Academic vocal school in the interpretation of Ukrainian pop song of the 1960s–1970s: the performing aspect

Abstract

Ukrainian popular music of the first half of the XX century developed in the context of a synthesis of mass musical tradition and academic professional practice. In contrast to the tendencies of Western popular music, which focused on the microphone and sound production, Ukrainian pop music maintained a strong connection to the system of academic vocal training. This led to the formation of a distinctive performance style, dominated by technical mastery, exquisite sound production, and deep semantic interpretation. The academic vocal school was based on a carefully structured system of vocal training that included breathing techniques, uniformity across vocal registers, timbre stability, refined intonation of phrases, and standardized articulation. These principles stayed important in popular music but were adjusted to fit the style of different genres. Performers kept the clear, strong vocal sound but reduced the more dramatic operatic styles to better align with the genre’s expectations and connect more closely with the lyrics.