10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 10, 2005No. 28SUM sponsors its 46th annual Zlet at Ellenville resortby Orest KozickyOrest Kozicky, M.D., is press secretaryon the SUM national board.ELLENVILLE, N.Y. – The <strong>Ukra<strong>in</strong>ian</strong>American Youth <strong>Association</strong> (SUM)sponsored its 46th consecutive Zlet onMay 29-30 here at the SUM “oselia”(resort). Zlet is the annual spr<strong>in</strong>g festivalfor the organization’s youth members thatpresents the opportunity to engage <strong>in</strong> academic,artistic and athletic competitionsthat demonstrate knowledge about variousaspects <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ukra<strong>in</strong>ian</strong> history and culturaltraditions and command <strong>of</strong> the<strong>Ukra<strong>in</strong>ian</strong> language. It is also an opportunityfor youths to perform with theirdance, choral and drama ensembles with<strong>in</strong>a talent-contest-type forum.The athletic competitions encompass<strong>in</strong>dividual and team sports competitionsthat <strong>in</strong>clude spr<strong>in</strong>ts and mile runs, relayraces, long jump, shot put and discus, aswell as a volleyball tournament.Youths also had time to socialize dur<strong>in</strong>ga dance and barbecue on Saturday night.On Sunday morn<strong>in</strong>g the participantstook part <strong>in</strong> a liturgy celebrated by FatherBohdan Kudleychuk. Just prior to theliturgy, a formal review <strong>of</strong> the SUMranks arranged as <strong>in</strong>dividual branchesfrom various cities was conducted, withscor<strong>in</strong>g based on adherence to the SUMuniform dress code.This year’s Zlet <strong>in</strong>cluded participantssuccessfully coord<strong>in</strong>ated the weekend’smultiple aspects.The Yonkers branch took first placefor overall po<strong>in</strong>ts achieved, while theIrv<strong>in</strong>gton branch took second andPassaic placed third.Orysia Kozicky <strong>of</strong> Yonkers won thefirst place (“pershun”) trophy for mostpo<strong>in</strong>ts <strong>in</strong> the 13-17 age group; OksanaBihun <strong>of</strong> Goshen won the trophy for the6-12 age group.In the volleyball tournament’s coed division,the Yonkers A team took first place,followed by the Yonkers B team <strong>in</strong> secondand Hartford <strong>in</strong> third. In the girls’ division,first place went to Passaic, second place toPhiladelphia and third to Yonkers B.Bohdan Harhaj, the head <strong>of</strong> the nationalexecutive board <strong>of</strong> SUM, closed the awardsceremonies by express<strong>in</strong>g his gratitude toMr. Wyrsta and all the members <strong>of</strong> thePhiladelphia and Baltimore cont<strong>in</strong>gents whoassumed leadership roles at Zlet, as well asto all SUM members for their participation.A review <strong>of</strong> the SUM ranks dur<strong>in</strong>g the 2005 Zlet.Orest Kozickyfrom 11 SUM branches located on theEastern Seaboard: Baltimore;B<strong>in</strong>ghamton, Goshen and Yonkers, N.Y.;Hartford, Conn.; Irv<strong>in</strong>gton, Jersey City,Passaic and Whippany, N.J.; Philadelphia;and New York. There were 365 participantsrang<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> age from 4 through 17.The responsibility for coord<strong>in</strong>at<strong>in</strong>g the2005 Zlet was undertaken by members<strong>of</strong> the Philadelphia and Baltimorebranches. The komandant wasWolodymyr Wyrsta, who together withBunchuznyi Ivan Midzak and theirPhiladelphia and Baltimore cont<strong>in</strong>gents,A view <strong>of</strong> the long jump competition.Sumeniata, the Zlet’s youngest participants, receive their medals.It’s a close race to the f<strong>in</strong>ish l<strong>in</strong>e.Members <strong>of</strong> the Zlet 2005 leadership (“komanda”).
No. 28THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 10, 2005 11Accordionist Chango Spasiuk <strong>of</strong> Argent<strong>in</strong>a forges unique musical mixby Danylo PeleschukPARSIPPANY, N.J. – ChangoSpasiuk, a third-generation <strong>Ukra<strong>in</strong>ian</strong>Argent<strong>in</strong>ean –who refers to his own<strong>Ukra<strong>in</strong>ian</strong> heritage as a source <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>fluencefor his music – has become known<strong>in</strong> world music circles for his mastery <strong>of</strong>the accordion.Mr. Spasiuk plays <strong>in</strong> a lesser-knownstyle dubbed “chamamé,” an accordionbasedderivative <strong>of</strong> tango, which stemsfrom roots orig<strong>in</strong>ally planted <strong>in</strong> northeasternArgent<strong>in</strong>a. To forge a trulyunique style <strong>of</strong> music, Mr. Spasiuk mixesthe key <strong>in</strong>gredients <strong>of</strong> chamamé – a morecomplex rhythm coupled with a touch <strong>of</strong>European flavor – with various otherforms <strong>of</strong> South American and Africanstyles.Horacio “Chango” Spasiuk was born<strong>in</strong> 1968 <strong>in</strong> Apostoles, <strong>in</strong> the prov<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>of</strong>Misiones, Argent<strong>in</strong>a, which is situatednear the Brazilian border. His<strong>Ukra<strong>in</strong>ian</strong> heritage can be traced to hisgrandparents, who migrated toArgent<strong>in</strong>a from Ukra<strong>in</strong>e. He spent agreat portion <strong>of</strong> his childhood surroundedby musical relatives; hisfather, Lucas, was a viol<strong>in</strong>ist who <strong>of</strong>tenplayed with his uncle Marcos, whosang. Mr. Spasiuk cites the childhoodmemories <strong>of</strong> family-wide musical sessionsas a source <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>spiration for hislater material. It is, after all, the <strong>in</strong>fluence<strong>of</strong> <strong>Ukra<strong>in</strong>ian</strong> polka which built forhim such a strong musical basis.Mr. Spasiuk first garnered public attention<strong>in</strong> 1988, play<strong>in</strong>g live concerts andfestivals, and build<strong>in</strong>g up his reputationChango Spasiuk performs.before enter<strong>in</strong>g the studio to recordalbums. He established himself, first andforemost, as an Argent<strong>in</strong>ean folk virtuoso.Mr. Spasiuk’s style is one completely<strong>of</strong> his own mak<strong>in</strong>g, and it shows throughhis music. Although chamamé, <strong>in</strong> and <strong>of</strong>itself, is an eccentric blend <strong>of</strong> the music<strong>of</strong> several different cultures, Mr. Spasiukdips specifically <strong>in</strong>to his <strong>Ukra<strong>in</strong>ian</strong> rootsto put a European polka-type sp<strong>in</strong> onmany <strong>of</strong> his accordion pieces.Chamamé, a musical style native toArgent<strong>in</strong>a, acts as a pure representation<strong>of</strong> the culture; it reflects the particularlyvast diversity <strong>of</strong> the Argent<strong>in</strong>ean people.The musical foundation <strong>of</strong> chamaméis a brew <strong>of</strong> several unique cultures –just like the people <strong>of</strong> Argent<strong>in</strong>a itself.The modern-day Argent<strong>in</strong>ean populationis the result <strong>of</strong> a half-millennium’smix <strong>of</strong> freed African slaves, whobrought with them upbeat rhythms,along with Jesuit missionaries, who<strong>in</strong>troduced the widely popular style <strong>of</strong>baroque chamber music. Also thrown<strong>in</strong>to the mix were 19th century immigrantsfrom Eastern European countrieswho contributed their waltzes andpolkas, the styles <strong>of</strong> music that Mr.Spasiuk specifically calls upon <strong>in</strong> hismusic.Mr. Spasiuk’s collection <strong>of</strong> record<strong>in</strong>gsspans seven full-length albums. His latestrelease, “Tarafero de mis Pagos,” issaid to be his most prom<strong>in</strong>ent display <strong>of</strong>talent, as well as his most encompass<strong>in</strong>geffort to date.Mr. Spasiuk’s albums have been notedby The New York Times, BBC radio, aswell as other prom<strong>in</strong>ent news media.Young punk rockers <strong>of</strong> Flit, energizedby Orange Revolution, work on new CDby Danylo PeleschukPARSIPPANY, N.J. – Just as it markeda new beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g for Ukra<strong>in</strong>e, the OrangeRevolution seemed to provide a freshstart for a relatively young new <strong>Ukra<strong>in</strong>ian</strong>punk rock band, Flit (pronounced“fleet”), usher<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> a chance for the bandto embrace a new generation’s vibrantspirit <strong>of</strong> freedom and opportunity.Hail<strong>in</strong>g from Ivano-Frankivsk, theoutfit has created a name for itself with<strong>in</strong>the realm <strong>of</strong> modern <strong>Ukra<strong>in</strong>ian</strong> rock bytour<strong>in</strong>g extensively throughout the country,and play<strong>in</strong>g smaller local gigs suchas Plast camps and gather<strong>in</strong>gs.Accord<strong>in</strong>g to the band members, theirmost prom<strong>in</strong>ent achievement to date istheir participation <strong>in</strong> the well-known“Perlunu Sezony 2004” music festival,which is held annually <strong>in</strong> Zaporizhia.Formed <strong>in</strong> 2001, the band has seenseveral member changes. As <strong>of</strong> early2004, the band consists <strong>of</strong> VolodymyrNovikov (vocals), Andrii Markir (guitar),Michael Kopiyevskyi (bass) and IhorOzarko (drums). In December <strong>of</strong> 2003the band released its first full-lengthrecord<strong>in</strong>g “Svit Takyi...” (“The World IsLike That...”), distributed by the Ternopilcompany Grolis Records.While record<strong>in</strong>g the album, the bandreceived a help<strong>in</strong>g hand from fellowmusicians and producers Roman Kalynand Roman Kostiuk, who dub themselvesGryndzholy (or Greenjolly <strong>in</strong>MAY WE HELP YOU?English), and are credited with provid<strong>in</strong>gthe anthem for the world-renownedOrange Revolution <strong>of</strong> last w<strong>in</strong>ter. Thenow-prom<strong>in</strong>ent rappers are local friends<strong>of</strong> Flit, and have assisted the band <strong>in</strong> itsmusical endeavors.In May 2004 Flit shot its first vide<strong>of</strong>or the song “Yizhachok.” Later that yearthe band saw the redistribution <strong>of</strong> “SvitTakyi...” by Ukr-Music.Flit is currently gather<strong>in</strong>g material forits next album, which is set to bereleased sometime dur<strong>in</strong>g the summer <strong>of</strong>2005. The foursome expects to releaseanother s<strong>in</strong>gle, as well as an accompany<strong>in</strong>gvideo, <strong>in</strong> the near future.The album “Svit Takyi...” is availableonl<strong>in</strong>e at www.ukrmusic.com.ua/eng/album.php?id=365.To reach The <strong>Ukra<strong>in</strong>ian</strong> Weekly call (973) 292-9800,and dial the appropriate extension (as listed below).Editorial – 3049, 3063, 3069; Adm<strong>in</strong>istration – 3041;Advertis<strong>in</strong>g – 3040; Subscriptions – 3042; Production – 3052Kononenko speaks on importance<strong>of</strong> <strong>Ukra<strong>in</strong>ian</strong> ritual clothsEDMONTON — NatalieKononenko, Kule Chair <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ukra<strong>in</strong>ian</strong>Ethnography at the University <strong>of</strong>Alberta, delivered a lecture on June 29at the Annual general meet<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> theFriends <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Ukra<strong>in</strong>ian</strong> FolkloreCenter. The meet<strong>in</strong>g was held at theChateau Louis, and an enthusiasticaudience filled the room.Pr<strong>of</strong>. Kononenko began by talk<strong>in</strong>gabout the importance <strong>of</strong> cloth, especiallyembroidered cloth, <strong>in</strong> <strong>Ukra<strong>in</strong>ian</strong> culture.She mentioned contemporary evidenceto this effect and <strong>of</strong>fered someearlier parallels.She then talked specifically about“rushnyky (ritual cloths)” <strong>in</strong> CentralUkra<strong>in</strong>e, the area where she does herfieldwork and where she will be head<strong>in</strong>gshortly. Rushnyky are used <strong>in</strong> thehome and <strong>in</strong> church. They are important<strong>in</strong> wedd<strong>in</strong>gs and funerals, andsome even have the power to help <strong>in</strong>unusual situations, such as when ayoung soldier is killed <strong>in</strong> battle farfrom home.In Canada, rushnyky are less widelyused. Some people have them <strong>in</strong> theirhomes; many use them <strong>in</strong> wedd<strong>in</strong>gs.Various embroidered ritual cloths areimportant, such as the cloths used <strong>in</strong>Easter baskets, Pr<strong>of</strong>. Kononenko noted.Canadians greatly value th<strong>in</strong>gs thatare traditional and folk, the speakercont<strong>in</strong>ued. But with the many waves <strong>of</strong>immigration to Canada from many differentparts <strong>of</strong> Ukra<strong>in</strong>e, what does“folk” mean? Pr<strong>of</strong>. Kononenko showedsome <strong>of</strong> the experiments conducted byher students, us<strong>in</strong>g not only real rushnyky,but digitally manipulated items,which are much faster and easier toproduce.Student experiments, she said, show(Cont<strong>in</strong>ued on page 19)Pr<strong>of</strong>. Natalie Kononenko speaks about the significance <strong>of</strong> embroidered cloth.
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