Ihor Poklad, a prominent Ukrainian composer, dies
9 July 2025 09:40
Ukrainian composer Ihor Poklad died on July 9 at the age of 83. This was reported by his wife Svitlana Poklad on Facebook, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
“That’s all… I loved, love and will always love. Please pray for Igor Dmytrovych, for his immortal soul,” the composer’s wife wrote.
The woman did not say what caused the composer’s death or when the funeral would take place.
Details of the burial have not yet been made public.
From song to musical: the creative path of Ihor Poklad
Ihor Poklad is one of the key figures in Ukrainian music of the second half of the twentieth century. He was the author of more than 150 songs, many of which have become classics, such as “Oye leli dyki husy” (Wild Geese flew), “The Magic Violin” (The Magic Violin), “Song about the Mother” (The Song of the Mother), and “Zacharuy” (Enchant). His works were performed by the most famous Ukrainian artists.
Poklad is an Honored Artist of the Ukrainian SSR, People’s Artist of Ukraine, Shevchenko Prize winner, and member of the National Union of Composers of Ukraine. His work went beyond the song scene – he also composed music for theater productions, films, and television shows.
Ihor Poklad was born in Kyrgyzstan to a military family. In the late 1950s, the family returned to Ukraine and settled in Ternopil. From an early age, Ihor was fascinated by music – he studied at the Glier Music School and later entered the Kyiv State Conservatory, where he received his education as a composer.
Already while studying at the school, he began writing songs – in particular, he composed “The Song Will Not Get Lost” with lyrics by Borys Oliynyk. In the 60s, he founded the vocal and instrumental ensemble Mriya, which performed at prestigious music competitions, but his creative activity had to be temporarily suspended due to his service in the army.
It was there, in the army orchestra, that Poklad met the poet Yurii Rybchynskyi. This meeting marked the beginning of their long-lasting creative friendship. Together, they created dozens of songs that became classics of Ukrainian pop music.
More than 150 songs that the whole country knows
In the 60s and 80s, Ihor Poklad, together with famous poets Yuriy Rybchynsky, Vadym Kryshchenko, Dmytro Lutsenko, and Oleksandr Vratariov, created more than 150 songs that were performed by Sofia Rotaru, Nina Matvienko, Vasyl Zinkevich, and other stars.
Many of his works became “folk”: “Beloved,” “Wild Geese,” “The Violin is Playing,” “Still Water,” “Mom, the Evening is Burning,” and “Two Wings” are still performed on stage today, decades later.
At the same time, the composer was critical of modern arrangements of his works. “I simply did not recognize “Wild Geese”. And if it weren’t for the words, I would never have guessed… We were looking for a place for every letter! Every note!” he recalled after one of the Legends of Ukraine ceremonies.
From the stage to theater and cinema
In the late 70s, Ihor Poklad chose a new direction – music for theater. He composed the soundtrack to the musical comedy The Second Wedding in Malynivka for the Odesa Operetta Theater. The play was a great success and later appeared on the stages of many theaters in the USSR.
In total, the composer created music for dozens of musicals, including The Witch of Konotop by Bohdan Zholdak, which is still part of the repertoire of Ukrainian theaters.
Later, Poklad began composing music for films. His first collaboration was with director Leonid Bykov. During his lifetime, the composer created music for more than 40 films.
Cartoons are his latest passion
A special place in Igor Poklad’s work is occupied by music for cartoons. His most famous works are for the legendary series about the Cossacks directed by Volodymyr Dakhno.
Igor Poklad left a deep mark on Ukrainian culture. His music is a part of our history that will be heard for a long time to come.
on December 9, 2021, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded Igor Poklad the title of Hero of Ukraine.
In 2022, he and his wife survived the Russian occupation of the village of Vorzel near Kyiv. Konstantin Gudauskas, who later became the hero of the feature film Bucha, joined the evacuation. After the rescue, Poklad and Gudauskas founded the international humanitarian foundation Bucha Help to help war victims.
And in August 2024, the composer received an honorary state award – the National Legend of Ukraine award.
