Leontovych Bandurist Capella
Encyclopedia
The Leontovych Bandurist Capella was a male choir whose members accompanied themselves using a Ukrainian folk instrument known as a bandura
. It was established in the displaced persons camp
s in Germany
in 1946 and had an active performance schedule up until 1949.
In 1946 Hryhory Nazarenko
together with the Honcharenko brothers left the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus
and started working on establishing a new bandurist capella. This new capella was formed in the British zone in Germany in the city of Goslar
and was called the Leontovych Bandurist Capella after the Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych
.
The Capella consisted of some 18 members taught and later directed by Hryhory Nazarenko. They played on diatonic Kharkiv-style bandura
s with the newly developed mechanisms designed by the Honcharenko brothers. Nazarenko busied himself writing out arrangements and repertoire from the works performed by the Poltava Bandurist Capella
teaching Kharkiv-style playing. He coached the choir and taught the members to play the bandura, including many of the technical devices developed by Hnat Khotkevych
.
Each of the members required instruments. The Honcharenko brothers set up a workshop in the DP camp where they were made and taught some of the members to make banduras.
The establishment of the Leontovych Capella was a very successful experiment. In the 1930s Nazarenko was the concertmaster of the Poltava and later Combined Bandurist Capella
. In this capacity he also was in charge of the music library often writing on the orchestral parts for all the performers. Because of this, Nazarenko was able to restore from his own memory a number of works by Hnat Khotkevych
.
After successfully touring Germany with numerous concerts, many of the members joined up with the Ukrainian Bandurist Capella when they emigrated to the United States in 1949. Others migrated to England
, South America and Australia where they were able to share their knowledge with the Ukrainian communities established there.
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...
. It was established in the displaced persons camp
Displaced persons camp
A displaced persons camp or DP camp is a temporary facility for displaced persons coerced into forced migration. The term is mainly used for camps established after World War II in West Germany and in Austria, as well as in the United Kingdom, primarily for refugees from Eastern Europe and for the...
s in 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...
in 1946 and had an active performance schedule up until 1949.
In 1946 Hryhory Nazarenko
Hryhory Nazarenko
Hryhory Pavlovych Nazarenko was a bandura player....
together with the Honcharenko brothers left 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...
and started working on establishing a new bandurist capella. This new capella was formed in the British zone in Germany in the city of Goslar
Goslar
Goslar is a historic town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the administrative centre of the district of Goslar and located on the northwestern slopes of the Harz mountain range. The Old Town of Goslar and the Mines of Rammelsberg are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.-Geography:Goslar is situated at the...
and was called the Leontovych Bandurist Capella after the Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych
Mykola Leontovych
Mykola Dmytrovych Leontovych was a Ukrainian composer, choral conductor, priest, and teacher of international renown. His music was inspired by Mykola Lysenko and the Ukrainian nationalist music school, along with Kyrylo Stetsenko, Alexander Koshetz, and Yakiv Stepovy...
.
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 with the newly developed mechanisms designed by the Honcharenko brothers. Nazarenko busied himself writing out arrangements and repertoire from the works performed by the 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...
teaching Kharkiv-style playing. He coached the choir and taught the members to play the bandura, including many of the technical devices developed 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....
.
Each of the members required instruments. The Honcharenko brothers set up a workshop in the DP camp where they were made and taught some of the members to make banduras.
The establishment of the Leontovych Capella was a very successful experiment. In the 1930s Nazarenko was the concertmaster of the Poltava and later Combined Bandurist Capella
Combined Bandurist Capella
The Combined Kiev Bandurist Capella, also known as the Ukrainian State Exemplary Bandurist Capella, was a Ukrainian bandurist ensemble in the Soviet Union which existed from 1935 to 1941, until it was disbanded due to World War II....
. In this capacity he also was in charge of the music library often writing on the orchestral parts for all the performers. Because of this, Nazarenko was able to restore from his own memory a number of works 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....
.
After successfully touring Germany with numerous concerts, many of the members joined up with the Ukrainian Bandurist Capella when they emigrated to the United States in 1949. Others migrated to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, South America and Australia where they were able to share their knowledge with the Ukrainian communities established there.