Lubomyr Melnyk

Lubomyr Melnyk (born December 22, 1948) is a composer and pianist of Ukrainian origin. Melnyk is noted for his ‘continuous music’, a piano technique featuring extremely rapid notes and complex note-series, usually with the sustain pedal held down to generate harmonic overtones and sympathetic resonances. “This is a completely-completely different piano universe from everything that has existed before”, Melnyk explains. Music Melnyk links his piano technique to his national identity. “This music would not exist at all if I were not Ukrainian. Our distinguishing feature is that we tend to sacrifice ourselves. Ukrainians are self-sacrificing for things that are important to them”. These overtones blend or clash according to harmonic changes. Most of his music is for the solo piano, but he has also composed chamber music and orchestral works where he plays the continuous piano and is accompanied by musicians with other instruments, for example: “The End of the World” or “Vocalises and Antiphons”. Some pieces are performed for two pianos, where he plays over a recording of himself, for instance “Niche-Nourish-Niche-Xon”. Of his technique, he has said: There’s an act of creation. For thi