«He Glorified Belarus with Music and Song» – on the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Yuri Vladimirovich Semenyako, composer, laureate of the State Prize of the BSSR, and People’s Artist of the BSSR

November 26, 2025, marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Yuri Vladimirovich Semenyako, composer, laureate of the State Prize of the BSSR, and People’s Artist of the BSSR.

Yu.V.Semenyako was known primarily as a poet and songwriter. He primarily set to music the poems of Belarusian poets Maxim Bogdanovich, Yakub Kolas, Yanka Kupala, Maxim Tank, Petrus Brovka, Ales Bachilo, Adam Rusak, Gennady Buravkin, Vladimir Karizna, and Edi Ognetsvet. Many of Yu.V.’s lyrical and patriotic songs were popular. Semenyako («Oh, the Green Forests Rustle», «Drinking Song», «Remember, My Dear, the Days», the duet «Yavor and Viburnum», «You Shone to Me in the Spring», «Not for Black Eyes», «What a Heart You Are, My Mother», «I Heart You with You», «Belarus — My Song», «I Love You, Belaya Rus», «Blossom, Belarus»).

A promotional video for the exhibition «Glorified Belarus with Music and Song» has been posted on the BGAKFFD YouTube channel in honor of the 100th anniversary of Yuri Vladimirovich Semenyako’s birth.

Today, the Belarusian State Archive of Film, Photo, and Sound Documents holds approximately 25 photographic documents from 1952 to 1985, more than 10 film documents from 1952 to 1985, and approximately 30 sound recordings from 1957 to 1988 related to the work of Yu.V. Semenyako.

The photographic documents include portraits of Yu.V. Semenyako. In addition, photo and film documents (stories from the newsreels «Savetskaya Blarus», «Naviny Dnya», and «Mastatstva Belarusi») capture the composer working on musical works, discussing new creative ideas with colleagues, and meeting with theater and amateur artists, as well as audiences.

The archive’s sound library includes recordings of stories and memoirs by Yu.V. Semenyako on his creative work and his work on various pieces.

Over the course of his career, Yuri Semenyako wrote over 300 songs, 5 operettas, 4 operas, and music for numerous films. He worked in vocal-symphonic, chamber-instrumental, chamber-vocal, and song genres. His works formed the repertoires of the Pesnyary, Lyavony, and Verasy vocal and instrumental ensembles.

Yuri Vladimirovich Semenyako died on July 16, 1990. He is buried in Minsk at the Eastern Cemetery.

1. 0-128113 Speech by the accompanist of the State Academic Choir of the BSSR, composer Yu.V.Semenyako at a meeting of Belarusian amateur composers April 1952, Minsk, TsGAKFFD BSSR

2. 0-118375 Belarusian composers I.I.Kuznetsov, S.S.Aksakov, P.P.Podkovyrov, A.V.Bogatyrev (3rd from the right) and People’s Artist of the USSR, artistic director of the State Academic Choir of the BSSR G.R.Shirma listening to a new song by Yu.V.Semenyako «Winter Forest» 1955, Minsk, TsGAKFFD BSSR

3. 0-083681 Belarusian composer Yu.V.Semenyako at work 1958, Minsk, Collector I.Soloveichik

4. 0-065900 Authors of the Belarusian opera «Prickly Ruzha»: poet A.N.Bachilo (Ales Bachilo) and composer Yu.V.Semenyako at work February 24, 1961, Minsk, Photochronicle BelTA, N.Yuzhik

5. 1-010533 Belarusian composer, Honored Artist of the BSSR Yu.V.Semenyako Born in Minsk in 1968, Collector I.Berlin

6. 0-092687 Belarusian composer, Honored Artist of the BSSR Yu.V.Semenyako advises participants of the seminar of amateur composers of the Gomel region in the regional House of Folk Art February 20, 1969, Gomel, Photo library of the editorial office of the newspaper «Gomelskaya Prauda», P.Belous

7. 0-089390 Belarusian composer, Honored Artist of the BSSR, Cavalier of the Order of the Badge of Honor Yu.V.Semenyako among the artists of the State Theatre of Musical Comedy of the BSSR after the premiere of the comedy «The Lark» January 18, 1971, Minsk, Photochronicle BelTA, I.Zmitrovich

8. 0-117627 Belarusian composer, People’s Artist of the BSSR, laureate of the State Prize of the BSSR Yu.V.Semenyako during a conversation with actresses of the State Theater of Musical Comedy of the BSSR V.S.Petlitskaya and V.N.Mazur after the premiere of the operetta «Week of Eternal Love» January 8, 1976, Minsk, BelTA Photo Chronicle, Ch.Mezin

9. 1-009514 Belarusian composers Yu.V. Semenyako (left), V.K.Ivanov (center) and L.K.Shleg (right) June 1980, Minsk, BelOKS Photo Library, V.Kryuk