Vitalij Kuprij - High Definition (1997)Shrapnel Records

Mr. Kuprij was born in Volodarka (Kiev), that is in Ukraine - a republic in southeastern Europe that was formerly a European soviet. There were born many talents and precious musicians, e.g. Artem Wedel, Hryhoriy Skoworoda, Dmitriy S. Bortnyansky, Mykola Lysenko (the most famous Ukrainian composer), Petro Hulak-Artemovsky, M. Werbycky, Borys Latoszynsky, W. Barwinsky, D. Klebanov, A. Kos-Anatolsky, M. Silwanski, Valentine Silwestrov etc. Vitalij isn't an usual musician, but someone extraordinary, therefore he must be enlisted among aforementioned composers! An Ukrainian was (and still is) very successful in many roles: graduation from three elitist schools (Mykola Lysenko Academy of Music in Kiev, Music Conservatory in Basel, and Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia), many prestigious concerts (e.g. in Carnegie Hall on 7 March 1999), cooperations with many classical celebrities (a flutist - James Galway, a clarinetist - Richard Stoltzman, a violinist - Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg), countless number of music prizes, enthusiastic reviews of his performances in widely read newspapers ("Luzerner Zeitung", "Bucks County Courier Times", "Ukrainian Weekly"), cooperations with the bands and artists (Artension - formerly as Atlantis Rising, Ring of Fire, Tony Hernando, Marco Ferrigno, Javier Leal, Takayoshi Omura, Marko Pavic etc.) and the title of the best keyboard player in "Burrn Magazine" readers' poll in the year 2001.

Since Vitalij has two faces - classical and metal one, I decided to use so-called musicography, that is an analysis and description of compositions as a method being used in a science called musicology. But I let myself start with a few formal facts concerning Vitalij's debut album. The Ukrainian invited one of the the best negro guitar & bass guitar virtuoso - Greg Howe and a drummer - Jon Doman (of Greg Howe's and Richie Kotzen's bands). The fans of Howe's music know that he moves in the circle of such genres like instrumental rock and fusion, but influences of those kinds of music aren't heard here (althought the album was produced by Greg himself). As you can know, Vitalij paid Greg back for his participation on the album titled "Ascend". The release's title is strongly connected with TV technology, because "high definition" is a kind of TV system that has more than the usual number of lines per frame, so that means its pictures show more detail. I think that it can be smoothly translated into Vitalij's music ground, haha. Aforementioned solo album was published by a legendary Shrapnel Records, whose owner is Mike Varney a.k.a. "virtuoso hunter" or "talents hunter". Therefore, it isn't strange that he hunted Vitalij first, enriching his label's catalogue by a true pearl.

The album is started by an introduction - "Beyond Infinity" - that is a herald of a further compositions. It is the key composition performed quieto (slowly), but quickly and fluently passing on to the title track. "High Definition" is began by fast and distinct guitar tones strike. Then we have a brief rest and the beginning of cosmic-sounding keys. Furhter, a keyboardist and a guitarist play all'unisono, i.e. in unison (two or more sounds or tones at the same pitch or in octaves). In my humble opinion, one of the most beautiful fragment goes when Vitalij plays the keyboard prestissimo (very fast), and Greg extends each tone. Then, there are numerous arpeggios (chords whose notes are played in rapid succession rather than simultaneously; it is so-called "broken chord"), but Vitalij's parts are only background to Howe's shows. Later we can savour impressive passages by two virtuosi, and it leaves an electrifying effect. Key-guitar campaign is finished subito (suddenly). It's a real masterpiece! "Symphony V" can make you think of Ludwig van Beethoven's work, but the composition is arranged in such a way that can be regarded as an original one. The start is very fast with a guitar playing sforzando (a notation done above a note and pointing that it must be played with a strong initial attack and a kind of amplification). Then, we have "broken chord" that is actually a part of guitar solo. Vitalij joins Greg in a moment, making slowness subito and atmosphere patetico (pompously). The third part of the composition is made of typically classical interlude, played tranquille (quietly) and pastorale (idyllically) in turn. The next instrument going is a guitar sounding doloroso (piteously, melancholically), later passing on to numerous arpeggios and returning to tempo primo (first tempo). The guitarist plays prestissimo, but the end (typically classical) was performed decrescendo (gradually decreasing in volume). "Divided World" is the track of progressive character, so it distinguishes itself on this neoclassical CD. I think that it's something closer related to Artension's than to classical music. Then is "Excerpt from Sonata In A minor" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The composition is a direct reference to a classical sonata, that is a serial composition for solo instrument and of three or four movements of contrasting forms. Upon listening to mentioned musical pearl, I had an impression that I'd moved to the eighteenth century and been listening to a child prodigy's performance! The composition is beautiful, but sad as well (do you remember how did Mozart die and where was he buried? - there were rumours that he was poisoned by his rival - Antonio Salieri, but the fact is that his coffin was moved without funeral procession and his body was thrown into municipal grave for the poorest). He died, as many great figures, in misery. I hope that similar fortune doesn't happen to Vitalij! The next track is "Opus 1", whose theme was based on one composition by a violin and classical guitar virtuoso - Niccolo Paganini. Precisely, it is the reference to his "Caprice 24" that can make you think of miniature and metal etude. The track surprises us with a frequent paces' changes, rests and sounding amplification by a low guitar tones. It is filled by arpeggios and interesting keyboard tracks ("faster" one time, "slower" second one). The method how Greg performs his part is also interesting - additionally followed and accompanied by Kuprij with great impromptus (brief musical passages that seem to have been made spontaneously without beforehand preparation). The end is paralysing and playing in an ultra-fast pace! "Why?" is started quieto on keyboard, and then acoustic guitar joins it. At one moment, both instruments subside, making very mysterious mood. Later on, we have an electric guitar entrance and great lead motif being played all'unisono along with the keyboard. At the end of the track, Vitalij proves his improvisational skills, finishing the composition diminuendo (i.e. decrescendo). The next is my favourite, and the best composition of the year 1997 in my opinion, titled "Parallel In Time". It is became triste (with sadness that is audible in guitar parts), all'unisono in turn, and finally - with an ultra-fast guitar acceleration. The guitar role is very crucial in this track, because it amplifies "delicate", although often dynamic, keyboard sequences. Greg also plays al campagna (idyllically) and repeats the first motif. The guitar takes over the lead instrument function, creating a space for Vitalij's solo shows. There is also a temporary rest, but after a while Greg plays the electric guitar malinconico (melancholically) and changes it for a classical instrument. A moment later, we can hear excellent key passages, unexpected accelerations and the end subito. What a beautiful composition! The album is finished by "Silent Destiny", and I must point out (at the moment) that it is a release of so-called brace structure (the work's start is similar/same like its end). A little difference lies in the fact that Vitalij's part is accompanied by Howe's guitar one (characteristic leitmotiv - a melodic phrase that accompanies the reappearance of a person or situation), on the contrary to its start when he played solo.

Summing up, "High Definition" is nearly perfect as regards compositional and structural. Probably, only wind whistle, running among the trees' branches in the wood, is more perfect than Vitalij music, haha. But we can't compete with mighty nature! Music created by Mr. Kuprij on his debut surpassed all my expectations. Structural diversity of each composition is astonishing. Various timbres of keyboard, alternating tones' colouring, and additionally - frequent virtuosic cadences (closes of a musical sections) with obligatory references to the past (Wolfi Mozart and Niki Paganini), leave us without pausing for breath. I'd like to write: he played it faster than the speed of light, haha. A duo Kuprij-Howe proved their form and great harmony. There is a place both for key solo part and guitar solo one as well. In any case, "High Definition" is a big, instrumental solo from the first to the last note!