Ukrainian-American musicians continue a 100-year tradition of telling the story of Ukraine through a unique instrument, the Bandura during a rehearsal Saturday in Parma. Video: John Pana,
Three dozen male singers bellowed in Ukrainian, driven by the striking sound of an almost mythical instrument called the bandura; nine of them, to be exact. At first sight, the bandura looks like a cross between a lute and a guitar, with 60 strings across the front of its hollow wooden body.
This week, they have experienced deep grief watching the Russian invasion of their native country. On Saturday, they gathered with a sense of purpose, carrying on a century-old tradition of celebrating Ukrainian culture and history in the face of persecution. Some of them are local; some members flew in from across the United States and Canada.
“Given the war in Ukraine, we’ve pivoted very quickly to take part in humanitarian aid concerts. We want everyone in Ukraine, our family, our friends, to know that we love them, that we miss them, that we’re advocating for them in whatever way we can.” “It’s almost surreal for us to see what’s happening in Ukraine right now, but we have a strong feeling of resolve. The choir’s history is telling the truth through wars and bad regimes. They’ve always had this function of lifting people’s spirits.”