MUSIC NOTES: Bandurna Rozmova offers diversity, virtuosity in concert (12/10/06)

MUSIC NOTES: Bandurna Rozmova offers diversity, virtuosity in concert

by Roma Dockhorn

PHILADELPHIA - Bandurna Rozmova, a duo featuring Taras Lazurkevych and Oleh Sozansky, played two programs in the Philadelphia area recently. On Friday, November 10, they presented a program at Swarthmore College to an audience of mostly students. The next evening they played a slightly longer program for a Ukrainian audience at the Ukrainian League of Philadelphia.

I have heard their recordings, and I have heard them play a few numbers at festivals; but to hear their program is a very different level of experience. The whole program shows the diversity of all the different sounds a virtuoso can bring out from a bandura.

Sandwiched between their usual opening number, "Banduryste, Orle Syzyi," and their customary ending of "Zirvalasia Khurtovyna," they presented a broad variety of vocal and instrumental numbers. There were the traditional folk songs; there were numbers played on the Kharkiv bandura and compositions by Hnat Khotkevych.

In addition to singing and playing bandura, Mr. Lazurkevch plays various folk flutes. His haunting composition "Small Motif of Heavy Sorrow," in which he combines a folk flute sopilka with the bandura, shows contemporary expression of the deepest feelings on the bandura. Hearing the close harmonies of two baritones blending is truly a unique and very satisfying experience.

Mr. Lazurkevych treated the audience to the "Duma about Kozak Holota," a rare duma with a strong dose of ironic humor where not only the text but also the musical accompaniment (attributed to Khotkevych) expresses the heroism and humor of Kozak Holota.

Mr. Sozansky played the rarely performed "Slave Market in Caffa," also by Khotkevych.

Both of these numbers were performed on a Kharkiv bandura.

One listener at the performance in Swarthmore, who had never knowingly heard the bandura, said that the very first number "Banduryste, Orle Syzyi" brought out goosebumps - that's how moving it was. This listener, of Italian background, grew up cleaning house to the accompaniment of Rigoletto.

I overheard an audience member at the performance at the Ukrainian League say that she felt that she had seen two angels on stage.

It was a most unusual performance. If you have an opportunity to experience a concert by Bandurna Rozmova, by all means seek it out.

Messrs. Lazurkevych and Sozansky are in the U.S. until the middle of January. They may be contacted at 440-12-8103 or [email protected].

Roma Dockhorn of Southampton, Pa., has played the bandura for over two decades. She has studied with such masters as Julian Kytasty and Victor Mishalow at bandura camps in the U.S. and Canada. She has facilitated bandura workshops at Manor College and has performed at art openings and coffeehouses in the Philadelphia area.

| Home Page |