Meet the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus, Sharing Culture Through Music

On a recent Saturday afternoon in Parma, members of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus gathered for an all-day rehearsal. The group consists of about 50 singers and players from across North America, including a dozen men from Northeast Ohio. Many members flew or drove to Ohio for the occasion.

[@AdamBorseti]

Imagine being sentenced to death for playing music. Still, not even an evil on the level of Stalin could silence the music! Very moving.

[@NaveDelAmor]

Thank you for keeping such a beautiful tradition and legacy --It's a very powerful tool de force against the enemy within and out of Ukraine. Slava Ukraini!

[@theholyromanempire4102]

FelizNM I went to the Bandura camp this year and actually just got back and it is very fun

[@dougV565]

Interesting history of Ukraine through the bandura. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, I'm more interested than ever about Ukrainian history, culture, and society. If Putin gets Ukraine as his. I'm sure the Ukrainian diaspora will keep Ukrainian culture alive, that is if Putin outlaws it. Slava Ukraini.

[@TheEudaemonicPlague]

Happily, it looks like Putin will never conquer Ukraine. I wish my interest in Ukrainian music had come before the war, but I'm busy collecting songs now, with every intention of playing them loudly in my car. I'll never be a musician, but I'm still fascinated by music, especially folk music, and am always happy to be introduced to new (to me) music. While watching updates on the war, I noticed that the Ukrainian music playing in the background was very good, so I've started collecting it.

[@Banduryst]

Hoping for the time when everyone can get back to creating wonderful music in actual rehearsals again. Great video - great interviews and great sounding chorus and banduras! Slava Banduristam!

[@romanchomenko2912]

My cousin Mrs Kobryn directed the Bandurist capella and another church choir before she died of cancer some time ago also I noticed some Bandurases made by chap called Vasyl Hlad from the UK his instruments were in demand by the ensemble I think made in total 240 instruments keep the good going.

[@romankapitanec402]

Fun fact the first Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus started in my Bunias Concentration camp in 1938 We love you слава Україні !

[@НадеждаМаксимкина-д8ю]

It's wonderful.Thanks.I'm ukrainian.

[@Natalia-gx5jv]

Thank you so very much for doing this. Myself being Ukrainian, I never heard about this amazing group before. How extremely important is you keeping up the Ukrainian legacy alive!

[@yurimeister]

I wonder if most of these very old songs exist more in the diaspora than in Ykraiina?

[@ntrkrf6994]

Козацькому роду нема переводу.

[@Dmytro.Bednarchuk]

Вітання з України, браття!

[@UkrainianLiterature]

Thank you so much for your hard work, love of bandura and for creating for us, listeners, an opportunity to plunge into the miracles of Ukrainian history and culture…

[@user-wr4uz8pg7m]

Fantastic! Thank you!

[@hospod163]

Whats the song at the start?

[@neorientalist]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYuZYmRtbbN1r9U&ab_channel=EasternUkrainian

[@MykytaNikitenko]

The most fascinating thing about bandura is having a really big range of 5-6 Octaves and ability to play with two hands, so you can play complicated polyphonic music, big accords and etc. Another Ukrainian instrument which fascinates me is a “bayan” (button accordion) which is like having big church organ just on your knees

[@poyoAesthetic]

Where do i buy a bandura help

[@maksymberedukh4649]

Dunno about situation in your country, but you can find it easuly in ukraine or in ukrainian segment of internet at least. This one for example: fabrika-pleyada in Chernihiv. Or just try to google it with google translate. Good luck :)

[@Banduryst]

You can even find them on eBay - but that is hit or miss - where are you located? I think I can help to point you in the right direction.

[@siameezerlady]

@@Banduryst I play harp, but have fallen in love with this instrument. Where could I purchase one? I am in Vermont, USA. I hope you see this and I'd truly appreciate any help, thank you!

[@UkrainianLiterature]

💙💛🙏

[@natalialemishka1291]

💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐