Bandurist

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Kharkiv bandurist H. Bazhul

A bandurist (Ukrainian: бандури́ст) is a person who plays the Ukrainian plucked string instrument known as the bandura.

Types of performers

There are a number of different types of bandurist who differ in their particular choice of instrument, the specific repertoire they play and manner in which they approach their vocation.

Ensembles

Performance at the XIIth Archeological conference in 1902.
The Kiev Bandurist Capella 1928.
The Canadian Bandurist Capella
.

Evidence of ensemble playing prior to the 20th century is scarce, although there do exist accounts of two or sometimes three kobzars playing together at bazaars, especially in the area around Kharkiv.

The first documented performance by a bandura ensemble however took place in Kharkiv in 1902, at the

XIIth Archeological conference. The performance had a very positive effect on the popularity of the bandura and ensemble bandura playing. Attempts were made by Hnat Khotkevych to repeat the performance and take the ensemble on tour throughout Ukraine
, but permission was not obtained from the Russian authorities.

In 1905 there is evidence of the first performance of a bandura quartet of non-blind bandurists performing in

V. Shevchenko
in Moscow and the Kuban.

What is considered to be the first professional (in the sense that this was their main livelihood) bandurist ensemble was established by

Kiev Bandurist Capella. Despite periods in which the ensemble did not function due to the political turmoil within the country, the ensemble re-established and re-defined itself on numerous occasions and through its concerts stimulated the establishment of many other similar bandura groups. By 1928 there were over 900 bandura ensembles in Ukraine
.

Active persecution of bandurists in the 1930s resulted in many players being murdered or persecuted in the 1930s. Many of those that continued playing took the opportunity of seeking freedom emigrating to the West. The Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus which was originally established in 1941 during the Nazi occupation emigrated as a group. It settled in Detroit in the USA where it continued to actively propagated the art form in the West.

The

Kiev in 1948 under the direction of Oleksander Minkivsky
. Many members after being mobilized to the front in 1941 had died. Others had emigrated. It currently has over 70 members. Numerous other bandurist Capellas exist in Ukraine throughout the country having all male membership, mixed membership, or just female membership. A capella made up of blind bandurists also exists in Lviv.

Bandurist choruses, ensembles and capellas were also established in Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Paraguay, Poland, The United States, and Venezuela.

Renown exponents

Polish court bandurists
Albert Dovhohrai
Russian court bandurists
Alexey Razumovsky
Prominent
kobzari
Ivan Kuchuhura Kucherenko, Pavlo Hashchenko, Petro Drevchenko, Ostap Veresai
,
Prominent reconstructive kobzari
Tkachenko Heorhy
,
Prominent blind bandurists Yevhen Adamtsevych,
Prominent early 20th century bandurists in Ukraine ,
Prominent 20th century bandurists outside of Ukraine Hryhory Bazhul, Yevhen Ciura, Leonid Haydamaka, Petro Honcharenko, Hryhory Kytasty, Petro Kytasty, Volodymyr Luciv, Hryhory Nazarenko, Zinoviy Shtokalko, Mykhailo Teliha, Vasyl Yemetz, Volodymyr Yurkevych,
Prominent contemporary active bandurists in Ukraine Oksana Herasymenko, Roman Hrynkiv, Taras Lazurkevych, Kost Novytsky, Stepan Scherbak, Oleh Sozansky, Volodymyr Voit, Ostap Stakhiv
Prominent contemporary active bandurists outside of Ukraine Peter Deriashnyj, Mykola Deychakiwsky, Marko Farion, Ola Herasymenko-Oliynyk, Andrij Kytasty, Julian Kytasty, Victor Mishalow.

Persecution

kobzars were persecuted by authorities that controlled Ukraine at various times because of the association of the bandura with growing Ukrainian national self-awareness.[2]

References

  1. JSTOR 2498453
    .
  2. ^ "The history of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus". Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus. Retrieved 26 December 2022.