Kobzar (book)
Encyclopedia
Kobzar is a book of poems by Ukrainian
poet
and painter
Taras Shevchenko
, first published by him in 1840 in Saint Petersburg
, Russia
. Taras Shevchenko was nicknamed The Kobzar
after the publishing of this book. From that time on this title has been applied to Shevchenko's poetry in general and acquired a symbolic meaning
of the Ukrainian national and literary revival.
The first publication consisted of a collection of eight works: "Думи мої, думи мої, лихо мені з вами"(My thoughts, my thoughts, it is bad for me because of you), "Перебендя" (Perebendya
), "Катерина" (Kateryna), "Тополя" (Poplar
tree), "Думка" (Thought), "Нащо мені чорні брови" (Why should I have Black Eyebrows), "До Основ'яненка" (To Osnovyanenko), "Іван Підкова" (Ivan Pidkova), and "Тарасова ніч" (Taras's night).
The author also published two more books under the same name in 1844 and 1860. Also, in 1844, another version of the original Kobzar, titled Chyhyrynskyi Kobzar, was republished with an addition of the poem "Гайдамаки" (Haydamaky).
Publication of the work was forbidden by the Ems Ukase, which forbade the publishing of Ukrainian-language literature. This prompted the publication of the work in non-Russia-ruled lands, such as in Prague
(now in the Czech Republic
) and Germany
.
means a bard, although not a regular one, but rather the one who along with singing plays on a musical instrument
, kobza
. In the contemporary Ukrainian
the word is being more associated with the famous Ukrainian series of poetic literary works and for which Taras Shevchenko
was given the same nickname. Kobza is roughly similar to a guitar
.
Ukrainians
Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
Taras Shevchenko
Taras Shevchenko
Taras Hryhorovych Shevchenko -Life:Born into a serf family of Hryhoriy Ivanovych Shevchenko and Kateryna Yakymivna Shevchenko in the village of Moryntsi, of Kiev Governorate of the Russian Empire Shevchenko was orphaned at the age of eleven...
, first published by him in 1840 in Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. Taras Shevchenko was nicknamed The Kobzar
Kobzar
A Kobzar was an itinerant Ukrainian bard who sang to his own accompaniment.-Tradition:Kobzars were often blind, and became predominantly so by the 1800s...
after the publishing of this book. From that time on this title has been applied to Shevchenko's poetry in general and acquired a symbolic meaning
Symbolic system
In the fields of anthropology, sociology, and psychology, symbolic system refers to a system of interconnected symbolic meanings. In particular, the field focuses on the dynamic relationships between various symbols within different task or theoretical contexts...
of the Ukrainian national and literary revival.
The first publication consisted of a collection of eight works: "Думи мої, думи мої, лихо мені з вами"(My thoughts, my thoughts, it is bad for me because of you), "Перебендя" (Perebendya
Perebendya
Perebendya is a poem by Taras Shevchenko about the blind itinerant Ukrainian bard .The poem is dated as written in approximately 1839 in Saint Peterburg. The fist known publication of this poem, originally dedicated to Yevhen Hrebinka, is considered the 1840 Kobzar , the first edition of this...
), "Катерина" (Kateryna), "Тополя" (Poplar
Poplar
Populus is a genus of 25–35 species of deciduous flowering plants in the family Salicaceae, native to most of the Northern Hemisphere. English names variously applied to different species include poplar , aspen, and cottonwood....
tree), "Думка" (Thought), "Нащо мені чорні брови" (Why should I have Black Eyebrows), "До Основ'яненка" (To Osnovyanenko), "Іван Підкова" (Ivan Pidkova), and "Тарасова ніч" (Taras's night).
The author also published two more books under the same name in 1844 and 1860. Also, in 1844, another version of the original Kobzar, titled Chyhyrynskyi Kobzar, was republished with an addition of the poem "Гайдамаки" (Haydamaky).
Publication of the work was forbidden by the Ems Ukase, which forbade the publishing of Ukrainian-language literature. This prompted the publication of the work in non-Russia-ruled lands, such as in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
(now in the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
) and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Word definition
Literally, kobzar in UkrainianUkrainian language
Ukrainian is a language of the East Slavic subgroup of the Slavic languages. It is the official state language of Ukraine. Written Ukrainian uses a variant of the Cyrillic alphabet....
means a bard, although not a regular one, but rather the one who along with singing plays on a musical instrument
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
, kobza
Kobza
The kobza is a Ukrainian folk music instrument of the lute family , a relative of the Central European mandora...
. In the contemporary Ukrainian
Ukrainian language
Ukrainian is a language of the East Slavic subgroup of the Slavic languages. It is the official state language of Ukraine. Written Ukrainian uses a variant of the Cyrillic alphabet....
the word is being more associated with the famous Ukrainian series of poetic literary works and for which Taras Shevchenko
Taras Shevchenko
Taras Hryhorovych Shevchenko -Life:Born into a serf family of Hryhoriy Ivanovych Shevchenko and Kateryna Yakymivna Shevchenko in the village of Moryntsi, of Kiev Governorate of the Russian Empire Shevchenko was orphaned at the age of eleven...
was given the same nickname. Kobza is roughly similar to a guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
.
External links
- Web-site "Kobzar.info" dedicated to Taras Shevchenko, mostly in Ukrainian