Kobzarskyi Tsekh

Kobzarskyi Tsekh (Ukrainian: Кобзарський Цех, Kobzars'kyi Tsekh) - literally "Kobzar guild" - is an organization of kobzars, which existed from the 17th century in Ukraine.

Blind itinerant musicians, known as kobzars and lirnyks, organized themselves into guilds along the same lines as professional craftsmen. These professional itinerant musicians would gather at regular meeting spots on particular dates to celebrate religious feasts, administer examinations for the induction of novices and masters, and collect money for placement of votive candles under icons of patron saints and to also discuss the business of the guild.

During the Soviet period the Kobzar guilds ceased to exist.

In the 1990s, the idea for the creation of a Kobzar guild in Kyiv was initiated by followers and students of traditional bandurist Heorhy Tkachenko - Mykola Budnyk and Mykhailo Khai. The reason for the formation of the Kobzar guild was to have a formal organization to resurrect and reestablish forgotten traditions and to help deal with the needs of those bandurists who were interested in performing traditional music of the kobzars. The established regulated government institutions of the time were openly hostile to this group of bandurists, and as a result the Kyiv Kobzar guild was formed initially in opposition to the various formal music schools and conservatoria, as these formal structures had agendas which did not support authentic performance practice of traditional folk music.

The Kobzar Guild has grown into a significant movement and force in contemporary Ukrainian musical life. Currently there are over 200 members and associates, with chapters in Kiev, Kharkiv, Poltava and Lviv. Now are three Kobzar Guilds (Lviv's, Kyiv's, Kharkiv's ). Their Heads are: Мykola Tovkailo (Kyiv),Mykhailo Khai (Lviv), Kostiantyn Cheremsky (Kharkiv).

"Kobzarska Trijcia" Festival

The Kobzar Guild begun own festival life in 2008. "Kobzarska Trijcia" (Kobzar Trinity) festival became regular. Festival program consist of concerts, press-conference, scientific conference, exhebitions of traditional epic instruments and traditional dance-party.

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  Mr. M. Tovkailo, Head of Kyiv kobzar Guild opens the first Festival of Ukrainian epic genre "Kobzarska Trijcia" (Kobzar Trinity)
• 
  Lirnyk (hardy-gardy player) Jarema, "Kobzarska Trijcia" (Kobzar Trinity) 2008
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  Mr. M.Khai opens Scientific Conference devoted to the Fifth Festival of Ukrainian epic genre "Kobzarska Trijcia" (Kobzar Trinity), 2012
• 
  Heads of three Kobzar Guild (upper row)- Lviv (M.Khai), Kyiv (M. Tovkailo) and Kharkiv (K. Cheremsky) with first blind singers of new generation Olexandr Trius and Lajosh Molnar (lower row)
• 
  Blind Ukrainian singer and Hurdy-gurdy-player Laiosh Molnar plays old german hurdy-gurdy (XVII-th century) restored by famous German musician and reconstructor Kurt Reichmann, foreign guest of "Kobzarska Trijcia" Festival, 2017

See also

• Taras Kompanichenko
• Eduard Drach
• Volodymyr Kushpet

References

• Diakowsky, M. J. - The Bandura. The Ukrainian Trend, 1958, №I, - С.18-36
• Haydamaka, L. – Kobza-bandura – National Ukrainian Musical Instrument. "Guitar Review" №33, Summer 1970 (С.13-18)
• Mishalow, V. - A Brief Description of the Zinkiv Method of Bandura Playing. Bandura, 1982, №2/6, - С.23-26
• Mishalow, V. - A Short History of the Bandura. East European Meetings in Ethnomusicology 1999, Romanian Society for Ethnomusicology, Volume 6, - С.69-86
• Mizynec, V. - Folk Instruments of Ukraine. Bayda Books, Melbourne, Australia, 1987 - 48с.
• Cherkasky, L. - Ukrainski narodni muzychni instrumenty. Tekhnika, Kiev, Ukraine, 2003 - 262 pages. ISBN 966-575-111-5