Ukrainian Minstrels: And the Blind Shall Sing (Folklores and Folk Cultures of Eastern Europe)

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding history of the Ukrainian minstrel tradition.
Review: The "Ukrainian Minstrels" by the Harvard-trained scholar and folklore authority, Natalie Kononenko, who currently teaches at the University of Virginia, is enormously interesting. Among the many intriguing characteristics of the Ukrainian folk tradition is the fact that Ukrainian epics were sung by a special type of minstrel - the blind mendicant. Yes, blindness was obligatory! These minstrels were organized into professional guilds that set standards for training and performance and provided the singers with protection and support throughout their careers. Natalie Kononenko's book is a revelation of a distinctive folk tradition and a little-known social order. One learns about the difference between the kobzari and lirniki, since there were two types of minstrels, who played different types of instruments, about the unique relationship between the established minstrel and his apprentice, the duration of training, and the extensive and fascinating repertoire one had to master. The book contains many rare photographs of minstrels. One also learns about a great tragedy which befell the Ukrainian minstrels in the 30's at the hands of the Soviet dictator, Joseph Stalin, who like the villain in a Greek tragedy, organized a bogus minstrel convention in Moscow, where he had them arrested and murdered, and their instruments destroyed. Sort of a pre-cursor to the massacre of the Polish officers by Stalin at Katyn during WWII period. Highly recommended to any folklore enthusiast. A real treat!

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding history of the Ukrainian minstrel tradition.
Review: The "Ukrainian Minstrels" by the Harvard-trained scholar and folklore authority, Natalie Kononenko, who currently teaches at the University of Virginia, is enormously interesting. Among the many intriguing characteristics of the Ukrainian folk tradition is the fact that Ukrainian epics were sung by a special type of minstrel - the blind mendicant. Yes, blindness was obligatory! These minstrels were organized into professional guilds that set standards for training and performance and provided the singers with protection and support throughout their careers. Natalie Kononenko's book is a revelation of a distinctive folk tradition and a little-known social order. One learns about the difference between the kobzari and lirniki, since there were two types of minstrels, who played different types of instruments, about the unique relationship between the established minstrel and his apprentice, the duration of training, and the extensive and fascinating repertoire one had to master. The book contains many rare photographs of minstrels. One also learns about a great tragedy which befell the Ukrainian minstrels in the 30's at the hands of the Soviet dictator, Joseph Stalin, who like the villain in a Greek tragedy, organized a bogus minstrel convention in Moscow, where he had them arrested and murdered, and their instruments destroyed. Sort of a pre-cursor to the massacre of the Polish officers by Stalin at Katyn during WWII period. Highly recommended to any folklore enthusiast. A real treat!