WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO NOW?

[hammer]

While in Ukraine during the last 2-weeks, I had the opportunity to see to see the guys in the Youtube videos below in concert as part of a cultural experience provided by one of the Universities hosting my colleague and me.  After the concert, I got interested in the “bandura” which is a Ukrainian folk instrument that’s sort of like a zither and/or lute and started asking some questions about it to my host in Kharkiv who is a faculty at a University on the area and is blind (I only share that because it’s a critical part of the story).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEs-lrdfqik Nirvana -  Smells Like Teen Spirit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSzJJG4IhRM Queen – The Show Must Go On


One question was sufficient to open the door and have then take us to a local workshop where people (many with disabilities) were making the instrument.  The body of the bandura I was told is usually made from sycamore, cherry, maple, or red willow and is typically carved from a single piece of wood with a scraper that looks like a large, thick  single edge razor blade. The treble nut and pin collar are made from maple or beech, and the sound board is spruce. On the banduras I saw 15-55 or 60 steel strings were used, the lower ones wound with brass, or bronze.

The history of the instrument dates back many years with the persons who played it historically being individuals who were blind. After visiting the shop, my host took me to the monument pictured in the photo below.  If you’ll notice the bandura depicted is broken.  When I asked my colleague why that was the case she told me the following story.
In the early 1930’s when Ukraine was part of Russia and Stalin was in power, the official state line on all artists was that they were subversive and needed to be removed from society.  Bandura players were considered tripley dangerous because the bnadura was a uniquely Ukrainian instrument and Soviet State did not want it known that it had a relatively large number of persons who were blind. In 1932, on the order of Stalin, the Soviet authorities called on all Ukrainian bandura players to attend a congress in Kharkiv. Those that arrived were taken outside the city and were all put to death.

Today, disability groups in Ukraine, especially those for persons who are blind have embraced the bandura and are attempting to help it make a comeback by both producing them once again and learning to play the instrument.

[tbrannon]

This song is an absolute blast.

[pauldo]

^^^ 

[Phantom309]

Wes Montgomery/Wynton Kelly Trio--Smokin' at the Half Note

that might be the best jazz guitar record of all time.

[dead_head]

Steve Hunter's new solo cd  "Before The Lights Go Out"  aptly named because he is going blind from pigmentary glaucoma,
and this may be his last solo effort...   

[David Houck]

Very interesting story on the bandura, Brian; thanks.

[edwardofhuncote]

Very interesting story on the bandura, Brian; thanks.

And dark. I read Brian's post yesterday, but it stayed with me all evening. I had actually heard part of that before, but I think it was so disturbing that I blocked it out.

[edwardofhuncote]

Apparently, the bandura made it to America too. This Vega mandolin is from 1913, and as the label proclaims, they made bandurrias (sp.?) too. I found it in the attic of an old garage, its top crushed. Seemed like a worthy project. I used it for a short time in an 1860's period-social band called The String-Tyme Minstrels. We used to do living history and Civil War re-enactment engagements as the village band. Wonder what those guys are up to these days?

Sorry for the ramble... I'm not really listening to anything today. Woke up with a headache this morning, and fought my way through playing at church, now I'm binge-watching the last few episodes of "I Dream of Jeannie"   

[hammer]

A few of the many different sides of Aussie ,Tash Sultana

 

[edwardofhuncote]

"Hawktail" (formerly Haas, Kowert, & Tice...)

Love the interesting things they do with meter here.

[David Houck]

Greg; that was wonderful.

[David Houck]

Chopin; Ballade No. 1 in G Minor

This is a favorite.

[elwoodblue]

Greg; that was wonderful.

have to agree,thanks

[cozmik_cowboy]

Man, I really wish the RAM I ordered would hurry up & get here so I could upgrade my OS so I could upgrade my browser so I could catch up on all these vids!


Peter (who is beginning to hate China Post.......)

[David Houck]