Ukrainian composer of classical and popular music genres, People's Artist of the USSR, Hero of Ukraine, Laureate of the Shevchenko Prize.
Biography
Monument to Bilash in Hradizka. Installed in the spring of 2012
Memorial plaque in honor of Oleksandr Ivanovich Bilash on the street. Evgena Chikalenko, 8 in Kyiv: "where he lived and worked"
He was born on March 6, 1931 in Hradizka (now Globynsky District, Poltava Region of Ukraine) in a musical family: his mother, Yevdokia Andriivna, was considered the first singer on the village ladder, and his father, Ivan Opanasovych, played the balalaika, the guitar and, in general, everything. that fell into his hands.
In 1946, he tried to enter the Poltava Music School, but was not accepted "due to a lack of musical ear." For a year, he studied at the Kyiv Music Evening School, where music was taught by the brothers George and Platon Maiborody. He unloaded wagons at the station, worked in schools, played in restaurants.
In 1948-1952, he studied at the Zhytomyr Music School named after V. S. Kosenko. In 1957, he graduated from the Kyiv Conservatory (now the P. I. Tchaikovsky National Academy of Music of Ukraine) in the composition class of M. M. Vilinsky.
In 1956-1961, he was a music theory teacher at the Kyiv Pedagogical Institute named after M. Gorky (now M.P. Drahomanov National Pedagogical University). He is best known as a songwriter (about 500). The author of romances, ballads, the opera "Haydamaki" based on the poem by Taras Shevchenko, operettas, oratorios and music for movies. He fruitfully collaborated with the Symphony Orchestra of the State Television and Radio of Ukraine under the direction of Vadym Hnyedash. Almost all of his works were recorded in the fund of Ukrainian Radio with this orchestra.
Author of 9 poetry collections, including "Melody" (1977), "Mother's Wing" (1999), "Shuras" (2001). Wrote music for the films "Katya-Katyusha", "Roman and Francesca", "Dangerous Tours". The author's most popular songs are "Two Colors" and "Ashes".
In 1976-1994, he was the chairman of the board of the Kyiv organization of the Union of Composers of Ukraine. Since 1968 - Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Union of Composers of the Ukrainian SSR. Member of the Union of Writers of Ukraine (2000). Since 1992, a member of the Committee for State Awards of Ukraine named after T. Shevchenko at the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. One of the founders of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation.
He died on May 6, 2003 in Kyiv after a stroke. Buried at Baikovo cemetery (plot No. 52a).
In the magazine "Pepper" No. 10 for 1975, A. Harutyunyants' friendly letter dedicated to O. Bilash is published.
Awards and honors
Laureate of the M. Ostrovsky Prize (1967);
Laureate of the All-Union Prize of the Lenin Komsomol (1968);
Honored Artist of the Ukrainian SSR (since 1969);
Laureate of the State Prize of the Ukrainian SSR named after T. G. Shevchenko (1975);
People's Artist of the Ukrainian SSR (1977);
People's Artist of the USSR (1990);
Hero of Ukraine (2001).
Writings
Operas
"Haydamaki" (based on the poem of the same name by Taras Shevchenko, 1965)
mono-opera "The Ballad of War" (1971)
mono-opera "Confession of a White Tulip" (based on the poem of the same name by Larisa Slyusak)
"The Standard Bearers" (1985)
Oratorio
"Cherry Wind" (1989)
Operetta
"The Legend of Kyiv" (1982)
"The Bells of Russia" (1982)
"Clean Well"
the musical "The Adventures of Pinocchio"
For symphony orchestra
"Scherzo", "Spring Suite" (1959), ballet suite "Pinocchio" (1961), poem "Pavlo Korchagin" (1965)
For voice accompanied by a symphony orchestra
"Vocalis" for mezzo-soprano in 5 parts (1965)
Romances
"Maple Alley", words by S. Shchypachev.
"You know how a linden rustles", words of P. Tychyna.
"It was like this - I loved and suffered...", words of V. Vysotskyi (from the music for the movie "Dangerous Tours").
Songs
"Dew fell on the mowing fields", sl. D. Pavlychka
"Two colors", sl. D. Pavlychka
"Zhuravka", sl. V. Yukhimovych
"You little flowers, flowers", sl. O. Sytnyk
"Oh, don't cut the braid", sl. M. Tkacha
"Son, ducks fly", sl. M. Tkacha
"Autumn quiet skies are blooming", sl. A. Malyshka
"Ashes", sl. M. Tkacha
"Mother's hands", sl. M. Tkacha
"Snow on a green leaf", sl. M Tkacha
"Swallow", sl. M. Tkacha
Music for performances and radio broadcasts
Wrote the music for the artistic biographical film about Taras Shevchenko "Dream" (1964, directed by Volodymyr Denysenko, Kyiv Art Film Studio named after Oleksandr Dovzhenko). Built on Ukrainian folk melos, it strengthens the emotional sound of the work, contributes to a deeper disclosure of the poet's image.
From this music, the song "Lelechenka" (song by D. Pavlichka) is often performed as a separate piece.
Music for feature films
1960 - "Katya-Katyusha"
1960 — "Roman and Francesca"
1962 - "Only statues are silent"
1962 - "The Seym leaves the shores"
1964 - "Dream"
1966 - "Buryan"
1967 — "Kyiv Melodies"
1968 — "On the Kyiv direction"
1969 - "Dangerous tours" (overture, verses by Bengalsky, ballad, romance)
1969 - "Heavy spike"
1970 — "Between the tall loaves"
1970 - "Damned Dozen"
1971 — "Lada from the country of Berendei"
1973 — "Novosilya"
1973 - "Until the last minute"
1973 — "The Tale of a Woman"
1976 - "Dnieper Wind" (cinema almanac - short stories "Reed Charms", "Na kosi"),
1983 - "Whirlpool"
1985 - "Grooms"
Legendary Sevastopol
A thought about the city
Other
"Great Poltavi" and "Poltava Polka", dedicated to the composer's homeland.
Social activities
He was one of the founders of the Ukrainian Culture Fund.
