This touching release from Polish composer and pianist Hania Rani was recently released in aid of the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. Somber and compelling notes play over mournful strings and atmospherics. There’s a feeling of powerlessness in the track’s slow and thoughtful approach, as though nothing can be done about the tragedy unfolding before us. However, it is not in the least bit dispiriting, and one can intuit a sense of hope in the piece’s moving charm.
B-side “In The Meanwhile” is a short and decidedly light piece that hops from start to finish. Perhaps there is nothing we can do about the tragedies happening in the world or put an end to violence, but in the meanwhile, we must band together and never give up. Nothing can conjure this sense of communal persistence better than music, and Hania Rani’s “Kyiv” achieves this in the most beautiful way possible.
“Kyiv” is a message of empathy and hope to the people of Ukraine and all proceeds from the song will be donated to helping Ukraine and Ukrainian people.
Exclusively available to buy here on Bandcamp for a minimum donation of £5 it comes bundled with the bonus track In the Meanwhile and the download includes a PDF score for Kyiv.
Hania explains:
I have never been to Kyiv but from now on I have it in my heart.
On the 24th of February Russia invaded the free country Ukraine, which shares a border with my home country Poland.
For the first time, I felt that war is really happening close to everything that I know. An unfair, unreasonable war against innocent people – women, children, elderly people.
Against any reason. As it is usually with any wars.
I heard from many people right now that they find a bit of peace in action. That the way to face this overwhelming helplessness is to transfer it into something good – help, empathy and hope.
The only language that I can consider as my own is the language of music. I found this composition under my fingers during one of the evenings of early March and thought it was an important thing to do
– to share it with you today as my comment on the current shape of the world. This is a sound of grief and void. Memory to all who lost their dreams and plans because of absurd violence.
But also a silent song of hope.
My label, Gondwana Records has as always supported me in the best way, giving the green light and agreeing to donate all the income from the release to Ukraine. Duncan Bellamy from Portico Quartet contributed by designing the artwork based on photos taken by a friend and film director Neels Castillon last year in Kyiv.