Calgary Bandura

The bandura is the instrument of Ukraine, but it has played an important function in Calgary's Ukrainian community too.  The bandura movement in Calgary had its initial stages somewhere in the late 1970's and early 1980's.   Alberta Culture must have played a part, but I am sure community representatives including Calgary's Mrs. Lydia Hladyshevsky contributed greatly too.  I do remember that there was a great convergence of energetic support for bandura which brought about summer classes, year long lessons, performances, and animated bandura players!

J Kytasty 2012

The bandura is a stringed instrument considered the national musical instrument of Ukraine.  Prominent through history as harmonic support for singing and dancing, the bandura was adopted for recounting the stories of the day adding tone painting and colorful support to exciting exploits of the Ukrainian cossack warriors.  Kobzari - players of the bandura were persecuted for expressing uncomfortable truths during Stalinist times, many executed.  Despite censure, bandura interest has risen over the last century, especially because its striking sound has the capacity to express historical truths through music, and influence emotions regardless of words.  

I remember excitely unpacking my new bandura from Ukraine, and when we travelled to visit baba and dido in Manitoba, there was no question about bringing it along in the camper.   The bandura and a new cassette player with a radio rode with me on the bunkbed of the camper.  Somehow, late in the night, I managed to find a radio station from Windsor, and the beautiful sound of ensemble bandura playing enchanted me.  I remember the first song too!!  Zore moya vechirnyaya!  Зоре моя вечірняня! The entire trip home was dedicated to intent listening and extracting the parts for the voice and bandura.  By the time we got home, I could play it (in a kid way).  

While I began lessons with Professor Andrij Hornjatkevyc in Edmonton, with typical class and foresight, the Ukrainian community soon arranged for more unique opportunities for western Canadian participants.   They lured some of the most talented contemporary Ukrainian musicians of the time, sharing no expense in arranging for teachers of the prestigious Ukrainian Bandura Chorus for the program.  Victor Kytasty, Julian Kytasty (progeny of the amazing Hryhory Kytasty line) and Marko Bandera taught - the breadth of experience, talent and technical training was astonishing.  Edmonton and Calgary had hugely successful summer programs, lessons with ensemble work, individual classes and classic repertoire that resonated in the minds and spirits of families across the prairies.  Performances of stories, ballads, and dumas just like the ancient kobzari fed the community's sense of identity - it was resoundingly successful!

Julian Kytasty, the Ukrainian American composer, singer, kobzar, bandurist, flute player and conductor has had a passionate relationship with bandura - as you can read in this article from  Den'.

http://www.day.kiev.ua/235354

Will there be another phase in Calgary's bandura journey soon?  Let's hope!!

Delivering a Love Letter-Koliada 2013

The candle is lit, the table is set, the family welcomes the "diduch дідух - spirit of the the ancestors" and sits to a Holy Supper much like the Jewish Seder - Sviata Vecherya Святя Вечеря.   Feast on kutia кутя, the mysterious, sweet pudding of Neolithic origin or earlier? Rejoice, we continue to survive! We have lived to see the light of eternity in the darkest night of winter - and rejoice!

By the Julian Calendar, January 6 and 7th each year are the dates of Eastern Orthodox Christmas.  For the one quarter of Albertans for whom Ukraine is spiritual, ancestral homeland, it is Rizdvo Різдво, here on the prairies again!

After a forty day fast, a ritual feast of ancient dishes remind the family of past challenges, threats to survival.  A menu of "hard-time" foods, meat-less, dairy-less, nothing hunted, no bloodletting, but the incense of innocence, a New Baby Born.  Let's feast on the Good News!  Life is now better!   The Lamb will be fat!  We will drink the cup of eternity! A life of milk and honey is upon us! Even death will be filled with a satisfying aroma of anticipation!   Sing!  Isn't that Good News?

Christmas Carols tell the story, carolers arrive at the home.  If He knocks, will you open the door?  The ritual song, a recited greeting , and the hosts share their feast of food and drink with the travelers.

Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Ensemble is ready to carol in your home on the evenings of January 6, 7, 2013.  For more information please contact  info@tryzub.ca.

Some carols to enjoy in the meantime  - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpK_QxMfwvc

Calgary's Annual Ukrainian Carol Festival 2012

infoukes.com

"God Eternal is Born Today!" 

 These are the words to the most loved of Ukrainian Christmas Carols.  And on Sunday, December 9, 2012, Calgary will again join together to sing these amazing words - as a community!  During this Advent season, all the anticipation builds!  Singing together brings such merriment, peace and joy!

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Calgary Branch is inviting all of Calgary's Ukrainian community to join in the angelic songs at Calgary's Annual Ukrainian Christmas Festival.  Lighting of the tree, and the joyous singing celebration will take place at St. Stephen Protomartyr church at 7pm in the evening.  Families, children, choirs and smaller ensembles from the great city of Calgary will join and sing for the Holy Babe, for the Nativity of Christ. 

Make sure you put the date on your calendar -and bring the entire family for this warm, generous evening of Ukrainian Christmas Carols.  

Contact  Calgary's Ukrainian Canadian Congress for more information at http://www.calgaryucc.org/ and the hosts at St. Stephen the Protomartyr at http://www.protomartyr.ca/St_Stephen_Protomartyr/Home.html.

And to get you warmed up here are some Ukrainian Christmas Carols!!

Nova Radist Stala

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NqR75gB17M

Boh Sia Rozhdaye

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5mTyoYkERc&feature=relmfu

Dobrey Vechir Tobi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYh43FNymAM&feature=relmfu

Vselenaya Veselisia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRQ349yA45g

Ukrainian Christmas Medley

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBGjxtH9QE8&feature=relmfu

Korinnya Ukrainian Folk Ensemble Gearing Up

2011-2012

Korinnya choir is commencing their fall season with rehearsals on the second Monday of each month, beginning on November 12, 2012.  To join this enthusiastic group and participate in Calgary's Ukrainian Folk Choir - Korinnya, contact info@korinnya.com

For more information contact the group President, Marcia Maluta, at mmaluta@hotmail.com.
 

Ukrainian Gingerbread Man?



amazon.com

Oh, little Gingerbread cookie, I can't hear your singing!  Please come closer! No, closer yet!  Oh, just jump here on this long tongue of mine so I can hear your sweet singing.....

The Ukrainian folk tale has its own little twists and its own folkloric charm.  Whether you call him Medivnyk, Prianyk, or  Kolobok, or Pampushok, or ......the Little Honey Bun Story is a fun story for this fall season.  Reading the story, considering all the beautiful ethnographic messages in the colorful illustrations, and then singing the melodies of the folksong to a loved little person - or maybe a loved grown up?  How much fun is that?

In the traditional Ukrainian folk tale, the little pyrih, or small honey bun, comes alive and escapes from Baba, then from Dido, then from the rabbit, and the bear, but the wolf loves to hear the singing!  Pryanik (or little Kolobok) sings, "I escaped from Baba, I escaped from Dido, and I will run away from you too!" to each of his captors, until the wolf asks him to come closer, closer and then.......

What a delightful way to enjoy time with the children!

wikipedia.com

Honey has been one of Ukraine's traditional riches for thousands of years.  So using honey to bind a variety of flours (rye), makes for crisp little honey and spice cookies that rise well in the oven and have an extended shelf life.  They have been a traditional part of the Ukrainian palate forever.  The word "pryanosti" refers to them being exotic and spiced! Local tastes like berries (for their color and flavour) and nuts have always played their part too!

Medivnychky gained international accalim early in the 9th century, during medieval times.  Kings and royalty of Kievan Rus' attracted a lot of affluent visitors, while Kiev itself was an early crossroads for international commerce of the day.  Exotic smells, flavours and techniques and imported spices like  cloves, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, star anise, and citrus fruits (candied peels), nutmeg and peppercorns made for a popular treat! 

Today, medivnychki, prianiki, and kolobok recipes involve cookie presses, they can be found in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, painted with icing, or dusted lightly with sugars!

 

For a great traditional Ukrainian Tistechko - Medivnyk - Pryanik- try this lovely recipe. Enjoy!!

(Baba used a variant of this lovely and easy recipe.  The last part, adding the last bits of flour to the dough is the best part, everyone can participate and use up the excess energy in the house!)

Mix together 3 eggs, and 1 cup sugar until thick, creamy and light yellow. 
Heat 1 cup honey over a low heat with spices until the honey bubbles at the sides of the pot. Spices to try - 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 1/2 tsp cardamom.  Next time through, choose different spices!
Combine the dry ingredients, 1 tsp salt, 1 1/2 tsp soda, 2 cups flour and use a standing mixer to make a stiff dough. 
Wrap the dough ball and chill it in a refrigerator for an hour. 
Prepare the pans with shortening and preheat the oven.
Remove the dough ball.  Gradually add up to 2 more cups flour to make a soft rolling dough, moldable and not sticky. The better the dough is mixed, the higher the cookies will rise.
Roll the dough 1 cm thick and cut out small 4 cm rounds, re-rolling to use up the excess.   
Leave plenty of room between the medivnychki-pryaniki.  You can brush them lightly with egg for a soft glaze at this point.
Bake 10-15 minutes, or until slightly brown at 350 degrees.
Medivnychki burn easily and they will come out of the oven soft, but will crisp up quickly.
Remove, cool on sheets, and dust with icing sugar, or glaze with icing. 
Simple, old fashioned, and delicious!  Enjoy!

Store these cookies in a sealed tin, the flavour will mature with time, but they probably won't last that long.

Pryaniky, pryaniky, ya tebe z'iim!

Perhaps it is time for tistechka z molokom???

http://ukrainiancalgary.blogspot.ca/2012/08/medivnyk-honey-cake-of-gods.html