Folk Arts - Master Artist - Alexander J. Krynytzky

Alexander Krynytzky. Photo Fritz Dent

In the Ukrainian community, the bandura has been identified with the role of the kobzar, or traditional Ukrainian bard. The kobzar told his people’s stories through the ballads he sang, accompanied by a bandura. The Ukrainian bandura is an instrument similar to a lute or a small harp, but the term also refers to the style of music that reflects a tradition of oral history in Ukrainian culture. Bandura playing dwindled during the Soviet regime, when artists were politically persecuted. Consequently, the numbers of those who knew the tradition declined. Few references of bandura are written in music texts, and existing information is often inaccurate.

As a recipient of a 1994 Apprenticeship grant, Alex Krynytzky taught John Patrick to play the Ukrainian bandura. John seeks to eventually fill this role in contemporary culture, and to become a voice of Ukrainian folk heritage. During his apprenticeship, Patrick studied formal music theory and notation, and complemented this by integrating Ukrainian language and history into his lessons. The efforts of both Alex Krynytzky and John Patrick will help to sustain this art form for future generations.