Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus

The Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus (Ukrainian: Українська Капеля Бандуристів Північної Америки ім. Т. Г. Шевченка; full name: The Taras Shevchenko Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus of North America) is a semi-professional male choir which accompanies itself with the multi-stringed Ukrainian folk instrument known as the bandura. It traces its roots to Ukraine in 1918 and has been based in the USA since 1949.

Some sources trace the history of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus back to the formation of the Kiev Kobzar Choir by bandurist Vasyl Yemetz in Kiev in 1918; however, the history of the Kiev Bandurist Capella had numerous starts and stops, and periods in which it was not a functioning entity. Despite the fact that many of the member of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus were participants of previously existing bandurist capellas, the history of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus can be traced without interruption from its formation in Kiev in 1941.

The Kiev Bandurist Capella was originally established in August 1918 by bandura virtuoso Vasyl Yemetz with 8 bandurists. Initially it was known as the "Kobzar Choir" and gave its first performance on November 3, 1918. The situation in Kiev was politically unstable and this first ensemble ceased performing in March, 1919. With the change over to a Bolshevik government a number of the members were executed. Some emigrated to the West.

With the re-establishment of the group the term "Capella" began to be used, harking back to the vocal-instrumental ensembles, known as "kapellen" often directed by invited German kapellmeisters that were popular in the estates of the Ukrainian gentry in the early 18th century.

The cappella was re-established after a 4 years break in December 1923, once again with 8 members, however only 2 (Fedir Doroshko and Hryhory Kopan) were from the original "Kobzar Choir" initially under the leaderrship of Vasyl Potapenko and then M. Polotay. During the brief period of Ukrainianization the ensemble grew in popularity, however, in the 1930s the political situation in Ukraine changed significantly and bandurists underwent various forms of political repression: some being arrested and sentenced to periods of incarceration, others to exile. In October 1934 the Kiev Bandurist Capella was liquidated after its members had not received any pay for a period of 10 months.

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Wikipedia