Persecuted bandurists

Many bandurists and kobzars were persecuted by the authorities that controlled Ukraine at various times because of the association of the bandura to the Cossack past and aspects of Ukrainian history which the kobzars would glorify in their songs and epics.

Bandurists, usually blind musicians, were persecuted since the seventeenth-eighteenth century at the times when much of Ukrainian lands were controlled by Poland. The administration viewed the Kobzarstvo tradition as being dangerous because it incited people against its authority. The persecution of these singers continued in varying degrees and by different administrations. In the 1930s the authentic kobzar tradition was finally eliminated by the Soviet authorities.

It is hard to establish the exact number of bandurists who were persecuted in various ways. As more information has been coming to light, the number of musicians who were arrested, interned or executed has been rising. It is unmatched in any other folk tradition in Europe.

Polish persecution

Initially bandurists from Ukrainian were popular in the courts of Polish kings, however after the revolution of 1648 interest in Ukrainian bandura music in Poland dissipated. There are accounts of blind bandurists in Right bank Ukraine being skinned alive or quartered because of their participation in various insurrections. [Ukrainian M. Lytvyn - Struny zolotiyi-Kyiv, 1994 p.26-7]

Russian tsarist persecution

While kobzarstvo was persecuted by the Polish authorities in the right-Bank Ukraine it initially flourished in the left-Bank Ukraine controlled by Russia.

In 1876 however, with the publication of the Ems Ukaz stage performances by kobzars and bandurists was officially banned. Paragraph 4 was specifically aimed at preventing all music including ethnographic performances in the Ukrainian language. As a result blind professional musicians such as the kobzars turned to the street for their sustenance. In the major Russian speaking cities they were often treated like common street beggars by the non-Ukrainian population, being arrested and having their instruments destroyed. The restrictions and brutal persecution were only halted in 1902 after a special delegation was sent to the Ministry of Internal Affairs from the Imperial Archaeological Society.

Persecution under the Soviets

Persecution of bandurists and kobzari by the Soviet authorities can be divided up into various periods. These periods differed in the type and length of persecution and punishments were dealt out and also the reason for the punishment.

# 1918-20 period of establishing Soviet power
# 1928-30 period and the Union for the Liberation of Ukraine.
# 1932-34 period - The Holodomor
# 1937-38 period - Yezhovshchyna
# 1943-48 period - Post war retribution
# 1950 - Western Ukrainian deportations

The Revolution and the establishment of Soviet power

In 1918-20 a number of bandurists were shot by Bolsheviks after the October Revolution, during the Russian Civil War. Most of these bandurists were members of the various Ukrainian Armed forces or played for Ukrainian soldiers. Current accounts list some 20 known bandurists who perished in this time period. Few kobzari are included in this list. Few records accurately document the deaths of bandurists from this period.

From 1923 there was a period of tolerance to Ukrainian language and culture existed whilst Soviet power was entrenched in the country.During this time the popularity of the bandura grew considerably and unheeded.

1928 and the Union for the Liberation of Ukraine

In 1926 the Communist party began to fight against nationalist aberrations within the Communist party. In 1927 the Central Committee decreed that Russian was a special language within the Soviet Union.

By 1928, restrictions came into force directly affected the lifestyle of the traditional kobzars, and stopped them from traveling without a passport and performing without a license. Restrictions were also placed of accommodations that were not registered and also on manufacturing or making banduras without a license.In July, 1929 many Ukrainian intellectuals were arrested for being members of the Union for the Liberation of Ukraine. A number of prominent bandurists disappeared at about this time. Most of these bandurists had taken part in the Revolution of 1918 on the side of the Ukrainian National Republic. With the prosecution of the members of the organization for the Liberation of Ukraine a number of bandurists and also people who had helped organize bandura ensembles were included. Some were arrested and sent to camps in Siberia. Others were sent to dig the White Sea Canal. Some bandurists were able to escape from these camps. In the 1930s there was also a wave of arrests of bandurists in the Kuban. Many of these arrested bandurists received relatively light sentences of 5-10 years camp detentions or exile usually in Siberia.

1932-1934. The end of Ukrainization

In the 1930's the authentic kobzar tradition of wandering musicians in Ukraine came to an end.

In 1978 evidence came to light (Solomon Volkov's Testimony: The Memoirs of Shostakovych and L. Plyushch's History's Carnival) about the mass murder of the Ukrainian blind musicians by the Soviet authorities.

According to a wide-spread version, the musicians were gathered under the guise of an ethnographic conference and then mass-executed. Various versions give different times for the conference and location. The confusion is exacerbated by the fact that little differentiation is made between the kobzari and bandurists and lirnyky. Archival documents attesting to the organisation of such a conference have been found which were affirmed by bandurist M. Polotay who had been one of the instigators and organisers of the conference, although no documents directly attesting to the execution of the kobzari has been found to date. We do have a significant list of authentic kobzari who died or disappeared at around this time.

By one of the versions the conference was organized near Kharkiv in December 1933, where 300 (c.50) blind kobzars and (c.250) lirnyks were gathered near the then Ukrainian capital of Kharkiv and left to die of exposure in a gully outside of the city limits. The location of this atrocity has recently been discovered on the territory of recreation building owned by the KGB (or the "NKVD") in the area of Piatykhatok. A monument now stands in the center Kharkiv to mark this tragic event.

In this period documents attest to the fact that a number of non-blind bandurists were also arrested at this time, however they were given relatively light sentences of 2-5 years in penal colonies or exile.

In January 1934, the Ukrainian government decreed that the capital of the republic would move to Kyiv. As all government departments were moved, many organizations did not work correctly for significant periods of time. From January the members of the state funded Bandurist Capellas stopped being paid for their work. In the move, many documents were lost and misplaced. By October without receiving any pay, the state funded Bandurist Capellas stopped functioning. In December a wave of repressions against Ukrainian intellectuals also resulted in 65 Ukrainian writers being arrested.

1937-1938. Yezhovshchyna

[
I. Kuchuhura-Kucherenko in 1937.]

Throughout the 1930s bandurists were constantly being arrested and taken off for questioning which may have lasted some months. Many were constantly harassed. Whereas in the early 1930s those incriminated received relatively light sentences of 2-5 years the period starting with 1937-38 the sentences were often fatal and immediate - death by shooting. In 1937-38 large numbers of bandurists were executed. Documents have survived of the many individual executions of bandurists and kobzars of this period.So far the documentation of 41 bandurists sentenced to be shot have been found with documents attesting to approximately 100 receiving sentences of between 10-17 years. Often those that were arrested were often tortured to obtain a confession. Sentences were pronounced by a Troika and was dealt out swiftly within hours or days of the hearing. The families of those that were executed were often told that the bandurist had been sent to a camp without the right to correspond.

Post WWII persecution

In the 1950s, a number of bandurists also either died or disappeared under strange and unexplained circumstances. Some had accidents (Singalevych, Kukhta, Konyk). A significant number (approximately 30-50) of bandurists were also deported to Siberia from Western Ukraine. By the 1960s, total Communist Party control of the bandura art was achieved. A period of feminisation of the bandura took place where males were not accepted into conservatory courses to study the bandura. The repertoire of those that played the bandura underwent a major change from history songs and epices to romantic love and lyric works and transcriptions of classical piano works.

Nazi persecution

Most accounts of Nazi persecution of kobzars and bandurists were Soviet fabrications, however a number of prominent bandurist did die at the hands of the Nazis. One notable bandurist was Mykhailo Teliha who was executed in the tragic Babi Yar massacre in Kyiv in February 1942.

Soviet sources tried attribute the deaths of numerous kobzars such as I. Kucherenko to the German-Nazi occupation. Recent documents have disproved most of these versions of their deaths.

List of persecuted Bandurists

A

* Andriychyk, Hryhoriy - member of Kyiv Bandurist Capella arrested in 1937, shot in 1938.
* Andrusenko, Mykhailo - director of the Kryvorih Bandurist Capella - arrested in 1937.

B

* Babych, Andriyan - sentenced to be shot in 1937.
* Balatsky, Dmytro - director of Kyiv Bandurist Capella - arrested October 1938. 5 years exile to Kazakstan - rehabilitated 13/7/1956.
* Bartashevsky, Yuri - director of Kyiv Children's Bandurist Capella.
* Bashtovyj, Davyd - sentenced to be shot in 1938.

* Bayda-Sukhovyj Danylo - arrested in 1937.
* Bazhul, Hryhoriy - student of Hnat Khotkevych; spent 2 years in a forced labour camp and 2 years in exile.
* Betz-Kharchenko, S.
* Bezchasnyj, Konon - (1884-1967) - Kuban bandurist; repressed and arrested in 1937.
* Bezpalyj, Ihnat - sentenced to be shot in 1937.
* Bohuslavsky, Mykola - funded Bandurist groups in the Kuban'. Arrested, believed to have been shot.
* Boretz, Ivan - member of the Kyiv, Kharkiv and later Poltava Bandurist Capellas. Director of the Horiv Bandura Ensemble - arrested on September 21, 1937 and shot on November 11, 1937. Rehabilitated on December 9, 1957.
* Borodai, Oleksander - an American citizen who returned to Ukraine. Arrested in 1919 and shot.
* But, Ivan -

C

* Chernihivetz, Tymofiy - Arrested 30/10/1937 - 10 years hard labour. Rehabilitated 27/11/56.
* Chumak, Nykyfor - arrested in 1931 - 3 years exile. Arrested again on March 30, 1937 and sentenced to death. Shot on March 23, 1938 at 23.00.
* Chumak, I - Director of the Myrhorod Bandura Ensemble.

D

* Danylevsky, Borys Ivanovych - arrested on April 22, 1938, shot on July 29, 1938.
* Deineka, Karpo - (b. 1897) from Konotop.
* Derhiy, O. -
* Diadurenko, Trohkym - sentenced to be shot in 1938.
* Dibrova, Fedir - member of Kuban Bandura Group - shot in 1919.
* Demchenko, Mykola - (b. 1873) originally from Kharkiv Oblast
* Domontovych, Mykhailo - shot ca. 1928.
* Doroshko, Fedir Vasylievych - arrested in 1918 for counter-revolutionary agitation, arrested in 1937, shot in 1938.
* Drevchenko, Petro - (b.1871) kobzar, died in 1934.
* Dumenko, Luka - kobzar.
* Dziubenko, Oleksiy - arrested on October 19, 1937.

F

* Fed'ko, A
* Fedorenko, Vasyl - kobzar.

H

* Halynsky-Lopata, Ivan - arrested in 1938, sentenced to be shot and commuted to 12 years in labour camps in Karelia.
* Hamaliya, Oleksander - shot in Kiev in 1920 .
* Hashchenko, Pavlo - kobzar.
* Hasiuk, Oleh - given 25 years of incarceration in the city of Inti Komi ARSR from 1949. Rehabilitated in 1956. Originally from the city of Lviv.
* Herashchenko, Oles' - Student of Hnat Khotkevych. Arrested 1932.
* Herasymenko, Vasyl' - 2 years incarceration.
* Hlushak, Nykyfor Ivanovych - (b.1890) Arrested in 1931. Arrested again in 1937 and sentenced to 10 years of hard labour.
* Hlushko, Fedir - director of the Kharkiv Bandurist Capella - Arrested 1937.
* Hlushko, Konstiantyn - sentenced to be shot in 1938.
* Hnylokvas, Semen - arrested in 1938. Arrested again during the German occupation. Arrested again by the Soviets in 1948 and spent time in the very same cell as before. Spent 10 years in camps in Mordova, later released. Performed in Kyiv in 1981.
* Honcharenko, V.
* Hubenko, Mykhailo - (b. 1891) from Myrhorod.
* Hura, (Hurin) Petro Ivanovych - originally from Poltava lived in Yuzivka. Disappeared.
* Huzij, Petro Ivanovych (1903-37) Kuban bandurist and a bandura maker. Arrested on December 1, 1937. Sentenced to death and shot on December 23, 1937.

K

* Kabachok, Volodymyr - arrested 1934 - 3 months incarceration, arrested August 1937. Sentenced to 10 years hard labour.
* Kashuba, Josyp - member of the Kyiv Bandurist Capella and later the Kharkiv Bandurist Capella.
* Khotkevych, Hnat - Sentenced to be shot on September 29, 1938 and rehabilitated on May 11, 1956.
* Khrystenko, Makar - (b 1870) from Dnipropetrovsk.
* Khudoriavyj, P.
* Knysh, H.
* Kolesnyk, Panteleimon - sentence to be shot.
* Kolodub
* Kononenko, Andriy - arrested in 1938. Member of Poltava Bandurist Capella.
* Kononenko, Pylyp Petrovych- Member of Poltava Kapela, Kharkiv Capella, and Konotop Capella. (Possibly mixed up with Andriy?)
* Konoplich, Kindrat - (b. 1900) member of Kyiv Bandurist Capella
* Kopan, Heorhiy - Arrested in 1930. Protested the censorship of Ukrainian songs. Arrested in 1936. Arrested again on March 19, 1938 and shot on March 28, 1938.
* Koretskiy, A.
* Kornievsky, Oleksander - 10 years incarceration, 15 years exile.
* Korobka, P.
* Kotelevetz, Josyp
* Krasniak, Marko - sentenced to be shot in 1938.
* Kravchenko, Danylo S.- arrested 1938 sent to Kolyma, later released. Member of the Veresai Bandura Quintet.
* Krutko, Mykola - arrested on February 1, 1938 and sentenced to be shot in the same year. Rehabilitated on March 12, 1959.
* Kryuzhkovenko, - sent to Siberia in 1917.
* Kucherenko, Ivan - Blind kobzar; People's artist; Arrested on November 8, 1937 and shot on November 24, 1937.
* Kuzhkovenko
* Kuzmenko, I.

L

* Lavryk, Teresa - from Lviv. Student of Singalevych. Sent to Siberia 1944
* Lavrysh, Petro - (b. 1873) Poltava region
* Liashenko, Ivan
* Lysyj, Stepan - 10 years.
* Lysyj, Vasyl' - 10 years.
* Lystopad, Volodymyr
* Lytvynenko - Odessa

M

* Matiukha, Maksym - Konotop.
* Mohyl'nyk, Vasyl' - sentenced to be shot in 1938.
* Mota - shot in Lviv by Soviets in 1939
* Mykolenko, Z. -
* Mynzarenko, Demian - arrested 1936.
* Myronenko, Mykyta - sentenced to be shot in 1938.
* Mytiay (Petukh), Antin - Shot by the Bolsheviks near Kyiv, 1921.

N

* Nimchenko, Kuzma - bandura maker from the Kuban.

O

* Oleksienko, Petro - Paricipant of the Winter campaign in 1918. Killed in 1919.
* Oleshko, V. - student of Hnat Khotkevych
* Opryshko, Mykola - arrested in 1931, and in 1937 after directing the Kyiv Capella for 2 weeks.
* Osad'ko, Vasyl' - director of the Reshetylivsky Bandurist Ensemble.
* Ovchinnikov, Vasyl' - Arrested in 1916 and exiled to Siberia. Arrested again in 1934 Never heard of again.

P

* Parasochka, Vasyl' -
* Panasenko, Josyp - member of the Poltava Bandurist Capella and Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus.
* Panchenko, Fedir
* Paplynsky, Antin - bandura maker.
* Pasiuha, Stepan - kobzar.
* Petukh - see Mytiay - Shot - Kyiv 1920.
* Pika, Danylo - Arrested numerous times.
* Pobihailo, Oleksij -
* Popov, Mykola - sentenced to be shot in 1938.
* Potapenko, Vasyl' - arrested on October 15, 1930 - other arrests.
* Povar, Panas -
* Protopopov, Yakiv - member of Poltava Bandurist Capella.
* Prudkyj, Nykin - 5/6 years
* Prystupa, Mykhailo - sentenced to be shot in 1938.

R

* Rastorhuyev, Serhiy - sentenced to be shot in 1938.
* Rozhchenko (Rozhko) Pylyp - from Konotop.
* Rudenko, Danylo - Kobzar from Chernihiv.

* Sadovy, Serhiy - sentenced to be shot in 1938.
* Sadovskyj, Hennadiy - Baritone; took part in the armies of the UNR. Arrested and sent to the Solovetsky islands. Dug the Belomor canal.
* Salata, D.
* Sarma-Sokolovsky, Mykola - 17 years.
* Shcherbyna, Danylo - arrested on April 19, 1931. Further arrests.
* Shevchuk, H.
* Shuliak, Mykola - 15 years.
* Singalevych, Natalia - Arrested in 1950.
* Siroshtan, Ivan - kobzar.
* Skakun, Andriy - Member of Kyiv Capella.
* Skoba, Antin - Kobzar.
* Skrypal, N.
* Skyba, Ivan - arrested 1938.
* Skydan, Petro - Murdered in 1920.
* Slidiuk, Andriy - Member of Kyiv Kobzar Choir - Shot by the Bolsheviks in 1919 in Starokonstantynivka.
* Snizhnyj, Josyp - sentence to camps.
* Sohohub, Viktor - arrested 1931, Arrested 30 July, 1937 - Shot 27 November 1937, Chernihiv, with his three sons who also played bandura.
* Solomakh, Nykyfor -
* Sotnychenko, Svyryd - Kuban bandurist shot 1920
* Symonenko, Vasyl' - kobzar
* Syniavsky, Oleksa - Philologist - Professor at the Kharkiv University.

T

* Tabinsky, Mykhailo - Lviv bandurist arrested 1949.
* Teliha, Mykhailo - Shot by Germans in 1942.
* Tertyshnyj, K. -
* Teslia, Omelian - - sentenced to be shot in 1938.
* Tokar, Illia -
* Tokarevsky, Mykola - arrested 14/2/1931 Arrested 1938. released 1940.
* Tronevsky, O. -
* Tsebrenko, Hryhoriy - Member of Kyiv Bandurist Capella.
* Tsybuliv, Isak - Member of Kyiv Bandurist Capella.

U

* Ul'chenko, Vasyl' - sentenced to be shot in 1938.

V

* Velykivskiy, A.
* Volodaretz, Petro. - sentenced to be shot in 1938.

Z

* Zaporozhetz, I.
* Zayetz, Mykola Martynovych - (b. 1902) Arrested 1923, Arrested 1937, Arrested 29/01/1938 sentence to be shot.
* Zatenko, - arrested 1938.
* Zelinsky, Ivan - arrested 1938.
* Zharko, Fedir - 6 years in labour camps.
* Zheplynsky, Bohdan - Lviv bandurist. Arrested 1950 - Siberia.
* Zheplynsky, Roman - Lviv bandurist. Arrested 1950 - Siberia.
* Zinchenko, A.
* Zinchenko, Illarion - sentenced to be shot in 1938.

Y

* Yatsenko, S. -
* Yashchenko, Ovram Semenovych - member of Kyiv Bandurist Capella 1918.
* Yermak, P. -

Other irregular deaths

* Mykhailov, Mykola - 1936. Died unexpectedly in Tashkent from angina

References

ources

*Roman Malko, "Music from the shadows", Zerkalo Nedeli, September 14 - 20, 2002. [http://www.zerkalo-nedeli.com/nn/show/410/36073/ in Russian] , [http://www.zn.kiev.ua/nn/show/410/36073/ in Ukrainian] .