Description: The bandura is Indigenous so far only to the ukraine, in its current form. There are many types of bandura both regionally but more so in hisotorical context since the early days of Bandura evolution. The bandura's source is believed to have originated in the Boroque period in music. The bandura's function since its early beginnings is played by the kobzars' or bards. These were travelling bards who many players (kobzars or kobzari) were blind them selves. The bandura for a long time has remained a favorite of the Ukrainian Coassaks. The bandura's first origins are presumed around 7 century AD in the lands that are now Ukraine. As to the repertoire the first was many "epic folk melodies", then along came others that were transcribed for this instrument. Many instrumentalists including soloists also play this instrument. Various contempoary repertoire is also being added.

Anatomy of bandura: The Kyiv or chernyiv bandura has about 12 bass strings and 24 melody strings. My bandura has the common "zither" type tuning pegs, and the tuner its self in Ukranian is called a "klutch" meaning "Key". Many banduras are tuned diatonic but over all there are chromatic "concert" banduras in many types too. Some even have adjustable tuners that can raise or lower the pitch. these were produced occasionally in the Ukraine under the former Soviet Union. the base strings are 12, the melody strings for my Chernyhiv bandura is 25 strings.

Bandura education: The bandura was tought as a solo, and accompinamant instrument in many of the conservatories through the Ukraine. The concept of Bandura education is assumed to date back since 1738 thanks to a music academy in what was then "Hlukhiv ". At this school both violin and Bandura were tought. This was considered to be the first education center in Tsarist times. Musicians would prepare in this school prior to singing/reciting for the Tzar. The education process continued till the 1900s, after a multi taltened musician though trained as engineer was Hnat Khotkevych, had composed and written the first primer for the bandura. Formal conservative courses started after the cultrual revolution of the former Soviet Union. Many bandurists along with others were persecuted under the Stalinist era 1920s to 1950s. citation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandura - Today majors in bandura education are offered in Ukraine by many of the conservatories.

Updated as of 2007.11.26 Monda