Shevchenko's Poetry in Music: From the Classics to the Modern Stage

How the Kobzar's poetry has echoed through music for over a century.

March 9, 2026 marks the 212th anniversary of Taras Shevchenko's birth. Over the years, the poet's verses have moved beyond literature — his poetry has found its way into academic music, folk singing, rock compositions, and contemporary experimental genres.

How Shevchenko's music has evolved over time — we take a look in this DeTalks article.

Classical Music: Shevchenko's Work as a Foundation of Ukrainian Composition

Among the first to turn to Shevchenko's poetry were academic-tradition composers in the second half of the 19th century. Mykola Lysenko made one such contribution to the musical interpretation of the Kobzar, composing dozens of works set to the poet's words, including vocal pieces based on 'Zapovit' and 'Meni Odnakovo.' His work laid the foundation for the tradition of setting Shevchenko to music in Ukrainian classical composition.

Another example is the song 'Reve ta Stohne Dnipr Shyrokyi,' built on lines from Shevchenko's ballad 'Prychynna.' The music was written by composer Danylo Kryzhanivskyi, and the song was later taken up by choirs and vocal ensembles.

Ukrainian composers like Kyrylo Stetsenko, Yakiv Stepovyi, Mykhailo Verbytskyi, and Georgii Hladkyi also turned to Shevchenko's texts.

Many of Shevchenko's texts blended so naturally with music that over time they came to be perceived as folk songs. Thanks to performances by choirs and ensembles, these compositions gradually became part of the musical tradition.

Today, Shevchenko's texts are performed by both academic ensembles and folk choirs, helping them reach different generations of listeners.

Contemporary Interpretations: Shevchenko in 21st-Century Music

In the 21st century, Taras Shevchenko's poetry gained new life thanks to contemporary Ukrainian performers. Musicians across genres have reimagined the Kobzar's texts, adapting them for new styles and audiences.

One example of a contemporary reinterpretation of Shevchenko's poetry is the song 'Dumy Moi,' performed by Artem Pyvovarov and DOROFEEVA. The track became part of the project 'Your Poems, My Notes,' in which Pyvovarov created contemporary musical interpretations of Ukrainian poetry.

Rock musicians have also turned to Shevchenko's work. The Lviv band Mertvyi Piven, for instance, created their own interpretation of the well-known poem 'Sadok Vyshnevyi Kolo Khaty.' In the band's version, this text familiar from the school curriculum got a new sound — an energetic rock arrangement that turned the lyrical piece into a driving concert track.

Another example of a contemporary musical adaptation is the song 'Haidamatska' by the band Kozak System. In the track, the musicians used Shevchenko's poetry, blending it with an energetic rock and folk sound. The track became part of the band's album 'Shablia.'

Vocal groups have also helped popularize Shevchenko's poetry. Lviv a cappella group Pikkardiiska Tertsiia, for instance, presented the composition 'Oi, po Hori Roman Tsvite,' set to the poet's words, in 2018. The music was written by composer Ihor Pelykh, with arrangement by the band's vocalist Andrii Kapral.

Another example of a reinterpretation of the poet's work is the song 'Okh, ne Odnakovo Meni' by the band Skryabin, which uses lines from Shevchenko's poem 'Meni Odnakovo, Chy Budu.'

“Getting to know Shevchenko's work through contemporary music can push a lot of people who felt indifferent to take a fresh look at Taras Shevchenko, his work, and poetry in general,” said Andrii Kuzmenko about using Shevchenko's lines in the song 'Okh, ne Odnakovo Meni.'

Another example of a contemporary reinterpretation of Taras Shevchenko's poetry is the song 'Topolia' by the band Khochu Shche!. The plot of the accompanying music video follows a girl seeing her beloved off to war, only for him not to return. The recording features Lviv bandura player Khrystyna Valovych, adding a folk sound to the song.

Other contemporary performers have also turned to Taras Shevchenko's poetry, including singer Victoria Litvinchuk with the song 'Obnimite,' the band Mandry featuring Foma with 'Dumy Moi,' and the group BAndurbaND with 'Dumy Moi, Dumy Moi.'