романтичні мрії – це ті слова, які в повній мірі можуть описати настрій даної композиції.  
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The pensive and sorrowful genre of elegy was attractive for composers and poets from the remotest times. In this respect, I am not an exception – always wanted to write a piece in the «Torija» style.
Despite the fact that the «Elegy» is written in a major key, sadness and melancholy, feelings of the irrepressible juvenile amorousness, romantic dreams – these are the words that completely describe the essence of this composition.

Елегія / Elegy

Originally this work was written for my progressive pop-jazz band. I did the arrangement and the fellows I played with, delivered lots of excellent ideas during the working. Our efforts resulted in a wonderful piece, which however stylistically was closer to avant-garde than to popular music. I decided to make transcription for an academic ensemble.

Literacy Path

I wrote the piece for one of my students, who was going to participate in a competition. A piece by a Ukrainian composer was obligatory for this competition. Having looked through the poor Ukrainian repertoire for Guitar, I hadn’t found what I wanted, so I decided to write it myself. I worried about the music language, because it could be too complex for a third year student, but everything went well, he learnt the piece without problems. 
P.S. By the way, my student won the first prize at that competition.

Toccata

Ukrainian folk music is the immense source of inspiration, particularly the ritual songs, which represent the deepest, and therefore the most valuable layer of a nation’s creativity.

Чи дома, дома пан господар

Waves’ Whisper is one of the early pieces of mine which I didn’t left “to lie in a drawer”. Despite the simple music language Waves’ Whisper is a very “guitar” piece, quite masterly, but at the same time easy to understand and to perform. The Austrian guitar player Leo Witoszynskyj was the first performer of the piece, he also recorded it and included in one of his CDs.

Waves' Whisper

As the tittle implies – the work consist of two little pieces combined into one cycle. Separately these two pieces probably would have little chances to draw attention of performers, all the more two guitarists simultaneously. The time showed that the decision to combine these pieces had been successful. Musicians perform Dyptich eagerly as it is quite melodic and “convenient” for playing.

Dyptich (1.Prelude 2.Rondo)

«Con Tristezza» -- захопливий емоційний твір написаний для дуету гітар. Лірична музична мова створює незабутнє відчуття суму та меланхолії, підсилене нетрадиційними прийомами звукотворення та імпровізаційними відрізками у творі. Якщо ви колись захоплювались рок-баладами, цей твір для вас.

«Con Tristezza» is an exciting and emotional composition written for two guitars. The strong feeling of sad melancholy, awoken by the lyrical music language, is further strengthened with unconventional guitar playing methods and improvisation parts in the piece. If you have ever been fond of rock ballads, this piece is for you.

Con Tristezza

There are moments in life, when the world around you seems to become a surrealistic dream – you understand that this is all real, but your brain cannot offer you any adequate reaction. «An Instant Bizarre» is actually about such a state. When you lack words to describe the reality, music is the only means to reflect things that are happening around you.
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В житті бувають моменти, коли навколишній світ видається якимось сюрреалістичним сном – ти розумієш, що це все насправді, але мозок не може запропонувати тобі адекватної реакції. «An Instant Bizarre» саме про такий стан. Коли бракує слів описати реальність, музика – це єдиний спосіб відобразити те, що коїться навколо.

An Instant Bizarre

Фантазія для двох гітар на тему щедрівки “Защебетала, гей, ластівонька” продовжує цикл обробок українських обрядових пісень. Як і в попередніх творах (фантазія на тему «Закувала та і зозуленька», та фантазія на тему «Чи дома, дома, пан господар») форма будується на співставленні контрастних уривків. Багатогранна музична мова фантазії зацікавить музикантів та аудіофілів навіть із найбільш витонченим смаком.    

The work continues my cycle of guitar duo arrangements based on Ukrainian ritual songs. Similarly to the previous compositions (the arrangement «Закувала та і зозуленька», and the arrangement «Чи дома, дома, пан господар») the form represents some succession of contrasting passages. The music language of the arrangement is so versatile, that the piece can be interesting for musicians and audiophiles even with the most sophisticated taste.

Защебетала, гей, ластівонька

Another lyrical piece with a strong feeling of sadness. This time it is just for a guitar solo. Beautiful harmonies mixed with soft flageolets will not leave anyone indifferent. Listen and feel this unbelievable tincture of the universal melancholy.

Prelude (Con Tristezza #2)

This is the piece for children. It is rather simple technically but the rhythm is quite complex, deriving from jazz music. I would recommend to study it with a metronome.

Kleine Variationen

It is always challenging to write a piece for children. On the one hand it must be simple and suitable for playing, on the other hand – interesting musically, but understandable for those little players. I hope I succeeded to achieve this goal.

Taнok

Just simple and nice piece for very young players, so that they do not exert themselves but have fun. Enjoy. 

Pastorale #2

These etudes represent my first attempt to create a piece of music for children. It was hard for me to stay simple and interesting at the same time, but I think I succeeded. Some of the etudes may be even played at concerts to delight people, their music is really wonderful, like for example the etude #4. 

5 Etudes (for children)

As the title implies, Partita is a polyphonic cycle in four movements. Though each of the movements is based on a different genre, they are united by one idea thus rendering the whole as one continuous work.
Prelude introduces the main idea and music language of the cycle. Fugue develops the idea, being at the same time the truly “fast running” after the introduction. Lullaby – this is the “calm before the storm”, and Toccata finishes the cycle in an irrepressible manner, setting the real conclusion. 
I did the second edition of the work to make it more holistic as a cycle and easier for live performance.

Partita #1. Toccata

Partita #1. Lullaby

As the title implies, Partita is a polyphonic cycle in four movements. Though each of the movements is based on a different genre, they are united by one idea thus rendering the whole as one continuous work.
Prelude introduces the main idea and music language of the cycle. Fugue develops the idea, being at the same time the truly “fast running” after the introduction. Lullaby – this is the “calm before the storm”, and Toccata finishes the cycle in an irrepressible manner, setting the real conclusion. 
I did the second edition of the work to make it more holistic as a cycle and easier for live performance.
The work was published in US by “Editions Orphee”.

Partita #1. Fugue

Partita #1. Prelude

One more work based on the Hutsul folklore. The work is written for a Guitar quartet and may be interesting for those who is fond of rock music with complex rhythms and “heavy” sounding. The ethnic musical elements are emphasized also with the use of a drymba (jew's-harp) – an authentic folklore instrument which makes the entire music picture of the work really peculiar.

Hutsul Party

Це твір про дитинство, спогади про найприємніші моменти що трапилися із нами коли ми ще були дітьми. Такі спогади назавжди залишаються яскравими і допомагають долати труднощі життєвого шляху.
Цикл складається із чотирьох частин:
1. Ранок  
2. Біля п’єцу  
3. Котики та мишки  
4. Колискова дідуся.

This is a piece of childhood, memories about the most marvelous moments that happened to us when we were kids. Such memories always remain bright and help us overcome the hardest trials of life. 
The cycle consists of four movements:
1. Morning  
2. At the stove  
3. Kats and mice  
4. Grandpa’s lullaby.

Andriy Andrushko

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