"Slava Ukraini! Heroyam Slava!" Glory to Ukraine and its Heroes) is a re-translation and new orchestration by Belgian composer Piet J.Swerts of the official march of the Ukrainian army which he combines with the national anthem. In the transition, the orchestra plays the historical slogan. It is an artistic musical fist against senseless war violence as we are now experiencing it in Ukraine.
World premiere by Brussels Philharmonic, conducted by Yoel Levi, 17 and19/3/2022. Maestro Levi took the score with him and performed it twice two weeks later in Israël.
This video shows maestro Levi conducting Haïfa Symphony Orchestra in Israël.
The Euregio Youth Orchestra played this Peace Hymn more than 6 times in their last concert tour in the Netherlands. Here is their performance conducted by Hans Casteleyns.
The second version for Concertband was performed on a concert tour in France by the Dutch Symphonic Wind Orchestra 'Excelsior' conducted by Ruud Welle: here is their performance where the French public rises when they play the anthem, it was performed end of July 2022.
Colleague Luc Ponet recorded the first performance of the organ version in the Basiliek of Tongeren, the birth city of the composer