Traditional Ukrainian Minstrel Performance

February 4, 2009 -- You are invited to take advantage of a fabulous and rare opportunity to see and hear a lost artform that is being brought to us in Canada from Ukraine.

For those who do not know, Kobzary, or Ukrainian minstrels, were often elderly or blind men, who travelled the countryside with the aid of orphaned or runaway children who served as their eyes in the world and took care of them in exchange for company, safety, food, and purpose. The minstrels would often sing/share the news of the epic Kozak (independent Ukrainian warriors) battles, folk songs, or religious hymns/psalms, as they travelled from town to town.

Performances of one song could vary greatly depending on the region of Ukraine that they were visiting and the preferred musical styles of the regions: Podilliya, Kharkivshchyna, Poltavshchyna, and Lemkivshchyna.

It is an entire field of study to which I haven't served it justice, but hopefully helps explain the significance of this visit/event.

They are highly skilled and knowledgable in a lost art and tradition.

If you are interested in cultural events or traditional styles of Ukrainian music/instrumentation, this might be of interest to you or other contacts you may have, or to a cultural/faith community to which you belong.

The two who are coming to Regina have studied this lost traditional artform and are bringing traditional musical instruments that have not often been heard in Canada. It is a rare opportunity and one that should not be missed!

Some of us will be hearing these songs and instruments for the very first time. In true minstrel tradition, they will only be in Regina for Feb 9 and 10, before continuing on to Winnipeg, Toronto, and back to Ukraine at the end of that week.

They will be performing at Selo Gardens (see attached poster) on Feb 10th at 7:30 pm as well as for a closed performance/workshop in Miller High School's Theatre with the Ukrainian Program that same afternoon. Please see the attached bios for more information on them.

UCC-Regina Branch is generously subsidizing the associated costs of hosting them in our city, through the greater support provided by the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies which covered their international flights and time in Edmonton.

The performing artists are also available to do workshops in dance (traditional court dances) and music, should a dance or other group of interest wish to expand their repertoire.

If interested in hosting a Feb 9th show, please contact Holly Paluck as soon as possible for more information.

They arrive the morning of Feb 9th and could essentially do an afternoon as well as an evening workshop/performance that same day, with the host organization covering their honorariums for each commitment. They are here anyways, and we might as well get as much cultural enlightenment from this visit as we can!

Also requested is your help in promoting this unique cultural event amongst your own contact list, should you know of anyone who might be interested either in attending or hosting the duo. Organizers need to find out as soon as possible if there is any interest in optional shows as it is only a couple of days away!