Iryna Kyrylina: Zapalyu svichu

Iryna Kyrylina (25 March 1953 – 4 September 2017) was a Ukrainian composer. She was born in Dresden, Germany, and studied with R.I. Vereschagin at the Kiev Musical College, and with M.V. Dremlyuga at the Kiev Conservatory, graduating in 1977. After completing her studies, she taught at a Kiev Music School and directed children’s choirs. Kyrylina was among the first Ukrainians to compose song cycles for voice and orchestra. She also wrote stage music, often incorporating Ukrainian songs into her compositions.

Zapalyu svichu (Light a candle) is an orchestral song setting of a poem by the Ukrainian folksinger and community activist Ruslana Lotsman.