Top 10 Ukrainian Folk Music Songs

Looking for some Ukrainian folk music to add to your playlist? Here are our top 10 picks for the best Ukrainian folk songs!

What is Ukrainian Folk Music?

Folk music is music that is passed down orally through generations. In Ukraine, folk music was used as a way to preserve the history and culture of the Ukrainian people. Folk music was used for entertainment, religious ceremonies, and practical purposes such as work songs. The most common instruments used in Ukrainian folk music are the bandura, flute, accordion, and violin.

Top 10 Ukrainian Folk Music Songs:

1. “Shevchyk” – This song is about a young man who is in love with a girl who is not interested in him.
2. “Oh, My Field Far Away” – This song is about a soldier who is away from home and missing his family and friends.
3. “The Cossack Went Riding” – This song is about a Cossack who goes riding into battle.
4. “Bozhe Velykyi” – This song is a prayer to God asking for help and guidance.
5. “Oh Come All Ye Faithful” – This Christmas carol is about the birth of Jesus Christ.
6. “Shchedryk” – Thissong is about a nightingale that brings good luck to people.
7. “Oi Nevynno Tak Meni Zhyty” – This song is about a young woman who is in love with a man who does not love her back.
8.”Dovbush Rocks” – This song is about the legendary Ukrainian outlaw Dovbush and his gang of robbers.
9.”Kolomyika” – This song is about a dance from the Kolomyia region of Ukraine.
10.”Chervona Ruta” – This songis about a young woman who has been betrayed by her lover

The Top 10 Ukrainian Folk Songs

Folk music is an important part of Ukrainian culture. There are many different folk songs that are popular in Ukraine. This list will rank the top 10 Ukrainian folk songs. These songs are popular because of their beautiful melodies, interesting lyrics, and they tell a story about the Ukrainian people.

“Chervona Ruta”

“Chervona Ruta” is a Ukrainiansong about a beautiful red flower that grows in the Ukrainian mountains. The song is sung by a young woman who is in love with a young man who is away at war. She is singing to him, telling him that she is waiting for him to come home.

“Dyki Tantsi”

“Dyki Tantsi” is a traditional Ukrainian folk song that is often performed at weddings and other festive occasions. The song is believed to date back to the 16th century, and it was first recorded in print in 1778. “Dyki Tantsi” is a lively tune that features intricate vocal harmonies and fast-paced percussion. The lyrics of the song celebrate the joys of marriage and dance, and they frequently make references to classic Ukrainian folklore.

“Kozak Zaporozhets”

“Kozak Zaporozhets” is a Russian and Ukrainian folk song about the Cossack Zaporozhian Sich. It is also known as “Song of the Zaporozhian Cossacks” or “Dnieper boatmen’s song”. The song was written in 1814 by Vasily Zhukovsky and composed by Mikhail Glinka.

The song talks about how the Cossacks live life on their own terms, free from the constraints of city life. They are a proud and hardy people, unafraid of anyone or anything. The song has been adapted and covered by many artists over the years, and has become one of the most popular folk songs in Ukraine.

“Oy, Hory, Hory”

“Oy, Hory, Hory,” also known as “The Cossack Lullaby,” is a traditional Ukrainian folk song. The lyrics are written in Ukrainian and tell the story of a mother putting her child to sleep. The song is generally sung in a lullaby-like fashion, but can also be adapted for other purposes such as dancing.

The tune of “Oy, Hory, Hory” is believed to date back to the 16th century, making it one of the oldest folk songs in Ukraine. It has been recorded by many different artists over the years and has been adapted for various instruments, including the piano and accordion. “Oy, Hory, Hory” is a popular song among Ukrainians both in Ukraine and abroad.

“Plach Yeremiyi”

“Plach Yeremiyi” or “Yeremiy’s Lament” is a famous Ukrainian folk song about the destruction of the Zaporizhian Sich by the Russian Empire. The song is based on a poem by Taras Shevchenko and became popular during the Ukrainian War of Independence.

“Shchedryk”

“Shchedryk” is a Ukrainian folk song composed by Mykola Leontovych in 1914. The song is based on a traditional Ukrainian New Year’s carol, “Shchedryk”, also known as “The Little Swallow”. The song tells the story of a swallow that sings of the coming spring.

The song was originally composed for mixed voices and piano, but has been arranged for various instruments and voices over the years. It has become one of the most popular Ukrainian folk songs, and has been performed by many artists, includingLeontovych himself, who recorded it in the 1920s. The song was popularized in the West by Soviet choirs in the 1950s and 1960s, and by Peter Jonaitis’s 1966 recording with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. It has also been recorded by artists such as Simon and Garfunkel, Bobby McFerrin, Pentatonix, and David Bowie.

“Smert’ Sonarodiv”

“Smert’ Sonarodiv” is a Ukrainian folk song that tells the story of a young man who is killed in battle. The song is written in the first person, and tells the story of the young man’s death and how his loved ones react to it.

“Sorochyntsi Fair”

“Sorochyntsi Fair” is a Ukrainian folk song about a fair in the town of Sorochyntsi. The song was composed by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych in 1904. It is one of the most popular Ukrainian folk songs, and has been performed by many artists, including Vasyl Zinkevych, Nina Matviyenko, and the Kiev State Academic Symphony Orchestra.

“Viy”

Viy is a 1966 Soviet Ukrainian live-action/animated horror film directed by Georgiy Pretvorov and Aleksandr Ptushko. It is based on the short story of the same name by Nikolai Gogol. It was among the first Soviet films to combine live action footage with animation, and at the time of its release, was the most expensive film produced entirely in the Ukrainian SSR.
The film tells the story of a student who, while studying in Kiev, is ordered by his professor to watch over a dead witch for three nights. On the first night, she rises from her grave and try to seduce him; on the second, she brings her coffin into his room; on the third night, she summons an army of demons to kill him.
“Viy” is widely considered one of Gogol’s best works, and has been adapted into several films and stage productions.

“Zaporozhets’ za Dunayem”

“Zaporozhets’ za Dunayem” is a traditional Ukrainian folk song about a Cossack who has crossed the Dnieper River to seek his fortune. The song is a well-known folk tune and has been recorded by many artists over the years.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the top 10 Ukrainian folk music songs are:

1. “Shchedryk” by Mykola Leontovych
2. “Cheremshyna” by Sydir Voronovy
3. “Oi, Ty Hayduchok!” by Hryhoriy Skovoroda
4. “Dobranich” by Arkhyp Kuindzhi
5. “Kozachok” by Stepan Rudansky
6. “Berestechko Battle” by Anonymous
7. “Bozhe, Ty Shchyobylasya” by Sadok Prykhodko
8. “Kupalo’s Round Dance” by Alexander Oleynichenko
9. “Tysya Chelovekiv” by Vasyl Barvinsky
10. “Vresy, Lyany Chorni”! (The Willows, Black Willows) by Stepan Rudansky