Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus travels to Ukraine for anniversary celebrations (09/02/01)

THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF UKRAINE'S INDEPENDENCE

Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus travels to Ukraine for anniversary celebrations

by Roman Woronowycz
Kyiv Press Bureau

KYIV - Somewhat disgruntled with Ukrainian organizers, but generally satisfied with its performances, the legendary Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus of North America made its third tour of Ukraine since independence between August 15 and 21 - this one in conjunction with 10th anniversary celebrations of Ukraine's independence.

The creative and administrative directors of the renowned musical ensemble said on August 20 that they were disappointed by the way the organizing committee for the cultural program of the Third World Forum of Ukrainians had treated them, especially by insisting that they not play a preferred song.

Oleh Mahlay, conductor and music director of the legendary chorus known throughout the world for its dumas, ballads and marching songs, and the kobzar tradition it maintains, said that as far as he was concerned the organizers stifled their creative freedom.

"At the least, it raises the issue of censorship," explained Mr. Mahlay.

Mr. Mahlay said the song in question, "March of the Ukrainian Youth," with words by Ivan Bahrianyi, was chosen because in his opinion it symbolically describes the situation in which today's Ukrainian youth finds itself.

He explained that he was asked to cut the song from the chorus repertoire for the "Ukrainian Song in the World" program at the Palats Ukrainy on the evening of August 18, which was the gala concert of the Third World Forum of Ukrainians, even though the group had prepared it and four other songs especially for the occasion.

Mr. Mahlay and the president of the chorus, Anatolii Murha, said they believe the organizers were intimidated by the words of the song, which includes phrases such as "Let the dark-powered enemies beware, young Ukraine is coming forth."

Mr. Murha said the bandurists were told there was no time for their full repertoire and that they should get rid of the homage to Ukrainian youth, even though others there had told them it was their best song.

"We are kobzars; we send a message in our songs," explained Mr. Mahlay. "We thought the song fit really well. It had a message we wanted to send." In their opinion it was a message the organizers did not want heard.

However, Ms. Olia Bench-Shokalo, the concert's music director, said the real issue was not in the words of the song or even the lack of time, but fairness.

"The Bandurist Chorus had five songs scheduled, while other artistic groups who had never appeared in Ukraine, like an Argentinean dance group and an accordionist, had only one number," explained Ms. Shokalo. "I thought they would at least give some of their time to a Canadian dance ensemble [Rusalka], which also had but a single dance scheduled." Two Ukrainian Canadian folk dance ensembles performed at the concert: Rusalka of Winnipeg and Ukraina of Toronto.

Ms. Shokalo emphasized that the song is not all that controversial in Ukraine and used to be heard often, whereas the other songs in the bandurists' repertoire were less known, and that is why she suggested striking that one.

While the musical director said she was disappointed with the chorus's indifference to the desires of fellow performers and their confrontational attitude, the two leaders of the Detroit-based Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus said they were put off by the concert director's attitude towards them and by a screaming fit she allegedly had when they tried to convince her unsuccessfully to allow them to play the song in question.

Mr. Mahlay and Mr. Murha agreed that the problems at the concert were but one aspect of a general state of disorganization that surrounded the musical appearances they made at the two official venues they played during their five-day stay in Kyiv.

"I think that to a large extent it is a reflection of the problems in Ukrainian society," said Mr. Mahlay.

They had better experiences during four other performances, at a free show at the fabled Teachers Building organized by the U.S. Embassy, at St. Michael's Golden-Domed Cathedral where they sang the Sunday divine liturgy, at Askold's Tomb where they sang a panakhyda to the students killed at Kruty in 1918, and then at a private reception for World Forum guests and delegates from the United States at the residence of the American ambassador.

For Mr. Mahlay the highlight of the trip, which he said turned out well even with the organizational irritations, was the performance at the Teachers Building. "It was such a wonderful feeling," he explained. "We had just walked on stage and received a standing ovation immediately."

According to him, the Ukrainians present there were the true future of the country.

"These are the people Ukraine will have to rely on for a better Ukraine," he explained. "The track record just doesn't show that the by-invitation-only crowd will build a democratic Ukraine."

This was the third visit to Ukraine by the famed bandura ensemble since Ukraine declared independence in 1991.

The Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus was founded in 1918 and has a long and rich history as one of the top bandurist choruses in the world. After suffering persecution under the Stalin terror, its members fled to the United States after World War II. Its legendary music director and conductor, the late Hryhorii Kytasty, settled in Detroit, and made the city the new home for his bandura ensemble.

In 1991 the chorus returned to Ukraine with a 14-city tour of the country under the direction of conductor Wolodymyr Kolesnyk. It returned for a second tour in 1994, this time of the southern oblasts and Crimea.

The 2001 tour came after the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America and the Ukrainian American Coordinating Council designated the chorus as the official representative cultural group from the United States for the 10th anniversary celebrations in Ukraine.

The ensemble is the 1992 recipient of the Taras Shevchenko Ukrainian State Prize, the highest award that can be bestowed by the country for excellence and contribution to the arts.

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