UKRAINIAN BANDURIST CHORUS TRAVELS TO
UKRAINE
Chorus based in Detroit, Michigan will Represent the United
States in Ukraine's Huge Tenth Anniversary of Independence
Celebration, August 24, 2001
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"The Amazing Story of the Chorus's Birth in Kyiv, Ukraine, after World War I, their stuggle under the Soviets and the Nazis, their flight after World War II to Detroit, Michigan, and Then Finally Back to Ukraine in 1991 Just Before Independence and Now Back Again" Detroit, Michigan...June 22, 2001...On August 15th, 2001, the Detroit based Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus will leave for Kyiv, Ukraine to participate in the official concert ceremonies commemorating the Tenth Anniversary observances of Ukraine's Declaration of Independence (August 24th, 1991). The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), and The Ukrainian American Coordinating Council (UACC) has designated the Chorus as the official representative cultural group from the United States. On the eve of Ukrainian independence ten years ago in June of 1991, the Chorus, under the directorship of Maestro Wolodymyr Kolesnyk, completed a |
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historical triumphant 14-city tour throughout major cities in Ukraine. The performances, which encompassed traditional ballads and instrumentals were received with great enthusiasm and rave reviews, especially in the areas of Ukraine where national consciousness had been most repressed and lay dormant.
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1958... Bandurist Chorus |
As a tribute to its role in preserving and perpetuating the legacy of Ukrainian music, the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus was selected by Ukraine's Council of Ministers as the recipient of the Taras Shevchenko Ukrainian State Prize, the highest award that can be bestowed for excellence in the contribution to the arts. The award was presented to the Chorus by Leonid Kravchuk, President of Ukraine, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during his first visit to the United States in May, 1992. |
The Chorus returned to Ukraine again in 1994, touring southern Ukraine and Crimea. The Chorus' current artistic director, Oleh Mahlay, had his conducting debut as the assistant conductor during this tour.
It is with great honor that the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus returns to Ukraine for the historic celebration of the 10th Anniversary of Independence...to Kyiv, the city where the Chorus was born right after World War I.
The history of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus can be traced directly to the 12th Archeological Congress in Kharkiv, Ukraine held in 1902.
The question of forming a professional orchestra of bandurists was first presented there by Hnat Khotkevych, a prominent writer, ethnographer, and composer. He provided stimulus for a renewed interest and remarkable growth in the bandura's popularity at the beginning of the 20th century and amateur bandura ensembles rapidly formed throughout the century.
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The first professional bandurist chorus was formed in Kyiv in 1918 during the height of the country's brief period of independence after World War I. Under the direction of bandura virtuoso Vasyl Yemetz, the first chorus initially had 15 members. Another such chorus, in Poltava, Ukraine, was formed in 1925 under the direction of Volodymyr Kabachok. The mid-1920's were marked by a period of resurgence of Ukrainian arts and culture, and the Chorus developed into a professional touring troupe. As the Chorus membership, expertise,and repertoire were continually refined and enhanced, the bandura was transformed from a folk to a classical concert form. |
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Bandura Chorus... Kyiv, 1934 |
The Chorus's history rapidly evolved into a turbulent one. The ideals of the bandurist --God, truth, freedom, and human dignity heralded through song -- were a threat to the then newly formed Soviet Union. Under Joseph Stalin's rule, artists and intellectuals were arrested, exiled and executed in an attempt to eradicate every remnant of Ukrainian culture. Hnat Khotkevych, the prominent writer, ethnographer, composer and promoter of the bandura, was executed in 1938 in Kharkiv |
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1946... Bandurist Chorus Ingolstadt, Germany |
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| and his compositions were banned throughout the Soviet Union. Many conductors, chorus members and blind bandurists-minstrels were also accused of enticing the populace to nationalism and were executed. In 1935 the remaining members were forced to reorganize into the State Bandurist Chorus of the Ukrainian SSR. | |
In the years that followed the Chorus was exploited and persecuted by both the Soviets and the Nazis. It was not until 1949 that through the assistance of the allied forces that many of the Chorus' members immigrated from refugee camps to the United States where many established a home base in Detroit, Michigan. Since 1949 the Chorus has enjoyed the freedom of artistic expression in the United States of America. |
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Bandura Chorus... Detroit, USA, 1953 |
Freedom was a great blessing but not without its difficulties. Most of the members, in order to support their families, had to learn new skills that were often unrelated to their musical ability and experience. Approximately 90 percent joined Detroit's automotive industry labor force. This, however, did not prevent the bandurists from launching a series of concerts in their newly adopted homeland. The Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus was thus reborn. |
Hryhory Kytasty, (1907-1984), long-standing conductor of the Chorus was a driving force in re-instilling Ukrainian choral and bandura art in North America. Considered a legend in his own time, this composer, conductor, performer and teacher was a role model and inspiration to young bandurists.He continued the legacy of the bandurist (also known as a kobzar) and furthered the art of the bandura in the free world. |
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1968... 50th Anniversary of the Bandurist Chorus |
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Today the majority of the Chorus members are 2nd and 3rd generation Americans and Canadians. Fortified by a whole generation of young musicians, the Chorus has captivated audiences in major concert halls in the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia for more than 50 years.
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During the 1999-2000 season the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus celebrated its 50th anniversary in America and its 82th anniversary from when it was organized in Kyiv, Ukraine in 1918. The male chorus is based in Detroit, but has members throughout North America: Alberta, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Ontario and Pennsylvania. The Chorus has preserved and promoted the art of the bandura by amassing an extensive discography, and by touring throughout the world. |
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For more information please contact Anatoli W. Murha, President of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus at 734.953.0305 or AMurha@aol.com or check the website: www.bandura.org .
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