Artem Wedel

Artem Wedel ( Ukrainian Артем Лук'янович Ведель , * 1770 in Kiev ; † July 14, 1808 there ) was a Ukrainian composer and singer.

His parents were Kiev citizens Lukian and Olena Wedelskij. His father was an iconostasis maker. The family lived in a suburb of Kiev.

Artem Wedel used the abbreviated form of the family name "Wedel". He studied philosophy and music at the Kiev-Mohyla Academy . He began composing music as a student, became the conductor of the student choir and orchestra, and performed as a violinist.

In 1788 he came to Moscow , where he took over the management of the music ensemble of the Governor General Jeropkin, formally he was employed as a clerk of the Senate Chancellery. After the death of his sponsor, he returned to Kiev in 1794 and took over the management of General Levanidov's chapel. He was promoted to captain. During this time he created many compositions, including a. 6 instrumental concerts.

In 1796 Wedel was transferred to Kharkiv with General Levanidow . There he organized a new choir and orchestra. He also taught singing and instrumental music in the local college. He created ecclesiastical musical works such as "Lord, hear my voice".

By order of Tsar Paul I , General Levanidov's corps was dissolved in 1797. Wedel was released from military service and left Kharkiv.

In 1798 Wedel returned to Kiev and settled in his parents' house. He gave up all offices, gave away all his fortune, sank into religious thoughts and entered the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra . He only composed religious choral works.

In the late spring of 1799, the book "The service of St. Nilus from Stolobna" was found in which Wedel is said to have predicted the assassination attempt on Tsar Paul I by hand. Under this charge, the Kiev Metropolitan and Archimandrite Ierofej Malitskij handed over the monk Artem Wedel to the city commandant of Kiev on May 25, 1799.

There is no reliable information about the composer's future life. On July 10, 1799, as a mentally ill person, he was handed over to his father's care. On August 1, 1799, he was sent to a madhouse where he spent the next eight years, until his death. He died at the age of 38.

Wedel's works have been preserved mainly in manuscripts. Despite the prohibition of execution, they were still performed. 80 works are known, including 31 choir concerts, 6 chamber trios, two liturgies of St. John Chrysostom .

bibliography

• Соневицький І. Артем Ведель і його музична спадщина. (Artem Wedel and his musical legacy) - Українська Вільна Академія Наук у США, New York, 1966.