The bandura's song is considered the voice and soul of Ukraine, its strings echoing the nation’s turbulent history. Structurally, the bandura is similar to the lute and the harp, and usually has around 60 strings. Concert banduras, like modern harps, have mechanisms that allow the musician to quickly change keys.
The Bandura
Historically, the bandura and its ancestor, the kobza, were used to accompany singing of historical and religious ballads, or dancing. They were generally played by blind male musicians known as “kobzari."
Bandura's Arrival in North America
In the early 20th century, groups of solo kobzars began joining together to form bandura ensembles. These first ensembles were almost always male and were encouraged in the early part of the Communist regime. However, when the policy of Russification was enforced to strengthen the Soviet Union, the ensembles were disbanded, and any remaining performers were forced to play approved repertoire.
The bandura was finally accepted as a classical instrument in the conservatories during the 1960s. Today in Ukraine, both male and female musicians study bandura in this academic setting.
The bandura and its music emigrated to North America with 17 members of the original Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus (UBC). The group settled in Detroit, Michigan after World War II.
Many ensembles and summer camps were created by members, colleagues and students of the UBC and Canadian Bandurist Capella as a way of continuing the bandura tradition. Through the tireless work of people such as Mykola Czorny, Ola Herasymenko, Hryhorij and Petro Kytasty, Valentina Rodak and many others, hundreds of young people have learned to play this unique instrument. The WBENA is proud to be continuing the mission to teach and preserve the bandura and bring it to the global stage.