The kobzari journey across Europe: Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus's 85th anniversary tour
by Anatoli W. Murha
The all-male Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus has a long and proud history of representing Ukrainian bandura and choral music on the international stage since its founding in 1918. Fortified by a whole new generation of young musicians, the chorus has captivated audiences in major concert halls in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and Ukraine for more than 50 years. Today the majority of chorus members are second- and third-generation Americans and Canadians, with a growing number of recent immigrants from Ukraine.
The musicians all volunteer their talents and time for the mission of the ensemble. Though the chorus has been based in the Metro Detroit area since 1949, it represents talented artists from all across North America, including: Alberta, British Columbia, Maryland, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Ontario and Pennsylvania. Members travel to Detroit for weekend rehearsals. On a typical Saturday, the chorus will rehearse for over eight hours. Rehearsal starts back up again on Sunday and finishes in the afternoon.
The year 2003 commemorates the 85th anniversary of the UBC. For this celebration, the chorus presented concerts in Windsor and Toronto, Ontario; Detroit and Cleveland, before departing for its historic tour of Europe.
The idea of a European tour arose in the year 2000. Discussions and ideas among members began earlier, but it was not until the new millennium arrived that the executive board and the Artistic Council of the UBC took the challenge of touring Europe to a new level of commitment. As the president of UBC, the principal responsibility of coordinating the tour was my new project.
Various ideas and plans were presented, and in the end, a decision was made to work with a professional touring company that specializes in organizing tours for musical groups. We chose to work with Classical Movements Inc, an internationally recognized touring company whose clients include some of America's most beloved institutions: John. F. Kennedy Center for the Arts, the National Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
The mission of the tour
For approximately two years, I worked with Classical Movements on behalf of the chorus to develop an itinerary that best suited our goals for the tour. We had four objectives in mind:
To gain a better understanding of the tour route and logistics surrounding them, Classical Movements requested that I, along with Oleh Mahlay, the UBC's artistic director and conductor, visit the locales the chorus was planning to tour. For eight days in November of 2002 we visited Manchester and London, England; Paris, Strasbourg and Saint Avold, France; Munich, Germany; and Vienna, Austria. Making our way back to the United States, we both were very impressed with the venues Classical Movements had chosen, and even more impressed with the contacts they had to ensure those venues as performance stops.
For the next eight months our rehearsal schedule was more intensive. Our work as the executive board and Artistic Council expanded as various logistics had to be handled, such as finalizing the concert ensemble, preparing logistics of concert program, renting sound equipment, and finalizing plans for a video, audio and stage crew. While the administrative responsibilities were challenging, the leadership of the group had the pleasure of working with a highly motivated team. The mission was truly understood by the membership.
Destination: Manchester
Chorus members knew that June 25 was an important date. The plane tickets and itineraries were all set for a June 25 departure. Being that the chorus is spread all throughout North America, we flew from Detroit, New York and Toronto.
Upon arrival in Manchester on June 26 the excitement intensified and we were ready to get on with the tour. We had 66 people on the tour plus a professional tour guide (Constanze) provided by Classical Movements. The 66 included 51 performers, plus wives of members and guests who paid to join the tour, along with a video, audio and road crew.
The individuals were assigned to one of two buses. The Kytasty and Bozhyk buses had their own historical significance. Volodymyr Bozhyk and Hryhory Kytasty conducted the UBC during its 1958 tour of Europe, and via the buses they were once again with us in Europe.
Upon arrival at the hotel, we had the opportunity to relax before our welcome dinner hosted by the touring company.
June 27 - our first concet
We departed the hotel in shirts and ties on Thursday morning for an afternoon rehearsal at the Ukrainian Hall. Here the managers and workers of the hall warmly welcomed us as we fine-tuned for the evening's performance - our first concert in Europe since 1938. As the afternoon progressed, the excitement grew among the group, even with the rain pounding away outside.
Our venue was the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), which has roots dating back to the 19th century, and was described to me as the Juilliard of England. Our concert was to be held in the hexagon-shaped Brown Shipley Concert Hall.
Once we arrived, the process of set-up began. The road crew and choir members positioned speakers, microphones, cables, wires and monitors, while the other members of the road crew helped set up the sales table, the video crew set up their cameras, and the instrumentalists tuned their banduras. The 8 p.m. curtain time was approaching. In our new costumes, which were exquisitely prepared by artisans in Ukraine, we were ready for our first concert.
The excitement of the audience fueled our intensity on stage. We received a standing ovation at the end of the first half of the concert after performing the epic piece "Bayda," with soloists Andrij Soroka as the Sultan and John Zinchuk as Bayda. We performed three encores after the second half of the concert to standing ovations. It was a great way to kick off a tour.
June 28-29 - London
We departed London on Saturday, June 28, and had an opportunity to stop in Oxford for lunch. We arrived in London in the early evening and had the opportunity to walk around and tour the city. We were fortunate that our hotel was very close to city center, and were able to be within walking distance of Westminster Abbey, Scotland Yard, Big Ben and the Millennium Wheel, along with other tourist attractions.
On Sunday, June 29, we started our day sharing our music by singing the divine liturgy at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Family in Exile. The cCathedral was filled beyond capacity. Standing outside afterwards, parishioners were blocking traffic on the street to have an opportunity to speak with chorus members. Following the service, the cathedral invited the chorus for a luncheon before we departed back to the hotel.
That evening, the chorus would presented its music at the historic St. John's, Smith Square. Its location in the heart of Westminster makes it one of London's major concert venues. The actual construction took place in 1728, but was damaged during World War II and later was being restored. With approximately 600 people in attendance, the concert was very well received by the mixed audience of English and Ukrainians.
June 30-July 2 - Paris
On June 30 we departed on another rainy morning for Paris. This travel day would take us through the Chunnel. The buses drove up into a rail car and 30 minutes later we were in Calais, France. Heading towards Paris, we stopped at Vimy Ridge to pay our respects to the Canadian soldiers who fought in World War I. Vimy Ridge is a strategic escarpment that overlooks the Douai Plain in France. The Germans controlled the ridge, while 150,000 French and British troops died trying to take it back. The Canadians came in with their battle plan and overtook the ridge, losing 3,600 soldiers if four days.
The limestone memorial at Vimy Ridge with its twin stone pillars list the names of 11,285 soldiers who died in France. The Canadian members of the UBC sang their national anthem, "O Canada," and the entire chorus paid their respects to the fallen soldiers with "Vichnaya Pamiat."
We finally arrived in Paris, where our hotel was situated in the Montmarte District that was very close to the Basilique du Sacre Coeur.
July 1, 2003, will reign as one of the group's most unique experiences in its long history, forever staying in the hearts, minds, voices and banduras of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus. Classical Movements was able to schedule a special performance for the chorus in the world-famous Cathedral of Nôtre Dame. A short recital of sacred works was performed a capella and with banduras.
With thousands of tourists visiting every hour, the chorus had the opportunity to share its music with people from all over the world. By the end of the performance, over 1,000 people were sitting and watching the concert, while hundreds more were watching from the side as the chorus performed in the majestic and historic cathedral. The chorus was led by Oleh Mahlay, as well as the UBC's assistant conductor, Ihor Kusznir.
The reaction was overwhelming. We met many Ukrainians, Parisians, Americans, Canadians, Chinese and others who were enthralled with the song and the instrument. Many tried coming close to the altar to have a better look at the bandura. This was truly a historic event for the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus.
The construction of the Nôtre Dame began in 1163 and was completed in 1345. During its history, Nôtre Dame has hosted various official ceremonies: Henri VI of England was crowned here in 1430; on December 2, 1804, after the anointing by Pius VII, Napoleon seized the crown from the pontiff and crowned first himself, then Josephine; the requiem mass for Gen. Charles de Gaulle was held here November 12, 1970; and on May 31, 1980, after the Magnificat of this day, Pope John Paul II celebrated mass on the parvis in front of the cathedral.
That evening, the chorus performed a full concert to hundreds at the historic American Cathedral in Paris before a very enthusiastic audience of Ukrainians, Americans and Parisians, along with many Ukrainians from outside of Paris who organized bus trips to get to the concert.
The American Cathedral's origins date back to the 1830s. The church's current location was consecrated on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1886, coinciding with the dedication of the Statue of Liberty in New York.
July 3 - Strasbourg
On July 3, we departed Paris for the 500-kilometer (300-mile) bus drive to Strasbourg, France, which is close to German border in the Alsace region. Our concert was held the same evening of our arrival. Our venue, the Église du Temple Neuf, was a church in the middle of town center, close to Strasbourg's famous cathedral. The intimate audience welcomed our music extremely warmly.
Strasbourg is home to the Council of Europe, an intergovernmental organization that works to better the cultural, humanitarian, and political aspects of Europe. The Council of Europe is a distinct organization not to be confused with the European Union.
The following day, we were part of yet another historic event.
July 4 - Saint Avold
After a morning tour of Strasbourg, we departed for Saint Avold, France, site of the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial that is the burial ground for 10,489 American soldiers from World War II. Saint Avold was a strategic communications center for the Third Reich during the war.
Since World War II, Saint Avold and the United States have shared strong cultural, social and political ties. This is mostly due to the efforts of Sir Benno Niedzielski, our host in Saint Avold. Sir Benno fought for her majesty's military during the second world war and was eventually knighted for his efforts in bringing down the Germans - both by shooting down German planes and by taking out a submarine installation.
Over the years Sir Benno and his fellow cultural enthusiasts in Saint Avold felt it was necessary to keep strong ties with America. When Sir Benno first heard of the UBC's tour, he asked Classical Movements to schedule a concert in Saint Avold to perform on July 4. A week's worth of cultural activities was planned leading up to our arrival and eventual concert.
Our July 4 started with a commemoration visit at the cemetery, where we were greeted by Sir Benno, and American military personnel from the cemetery - the largest burial ground of American soldiers in Europe, surpassing that of Normandy. Here, flanked by local television, the UBC had an opportunity to sing "Amazing Grace," "God Bless America" and "Vichnaya Pamiat" out of respect for the fallen soldiers and to commemorate America's independence.
After visiting the cemetery, the UBC was invited to the City Hall and presented with a gift on behalf of the mayor of Saint Avold.
Our audience of over 900 French at the Culture Center was one of the most enthusiastic audiences ever of the tour. For many in the chorus this was one of the greatest moments we shared as cultural ambassadors of our music and bandura, as the overwhelming majority of the audience was not of Ukrainian descent.
July 5-7 - Munich, Regensburg
Our departure for Germany was exciting. Our Ukrainian brethren in Munich had been waiting 45 years to hear our banduras once again. Upon arrival in Munich, the chorus was greeted by local Ukrainian representatives, and especially by bandura enthusiast Andrij Nesmachnyj.
On Sunday, July 6, the chorus departed for the Ukrainian Catholic church to sing the divine liturgy. Here, the chorus sang to a beyond capacity. At the end of the service, each chorus member was presented with a gift, a rose, as a token of appreciation by the church and community for the chorus' participation in the liturgy.
Later that day, the chorus presented a full concert at the Goethe Institut. This emotionally charged concert would be a constant memory for both performers and audience members. People were literally spilling onto the stage to see the chorus as there was no more room left to sit, or stand.
The following day the chorus traveled to Regensburg for a homecoming. After being established in Kyiv in 1918, the next 30 years were not easy for its members. Eventually, the chorus made its way to the displaced persons camps of Germany, and landed in Regensburg in 1948. Regensburg was home to the chorus for 1948 and a portion of 1949 - thus, being its last European address.
Fast forward to 2003: the Ukrainian Bandurist chorus was to be hosted by the Donumenta Club of Regensburg. The Donumenta Club is a leading cultural organization in Regensburg that was developed to promote cultural relationships with other countries. The year 2003 was devoted to Ukraine. Here, we as Ukrainian Americans and Ukrainian Canadians were once again playing our most important role as ambassadors of Ukrainian music and culture. The response was overwhelmingly positive. The Donumenta Club graciously hosted the chorus at a reception and bid farewell to the chorus as they departed for their final destination - Vienna.
July 8-10 - Vienna
Our last destination leads us to the home of Johann Strauss and the Imperial Palace. On the way to Vienna, we were able to quickly stop in Salzburg to visit Mozart's birthplace. Our final concert took place on July 9 at 8 p.m. at the Dominikanerkirche.
Built in the mid 1600s, the Dominikanerkirche is a well-preserved and sacred site that is very rarely used for public performances. At the decision of the council of monks at the Dominikanerkirche, the chorus was granted permission to perform in this magnificent venue.
Before the concert, the chorus had the opportunity to visit St. Barbara's Ukrainian Catholic Church and learn about the Ukrainian community in Vienna.
Classical Movements hosted us at a farewell dinner after the concert. Afterwards, chorus members made it back to their hotel where they spent the evening reminiscing the various experiences. At 5 a.m. on July 10, the Kytasty bus left Hotel Kummer for the airport and the first wave of chorus members started to make their way back to North America.
In memoriam
Before departing for Europe, the chorus learned that one of its active members, Omelan Helbig, was diagnosed with stomach cancer and would not be able to travel with us on tour. We prayed for our beloved "Milko" and visited him before our departure. On July 5, Omelan fell asleep to the Lord as we were in Munich. On July 4, chorus member Orest Sushko lost his father, Makar, after a long illness. Makar was an active member in the chorus in the early 1950s and spent many years actively promoting Ukrainian music throughout Canada.
We honored their memory in Munich by singing "Vichnaya Pamiat" after the divine liturgy. We thank them for their years of service to music, and to the chorus. Their memories will last forever in the hearts and minds of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus.
Concert ensemble and repertoire
This tour brought together veterans of the UBC along with a new young generation of talented bandura players. The repertoire included a mix of UBC standards such as "Yaseny" and "Tiutiunnyk," along with well-known instrumental selection "Homin Stepiv." The choral and bandura sound, along with a wide array of soloists - which included Mychail Newmerzyckyj, Teodozij Pryshlak, Andrij Soroka, John Zinchuk, Lubomyr Yakimiv, Taras Zakordosnki, Ihor Kusznir, Zenon Chaikovsky, Walater Sklierenko, Ihor Krislaty and Oleh Moroz - reflected the diversity of chorus. Its ability to perform German, French ad English songs was welcomed by the audiences.
Final thoughts
As the president of the chorus, it was this writer's responsibility to coordinate the tour. Without the assistance of many individuals and organizations, this would not have been possible. The chorus would like to thank all financial supporters, and many individuals and organizations who contributed in the organizational efforts of this historic tour.
As the people left the final concert in Vienna, one could feel a sense of accomplishment by members of the chorus. The last two weeks saw eight full performances, two liturgies, and a once-in-a-lifetime performance at the Cathedral of Nôtre Dame. Our mission was completed. We presented Ukrainian music and the bandura to audiences that were familiar with the chorus, and to audiences who had never heard Ukrainian music or the bandura. Thousands heard us, and the word has spread to North America.
For more information about the chorus, its releases and concerts, we invite readers to log on to our newly re-designed website, www.bandura.org.
Anatoli Murha, the president of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus, coordinated the European tour for the chorus.
Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, November 16, 2003, No. 46, Vol. LXXI
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