Music Concerts
Julian Kytasty album release concert forÂ
Songs of Truth: Music and Song from the Kobzar Tradition of Ukraine
Sept. 26 | 7:30pm Joseph Strug Concert Hall
Fountain School of Performing Arts, 1385 Seymour St.
This concert is free and open to the public; however, in order to manage numbers, we request that those interested in attending ±ð³¾²¹¾±±ôÌýperformingarts@dal.ca in order to ensure a seat.Ìý
On Friday, Sep 26, Julian Kytasty will be performing at the Joseph Strug Concert Hall, at the Fountain School of Performing Arts, Â鶹Éç in Halifax at 7:30 pm. He will be accompanied by Mamadou Koita on kora and Marcia Ostashewski in Ukrainian song.Ìý
On August 1, Smithsonian Folkways released Songs of Truth: Music and Song from the Kobzar Tradition of Ukraine, an album by Julian Kytasty, a Ukrainian American musician celebrated around the world as a master of the bandura. This plucked-string instrument has become a symbol of Ukraine through its association with the deep tradition of the kobzari: blind bards who traveled throughout the Ukrainian countryside until the early 20th century, spreading news and sharing history through their sung stories accompanied on bandura. Kytasty’s interpretation of the bandura brings expressive clarity and vibrancy to this centuries-old repertoire, skillfully recasting historical epics and sharing timeless philosophical songs, biting satire, and joyful dance tunes.Ìý
Songs of Truth is the second release in the Sound Communities recording series, a collaboration between the Centre for Sound Communities at Cape Breton University and Smithsonian Folkways that highlights artists who tell stories of the lands, waters, and peoples of Turtle Island and focusing on the territories known as Canada.Ìý
Kytasy will perform with Mamadou Koita, a musician from Burkina Faso, recognized for his skill on West African instruments, including the kora, a stringed instrument similar to a lute or harp. Born into a griot family, Koita was immersed in music and oral tradition from an early age. His work blends the roots of traditional balafon music with Afro-fusion and other genres, creating dynamic compositions that bridge cultures and generations. In addition to performing, Koita is an active advocate for arts education. He leads workshops and lectures in schools and communities, sharing the cultural depth of West African music and encouraging young people to explore creative expression.
Marcia Ostashewski is a musician and scholar who grew up in a Ukrainian diaspora community on a western Canadian prairie farm, and studied vocal performance at the University of Alberta. She has been living in Unama'ki Cape Breton since 2013, where she established the arts-led social innovation lab, the Centre for Sound Communities at Cape Breton University. Ostashewski sings, dances and produces films, audio recordings, festivals and exhibitions, in addition to teaching courses on music, dance and culture, and leading award-winning research such as the Smithsonian Folkways Recordings "Sound Communities" project.
