Music for These Troubled Times – A Solo Harpsichord Recording
Find the video in English below
I’m Dmytro Kokoshynskyy, a Ukrainian harpsichordist based in Basel. This May, I will record my first solo CD, Music for These Troubled Times—and I need your support to make it happen!
In 1615, Robert Burton wrote The Anatomy of Melancholy, exploring a state of mind that remains deeply familiar today. Even then, he recognized music as a remedy—capable of expelling cares, transforming sorrow, and bringing relief. Inspired by this, I built my program around music from 1560–1625, featuring Tallis, Byrd, Bull, Gibbons, and anonymous composers—some pieces never recorded before.
To deepen the connection between past and present, I will also record a new work by Ukrainian composer Maxim Shalygin, bridging the melancholy of the Renaissance with today’s world.
As a laureate of the MA Festival Competition Bruges and the International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition Leipzig, this recording is the next step in my artistic journey—but also my response as a musician to the times we live in.
This project has already received support from several foundations, and now I’m in the final stretch. With your help, we can bring this music to life!
The following video is in English and has subtitles in German, Italian and French.
My project is special because ...
This recording explores melancholy—a feeling that, unfortunately, is familiar to many of us today—and music that has often been described as a remedy for it. Through Renaissance English works, including pieces never recorded before, alongside a contemporary composition written by Ukrainian-Dutch composer Maxim Shalygin created specifically for this project, the CD bridges the melancholy of past centuries with our own times.
Historical letters and writings frequently express how music provided strength during difficult periods. I, too, have experienced this firsthand: this music has inspired and sustained me and my family through moments of deep uncertainty that surrounds me and my country.
For me this CD is much more than just a recording—it is not only a result of a long research and preparations, but also an artistic statement.
Join me in making it a reality—every contribution counts! 🎶
What Your Support Will Cover
Recording a CD at the highest artistic level requires careful planning and substantial resources. While some costs are covered with the help of foundations, I still need support for these essential expenses:
🎵 Sound engineering – Ensuring the best possible recording quality.
🏛 Venue rental – A space with the right acoustics for this music.
🎹 Rental and tuning of the instrument – Bringing a rare double-manual Ruckers harpsichord to the recording location and maintaining it in perfect condition.
The costs of publishing, distribution, and photo/video production are covered by the label.
Every contribution helps bring this music to life—thank you for your support!