Bandura - Early History

Early History

The use of lute-like instruments by the inhabitants of the lands that now constitute Ukraine dates back to 591. In that year Byzantine Greek chronicles mention Bulgar warriors who travelled with lute-like instruments which they call "kitharas".

There are iconographic depictions of lute-like instruments in the 11th-century frescoes of St. Sophia Cathedral in Kiev, once the capital of a vast medieval kingdom of the Rus'. It is not known by what specific term these instruments were referred to in these early times, although it has been surmised that the lute-like instrument was referred to by the generic medieval Slavic term for a string instrument - husli.

The instrument became popular in the courts of the nobility in Eastern Europe. There are numerous citations mentioning the existence of Ukrainian bandurists in both Russia and Poland. Empress Elisabeth of Russia (the daughter of Peter the Great) was secretly married to her Ukrainian court bandurist, Olexii Rozumovsky.

Use of the instrument fell into decline amongst the nobility with the introduction of Western musical instruments and Western Music fashions, but it remained the favourite instrument of the Ukrainian Cossacks. After the destruction of the Zaporozhian Sich the instrument continued to be played by wandering blind itinerant musicians known as kobzari primarily in Right bank Ukraine.