Taras Mykhailovych Baran (born 5 August 1959 - January 2018) - cymbalist, Wagner Scholar, winner of the Inter-Lira Prize (Hungary), Honoured Artist of Ukraine, Candidate of Arts (Doctor of Philosophy, music art), Professor of the Department of Folk Instruments, People's Artist of Ukraine, author of a monograph in four languages "The World of Cymbals" and many scientific and methodological works, multiple member of juries and presidiums of international competitions, festivals and world associations, organiser and inspirer of the 6th World Scientific and Practical Congress of Cymbalists, son of Mykhailo Baran.
Biography.
Taras Baran was born on 5 August 1959 in Lviv, Ukraine. He graduated from the Mykola Lysenko Lviv State Conservatory in 1982 with a degree in concert performance, teacher, and conductor. Candidate of Arts, Associate Professor, Professor, Honoured Artist of Ukraine, People's Artist of Ukraine, Professor of the Department of Folk Instruments and Music Folklore of the Mykola Lysenko Lviv National Music Academy.
Taras Mykhailovych began his career at the age of 5 with a performance on Intervision for the countries of the Socialist Commonwealth. As a student of music school, he won the title of Laureate of the Republican Competition. The following year he was awarded the title of Laureate of the All-Union Competition. As a performer on folk instruments (cymbals, bandura, flute, zholomyha, kuvytsia, sviril...), he represented Ukraine at the XII World Festival of Youth and Students in Moscow. He has toured extensively in Austria, France, Sweden, Korea, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Hungary, Belgium, Yugoslavia... His achievements in shaping the repertoire of the ensemble are significant. As a result of his work as a soloist, conductor and musical director of the Honoured Dance Ensemble of Ukraine "Yunist", Taras Baran was awarded the honorary title of "Honoured Artist of Ukraine". At the same time, he tours as a member of the family trio of bandura players "Zhayvory" together with his father Mykhailo and brother Orest.
Creative activity
Taras Baran has represented Ukraine in more than 30 countries around the world, where he promoted Ukrainian music. He has participated in numerous representative performances at the highest international level: A solo concert at the Munich Philharmonic (Gasteig) as part of the Third International Cymbalist Festival in the presence of the most prominent musicians from many countries, politicians and statesmen, a concert at the Paris City Hall for the heirs of the royal family, a concert for the Presidents of France and Ukraine at the Mariinsky Palace, participation in a concert of the Summit of the Presidents of Central and Eastern Europe, a solo concert accompanied by the symphony orchestra at the National Philharmonic. By a decree of the President of Ukraine, he was awarded the title of People's Artist of Ukraine. Taras Baran is a representative of Ukraine in the Cimbalom World Association, participating in gala concerts in Prague, Chisinau, and Budapest. He is the organiser and inspirer of the 6th International Scientific and Practical Congress of Cymbalists in Ukraine. As a solo dulcimer player, he has toured extensively in Ukraine and Europe with the symphony orchestras of Lviv and Olsztyn (Poland).
The artist combines extensive concert, performing and promotional activity with scientific work. Taras Baran is a leading researcher and methodologist in the field of cymbal art. He has a PhD in Art History and published a monograph in four languages, The World of Cymbals, which is the first large-scale study of this type in the world. His collaboration with Ukrainian composers was confirmed by the collection of pieces from the musician's repertoire "Taras Baran, Cymbalist". The result and quintessence of the artist's performing work and methodological and research searches is the published textbook for educational institutions of I-IV accreditation levels - "Cymbals and Musical Professionalism".
An actively performing virtuoso musician, he was awarded a Wagner Scholarship in Germany, which is one of the most prestigious awards for artists in the world. An international jury in Hungary recognised him as the most outstanding instrumentalist with its Inter-Lira Award. For his participation in the Virtuosos International Music Festival in Lviv, he was nominated for the Best Representative of the Year in Culture and Arts - Musician.
On the basis of his own research, he produces improved cymbals (introducing them into production at the Trembita Musical Instrument Factory in Lviv), which is a new word in musical instrument making. The novelty lies in the extremely bright timbre palette of the sound when using acoustic wood and high-quality metal alloys. This made it possible to achieve the instrument's lightness (up to 34 kg in a three- and two-stringed version) while maintaining the full C-A3 range, or a reduced (25 kg) range with E-E3. The newest sample of cymbals with an extended range of A₁ - A3 weighing 36 kilograms. He created a new model of Belarusian cymbals with an extended range of c-h3 (concert Belarusian cymbals have a range of g-h3).Also, cymbals of the Shunda system with an extended range of A₁ - a3 weighing 50 kilograms (four and three strings in the rebellion) were made. Five varieties of concert cymbals are recommended for use both in school education and by highly professional musicians in concert and performance activities.
Works by
Baran T. - The World of Cymbals - L. 1999 - ISBN 5-7773-0425-7
Cymbalist - Taras Baran - L. 2001 ISBN 966-559-235-1
