Kharkiv-style bandura
Encyclopedia
Kharkiv-style bandura
s are banduras that allow for the playing of the Kharkiv style, i.e using the left hand to play melodic figures primarily over the side of the instrument as opposed to the Kiev style where the left hand primarily plays the basses. To allow for the added required dexterity of the left hand, the instrument is held parallel to the body of the player.
These instruments are in comparison quite rare because they are all individually crafted primarily made by craftsmen outside of Ukraine. In recent times, they have become quite sought after in Ukraine. They are strung either diatonically (with 31-36 strings) (8 basses and 23 prystrunky
) or chromatically (with 61-65 strings).
The first standard Kharkiv bandura was designed and manufactured in 1926. This instrument was based on the Starosvitska bandura
used by Hnat Khotkevych
and was modified somewhat by Leonid Haydamaka
. It was intended for use by the bandura students of Hnat Khotkevych at the Kharkiv Mus-dram Institute.
The first instrument was made by Kharkiv instrument maker Snehiriov. This instrument had a diatonic tuning with 31 strings. The back was hewn out of maple.
In the 1930's a workshop for the serial manufacture of diatonically tuned Kharkiv banduras was established by Leonid Haydamka in Kharkiv and later another by Paliyivetz in Poltava. As a result most players from Kharkiv and Poltava played on Kharkiv-style instruments. Modifications in the construction were gradually introduced such as glued backs, a mechanism for the rapid retuning of the instrument and a dampening mechanism.
Instruments were useed by the Kharkiv and Poltava Bandurist Capella
and also the Kharkiv Bandurist Quartet and Kharkiv Orchestra of Ukrainian folk instruments.
After the war, unfortunately many of the diatonic banduras were remade into chromatic Kiev-style banduras and were destroyed in the process.
who took the standard Kharkiv bandura as the basis for their design. They improved on the acoustics and construction of the instruments adding a chromatic row of strings, placing the tuning pegs on the lower shemstok and improving the retuning mechanism. This instrument became he standard instrument of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus
. Honcharenko's designs were later taken and improved by the next generation of makers such as William Vetzal
and Ken Bloom
.
In Ukraine attempts were made to bring the Kharkiv bandura's construction into line with the developments in the Kiev concert bandura. These attempts were initially made by Perekop Ivanov and Ivan Skliar and resulted in the development of the Kiev-Kharkiv bandura which did not have a residing success. In recent times Vasyl Herasymenko in Lviv
has made attempt to revive the instrument. Attempts were also made to have instruments serially manufactured in the Melnytso-Podilsk Musical instrument workshop.
. Two of these new designed instruments have recently been sold to bandurists in Ukraine.
Bandura
Bandura refers to a Ukrainian plucked string folk instrument. It combines elements of a box zither and lute, as well as its lute-like predecessor, the kobza...
s are banduras that allow for the playing of the Kharkiv style, i.e using the left hand to play melodic figures primarily over the side of the instrument as opposed to the Kiev style where the left hand primarily plays the basses. To allow for the added required dexterity of the left hand, the instrument is held parallel to the body of the player.
These instruments are in comparison quite rare because they are all individually crafted primarily made by craftsmen outside of Ukraine. In recent times, they have become quite sought after in Ukraine. They are strung either diatonically (with 31-36 strings) (8 basses and 23 prystrunky
Prystrunky
Prystrunky - term used for the additional strings strung across the body of Ukrainian folk instruments such as the kobza, bandura and torban. Literally meaning "Near the strings". These additional strings are thought to have appeared on these instruments in the 17th century. On the contemporary...
) or chromatically (with 61-65 strings).
Early instruments
Starosvitska bandura
The Starosvitska bandura or traditional bandura is a Ukrainian folk instrument of the zither family, common from the late 18th century.The Starosvitska bandura is also referred to as "Classical", "authentic" or "old-time" bandura....
used by Hnat Khotkevych
Hnat Khotkevych
Hnat Martynovych Khotkevych December 31, 1877 in Kharkiv, Russian Empire – October 8, 1938 in Kharkiv, in the Ukrainian SSR of the Soviet Union) was a Ukrainian writer, ethnographer, playwright, composer, musicologist, and bandurist....
and was modified somewhat by Leonid Haydamaka
Leonid Haydamaka
Leonid Hryhorovych HaydamakaLeonid Haydamaka has left his impression on the development of bandura art in the 20th century....
. It was intended for use by the bandura students of Hnat Khotkevych at the Kharkiv Mus-dram Institute.
The first instrument was made by Kharkiv instrument maker Snehiriov. This instrument had a diatonic tuning with 31 strings. The back was hewn out of maple.
In the 1930's a workshop for the serial manufacture of diatonically tuned Kharkiv banduras was established by Leonid Haydamka in Kharkiv and later another by Paliyivetz in Poltava. As a result most players from Kharkiv and Poltava played on Kharkiv-style instruments. Modifications in the construction were gradually introduced such as glued backs, a mechanism for the rapid retuning of the instrument and a dampening mechanism.
Instruments were useed by the Kharkiv and Poltava Bandurist Capella
Poltava Bandurist Capella
The Poltava Bandurist Capella was vocal-instrumental ensemble who accompanied themselves on the multi-stringed Ukrainian bandura. It was initially established in February 1925, based on a male church choir who sang in the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Cathedral in Poltava under the direction of...
and also the Kharkiv Bandurist Quartet and Kharkiv Orchestra of Ukrainian folk instruments.
After the war, unfortunately many of the diatonic banduras were remade into chromatic Kiev-style banduras and were destroyed in the process.
In the diaspora
Kharkiv bandura manufacture was continued by the Honcharenko brothersHoncharenko brothers
The Honcharenko Brothers—Alexander 1913-2005) and Peter —became the dominant bandura-makers and designers in the Ukrainian diaspora.-Formative years:...
who took the standard Kharkiv bandura as the basis for their design. They improved on the acoustics and construction of the instruments adding a chromatic row of strings, placing the tuning pegs on the lower shemstok and improving the retuning mechanism. This instrument became he standard instrument of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus
Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus
The Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus is a semi-professional male choir which accompanies itself with the multi-stringed Ukrainian folk instrument known as the bandura...
. Honcharenko's designs were later taken and improved by the next generation of makers such as William Vetzal
William Vetzal
William "Bill" Vetzal Born in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, Vetzal is a full-time bandura designer and manufacturer.Vetzal studied the art of bandura making from the Honcharenko brothers in Detroit in the 1970s...
and Ken Bloom
Ken Bloom
Ken Bloom is a New York-based theatre historian, playwright, director, record producer, and author.He began his theatre career in the mid-70s at the New Playwrights Theatre of Washington. With some friends, Bloom co-founded the ASTA theatre. That company became the basis for New Playwrights...
.
In Ukraine
Lviv
Lviv is a city in western Ukraine. The city is regarded as one of the main cultural centres of today's Ukraine and historically has also been a major Polish and Jewish cultural center, as Poles and Jews were the two main ethnicities of the city until the outbreak of World War II and the following...
has made attempt to revive the instrument. Attempts were also made to have instruments serially manufactured in the Melnytso-Podilsk Musical instrument workshop.
The future
As scholarship reveals more of what Hnat Khotkevych's original ideas were, and as interest grows more players will turn to the Kharkiv bandura. Currently Canadian bandura maker William Vetzal has established serial manufacturing of Kharkiv banduras with backs made of fiberglass which were orderd by the Canadian Bandurist CapellaCanadian Bandurist Capella
The Canadian Bandurist Capella A vocal-instrumental choral group which combines the sound of a male chorus with the orchestral accompaniment of the multi-stringed Ukrainian Bandura....
. Two of these new designed instruments have recently been sold to bandurists in Ukraine.