Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus
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The Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus (Ukrainian: Українська Капела Бандуристів ім. Т. Г. Шевченка; full name: Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus of T. H. Shevchenko in Detroit) is a semi-professional male choir which accompanies itself with the multi-stringed Ukrainian folk instrument known as the bandura. It has been a resident of Detroit, USA since 1949.
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[edit] History
Some sources trace the history of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus back to the formation of the first Kyiv Bandurist Capella in Kyiv in 1918, however, the history of the Kyiv Bandurist Capella had many starts and stops and periods in which it did not function. Despite the fact that many of the member of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus were members of previous bandurist Capeklas, the history of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus can be traced without interuption from its formation in Kyiv in 1941.
[edit] Pre-history
The Kyiv Bandurist Capella was originally established in August 1918 by bandura virtuoso V. Yemetz with 8 bandurists. It was then known as the "Kobzar Choir" and gave its first performance on November 3, 1918The situation in Kyiv was very unstable and it ceased performing in March, 1919. Many of the members were shot or emigrated to the West.
The Capella was re-established in 1923 with 8 members, however only 2 had been in the original "Kobzar Choir". In the 1930's the political situation in Ukraine changed. Many bandurists underwent political repression some being arrested and sentenced to periods of incarceration or exile. In October 1934 the Kyiv Bandurist Capella again ceased to exist after its members had not received any pay for 10 months.
By 1935 the political situation had once again changed. Many of the drastic steps taken to retard the development of Ukrainian Culture were rethought, as little was left to show off the development of Ukrainian Culture during the Soviet period. In March 1935 some of the members of the Kyiv Бandurist Capella and the Poltava Bandurist Capella were brought together to form a new Combined Bandurist Capella. In 1937 another turn in the national politics could be observed. Harassment and arrests started once again. Some bandurists were executed. At the outset of WWII the Combined Bandurist Capella was once again disbanned and the members mobilized to the German-Soviet front. Many members of the Kyiv Capella died at the front because of lack of military preparation.
[edit] World War II and formation
With the Nazi occupation of Kyiv attempts were made to once again form a Bandurist Capella. From a number of bandurists who survived the Nazi attacks a group was formed initially lead by H. Nazarenko. In the spring of 1941 it applied for the patronage and use of the name Taras Shevchenko. With the arrival of H. Kytasty the artistic directorship was transfered. The Capella toured areas of Western Ukraine and the Kyiv province.
In 1942 the Capella made up of 17 bandurists left Kyiv for a tour of Germany. Initially however it was interned as a group into a forced labour camp. After numerous representations the group was released and used by the Nazi's as a moral booster performing for the numerous Ukrainian Ost-arbeiters (Slave-workers from the East) in Germany. At the end of the war the Capella found itself in Regensberg.
[edit] Germany
In order to strengthen the artistry of the Capella Volodymyr Bozhyk, an opera conductor trained in Poland, was invited to become co-conductor. With him V. Bozhyk brought a number of well trained male singers and the capella was transformed into a bandurist chorus. Whereas in a Bandurist Capella each singer also played the bandura, a in a Bandurist Chorus only half the players plyed the bandura accompanying a choir of non-bandurists. The Chorus continued to perform in Europe, primarilly in Germany after the war for a number of years for the many internees of the Displaced peoples (D.P.) camps.
[edit] United States
In 1949 the Chorus emigrates as a collective to the United States settling in Detroit. Initially it toured North America attempting to retain its professional performing status. This however was not economically feasible without radically changing the repertoire and artistic direction of the group. The decision was made to not compromise the groups artistic integrity. As a result the Chorus had to change from a professional performing troupe to a semi-professional status, touring North America professionally for only a few weeks each year.
In 1958 the Chorus toured Europe giving concerts in Spain, France, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium and England. Despite the highly successful reviews the Chorus's performances the tour was not an economic success. As a result it was not able to return to a fully professional status. The Chorus was left in substantial debt and the conductors Volodymyr Bozhyk and Hrynory Kytasty left the group.
The debt was paid off almost singlehandedly by the Chorus's manager P. Honcharenko who also found new artistic directors and kept the Chorus intact as a viable performing ensemble.
[edit] 1960's
The early 1960's saw a potential crisis in the artistic leadership of the group. This was overcome by the administrative genius of P. Honcharenko who sought other conductors and saw to it that the group was able to survive this period finding a new purpose promoting Ukrainian music in the West.
[edit] Return of H. Kytasty
In 1968 H. Kytasty returned to the artistic directorship of the Chorus. With newfound energy he enriched the repertoire of the ensemble with new compositions and arrangements and trained a new generation of bandurists. Each year the Capella would release a record and go on tour to either the East coast or the West Coast of North America. In 1981 the Chorus tour Australia.
[edit] W. Kolesnyk
After the passing of H. Kytasty the Chorus direction is taken over by V. Kolesnyk, previously the director of the Kyiv Opera. Kolesnyk continued the leagacy of H. Kytasty and elevated the chorus up to a new professional level. Under his directorship the Chorus toured Ukraine twice in 1991 and 1993.
[edit] O. Mahlay
O. Mahlay took over the conductorship of the Chorus in 1996. Under his directorship the chorus has toured Ukraine twice, and Europe and released numerous recordings.
[edit] Conductors
- Nazarenko, Hryhoriy (1942)
Formally the youngest member the Poltava Bandurist Capella (from 1925), and later concertmaster of the Combined Bandurist Capella formed in Kyiv in 1935 - He initiated the formation of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus and in particular the use of Taras Shevchenko as its patron. He was its first director for the first 3 concerts in Kyiv and Zhytomyr. When H. Kytasty who was the assistant conductor of the Combined Kyiv Bandurist Capella joined, the directorship was transferred over to him. Nazarenko became assistant conductor until he left the chorus with the Honcharenko brothers to form the Leontovych Bandura Chorus.
- Kytasty, Hryhory Trokhymovych (1942-45,45-47 Co-conductor, 46-48, 49-50, 1953-55 Co-conductor, 58 co-conductor, 68-84) Member of Kyiv Bandurist Capella from 1935. Assistant conductor of the Combined Kyiv Bandura Capella from 1937.
- Bozhyk, Volodymyr (1945-47, 50-52, 53-55 Co-conductor, 56-57, 58 Co-conductor) From 1945-47 co director and co-conductor with H. Kytasty. He was invited to become co-conductor of the Capella if he could add his singers to the chorus. Conductor from 1950-52. Co-conductor 1953-58
- Potapenko, Petro (1959—61), conductor. Assistants: Ye Ciura and I. Kytastyj
- Zadorozhnyj, Ivan (1962), conductor
- Kytastyj, Ivan (1963), co-conductor. Conducted the Capella in 1963
- Ciura, Ye. (1963)
- Potapenko, Petro (1959—60,61,65), conductor. Assistants: Ye. Ciura and I. Kytasty
- Zadorozhnyi, Ivan (1962,65—6), conducted. Assistant: Ye Ciura
- Ivan Kytasty and Ye Ciura (1967). Co-conductors
- Kytasty, H. T. (1968—83)
- Ye Ciura (1984). Concert in Windsor
- Kolesnyk, Wolodymyr (1984—1996)
- Mahlay, Oleh (1996—Present)
[edit] Literature
- Kozak, S. Triumf Kapely Banduristiv imeni Tarase Shevchenka // Literature Ukraine – 11.VII.1991
- Kolesnyk, V. Kapela banduristiv im. T.H.Shevchenka // Music, 1991 №5 - P. 24-25
- Kostiuk, O. Srok rokiv z im’iam velykoho kovzaria v sertsi // Visti, №7, December 1963, Minneapolis, USA - P. 9-13
- Panasenko, Iy. Do istorii rozvytku Kapely banduristiv im. T. Shevchenka (1923-1963) // Visti, №7, December, 1963 - P. 14-20
- Samchuk, U. Zhyvi struny // Detroit, USA, 1976 - P. 468.
- Holovaschenko, M. Bravo, bandurysty // Culture and life, 15.VII.1991.
- Holovaschenko, M. Z picneiu i Ukrayinoiu v sertsi // Culture and life, 1.II.1992.
- Honcharenko, P. Kapelia Bandurystiv pered kontsertom u Vashingtoni // Novyi Shliakh, Toronto, Canada. № 42, 15.X.1988
