Chernihiv Musical Instrument Factory
Encyclopedia
The Chernihiv musical instruments factory was a factory founded in 1933 making stringed instruments.
It is named in honour of Pavel Postyshev
.
s, balalaika
s, mandolins, guitars and domra
s. There is evidence that 5 bandura
s were made there before the war by Mykhailo Yerchenko in the late 1930s. These instruments were probably diatonic Kharkiv style
banduras. In time more instruments were made at the factory by Mykola Martynchuk.
In 1950 the factory began to manufacture banduras, initially using the construction plans of Chernihiv bandura maker - Olexander Kornievsky. This series of instruments were made until 1954 by maker Ivan Hladlin, who worked with makers Oleksander Shulaikovsky, Mykola Martynchuk and Oleksiy Kilochytsky.
In 1954 the factory began to making banduras designed by Ivan Skliar. The Skliar bandura design was agreed upon in 1952. In 1953 the factory began to manufacture 100 banduras a month. This serially made instrument had no mechanism and the form was based on a design drawn out by Opanas Slastion
.
Up until that time a special workshop for the manufacture of banduras existed in Kiev
. This workshop was initially set up by Hryhory Paliyivetz and after his arrest was directed by Tuzychenko. After the war it was directed by Ivan Skliar and primarily made instruments for the Kiev Bandurist Capella
and associated bandurist ensembles. Because the makers were experienced bandura makers and the conditions in Chernihiv
at the factory were much better for the drying, storage of materials it was decided that all of these craftsmen would move to Chernihiv. A special workshop was established at the factory for these craftsmen. In 1955 the first concert banduras with mechanism were made. Initially some 10 concert banduras were made a year, and special written permission was required from the Ministry of Culture in order to obtain such a bandura.
Although Skliar made the greatest contribution to developing the Kiev style bandura made at the Chernihiv factory instrument, other craftsmen left their impact as well. The method of placing a colored decoration around the side of the bandura was developed by Oleksy Kilotsky. The unique one sided head was suggested in the early 1960s by bandurist Andry Omelchenko. The Taras Shevchenko
bas-relief was designed by D. Vasiliev.
In order to gain access to hard currency
funds the factory began to manufacture instruments for export. In the late 1960s the first orders for banduras arrived from North America. This became a very positive factor in the development of the bandura.
The Kiev experimental workshop which moved to Chernihiv also made orchestral banduras. They also made chromatic tsymbaly
also designed by Ivan Skliar with the help of Oleksander Nezovybat'ko. The craftsmen in the workshop making the concert instruments were allowed to sign their names to the instruments: Oleksander Shulkovsky, Oleksy KIlotsky, Iosif Mentej, Volodymir Mentej, Mykola Yeshchenko, Sofia Zolotar. The head of the experimental workshop was Oleksander Shlionchyk.
In 1967 the factory began work on manufacturing Skliar's latest creation - the Kiev-Kharkiv bandura. All together they made 8 instruments without mechanism. Unfortunately, due to the untimely death of Ivan Skliar in 1970, the manufacturing process for the instrument was not perfected and the Kiev-Kharkiv bandura was dropped from further production.
Up until 1978 the factory has made 26000 pianos, 110,000 balalaikas and guitars using over 3,4000 cubic meters of wood. The manufacturing of banduras has used 500 cubic meters of willow. Approximately 30,000 banduras had been made by 1991.
The use of willow
in bandura backs and bodies has cause great problems for the factory as this is not a commercial wood. Keeping in mind that it takes a willow 20-30 years to grow to the size that it can be used, a substitute had to be found. In the 1970s the factory began making instruments whose backs were made of poplar
. This however meant that the instruments did not have as nice a tone as the previously made instrument. The backs of these instruments were somewhat heavier because poplar had a tendency to easily split. Only the concert banduras continued to use willow for instrument backs when it was available.
In time the experimental workshop manufactured 200 concert banduras a year. Each maker made 1.5-2 instruments a month. These instruments were better finished and were made of better quality material. In the 1980s there were 10-12 makers. Today there is only one master craftsmane - Petrenko
.
The manufacturing of banduras has ground to a standstill. Apparently there are still 2 makers in Chernihiv who still make banduras in their own homes and charge $850 US (1999) per instrument.
In 2007 the price of a Kiev concert bandura from the factory is currently $2000 US.
More disturbing is that all the banduras in the museum collection at the factory have been stolen. Some of the instruments were truly unique. Some have surfaced for sale at an asking price of $6000.
It is named in honour of Pavel Postyshev
Pavel Postyshev
Pavel Petrovich Postyshev was a Soviet politician. He is considered to be one of the principal architects of the so-called man-made famine of 1932–33, or Holodomor.Postyshev was born in Ivanovo-Voznesensk....
.
History
The Chernihiv musical instruments factory was opened in 1933. Initially it made pianoPiano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
s, balalaika
Balalaika
The balalaika is a stringed musical instrument popular in Russia, with a characteristic triangular body and three strings.The balalaika family of instruments includes instruments of various sizes, from the highest-pitched to the lowest, the prima balalaika, secunda balalaika, alto balalaika, bass...
s, mandolins, guitars and domra
Domra
The domra is a long-necked Russian string instrument of the lute family with a round body and three or four metal strings.-History:In 1896, a student of Vasily Vasilievich Andreyev found a broken instrument in a stable in rural Russia...
s. There is evidence that 5 bandura
Bandura
Bandura refers to a Ukrainian plucked string folk instrument. It combines elements of a box zither and lute, as well as its lute-like predecessor, the kobza...
s were made there before the war by Mykhailo Yerchenko in the late 1930s. These instruments were probably diatonic Kharkiv style
Kharkiv style
The Kharkiv Academic Style of Bandura Playing is a specific way of playing the Ukrainian folk instrument bandura.The instrument is held in a way that allows both hands equal access to all the strings...
banduras. In time more instruments were made at the factory by Mykola Martynchuk.
In 1950 the factory began to manufacture banduras, initially using the construction plans of Chernihiv bandura maker - Olexander Kornievsky. This series of instruments were made until 1954 by maker Ivan Hladlin, who worked with makers Oleksander Shulaikovsky, Mykola Martynchuk and Oleksiy Kilochytsky.
Opanas Slastion
Opanas Georgievych Slastion was a Ukrainian graphic artist, painter and ethnographer.He was born in the Ukrainian port town of Berdyansk on the Berdyansk Gulf of the Sea of Azov...
.
Up until that time a special workshop for the manufacture of banduras existed in Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
. This workshop was initially set up by Hryhory Paliyivetz and after his arrest was directed by Tuzychenko. After the war it was directed by Ivan Skliar and primarily made instruments for the Kiev Bandurist Capella
Kiev Bandurist Capella
The Kiev Bandurist Capella is a male vocal-instrumental ensemble that accompanies its singing with the playing of the multi-stringed Ukrainian folk instrument known as the bandura....
and associated bandurist ensembles. Because the makers were experienced bandura makers and the conditions in Chernihiv
Chernihiv
Chernihiv or Chernigov is a historic city in northern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Chernihiv Oblast , as well as of the surrounding Chernihivskyi Raion within the oblast...
at the factory were much better for the drying, storage of materials it was decided that all of these craftsmen would move to Chernihiv. A special workshop was established at the factory for these craftsmen. In 1955 the first concert banduras with mechanism were made. Initially some 10 concert banduras were made a year, and special written permission was required from the Ministry of Culture in order to obtain such a bandura.
Although Skliar made the greatest contribution to developing the Kiev style bandura made at the Chernihiv factory instrument, other craftsmen left their impact as well. The method of placing a colored decoration around the side of the bandura was developed by Oleksy Kilotsky. The unique one sided head was suggested in the early 1960s by bandurist Andry Omelchenko. The Taras Shevchenko
Taras Shevchenko
Taras Hryhorovych Shevchenko -Life:Born into a serf family of Hryhoriy Ivanovych Shevchenko and Kateryna Yakymivna Shevchenko in the village of Moryntsi, of Kiev Governorate of the Russian Empire Shevchenko was orphaned at the age of eleven...
bas-relief was designed by D. Vasiliev.
Hard currency
Hard currency , in economics, refers to a globally traded currency that is expected to serve as a reliable and stable store of value...
funds the factory began to manufacture instruments for export. In the late 1960s the first orders for banduras arrived from North America. This became a very positive factor in the development of the bandura.
The Kiev experimental workshop which moved to Chernihiv also made orchestral banduras. They also made chromatic tsymbaly
Tsymbaly
The tsymbaly is the Ukrainian version of the hammer dulcimer. It is a chordophone made up of a trapezoidal box with metal strings strung across it. The tsymbaly is played by striking two beaters against the strings....
also designed by Ivan Skliar with the help of Oleksander Nezovybat'ko. The craftsmen in the workshop making the concert instruments were allowed to sign their names to the instruments: Oleksander Shulkovsky, Oleksy KIlotsky, Iosif Mentej, Volodymir Mentej, Mykola Yeshchenko, Sofia Zolotar. The head of the experimental workshop was Oleksander Shlionchyk.
In 1967 the factory began work on manufacturing Skliar's latest creation - the Kiev-Kharkiv bandura. All together they made 8 instruments without mechanism. Unfortunately, due to the untimely death of Ivan Skliar in 1970, the manufacturing process for the instrument was not perfected and the Kiev-Kharkiv bandura was dropped from further production.
The use of willow
Willow
Willows, sallows, and osiers form the genus Salix, around 400 species of deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist soils in cold and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere...
in bandura backs and bodies has cause great problems for the factory as this is not a commercial wood. Keeping in mind that it takes a willow 20-30 years to grow to the size that it can be used, a substitute had to be found. In the 1970s the factory began making instruments whose backs were made of poplar
Poplar
Populus is a genus of 25–35 species of deciduous flowering plants in the family Salicaceae, native to most of the Northern Hemisphere. English names variously applied to different species include poplar , aspen, and cottonwood....
. This however meant that the instruments did not have as nice a tone as the previously made instrument. The backs of these instruments were somewhat heavier because poplar had a tendency to easily split. Only the concert banduras continued to use willow for instrument backs when it was available.
In time the experimental workshop manufactured 200 concert banduras a year. Each maker made 1.5-2 instruments a month. These instruments were better finished and were made of better quality material. In the 1980s there were 10-12 makers. Today there is only one master craftsmane - Petrenko
Petrenko
Petrenko is a surname that is traced to Cossacks a.k.a "Free Russians".It may refer to:*Alexander Petrenko , Russian basketball player*Aleksandr Petrenko , Russian triple jumper*Alexei Petrenko , Russian actor...
.
Current situation
In the period of economic restructuring the factory has shrunk from 1600 workers to 68. It no longer manufactures musical instruments but has rearranged its affairs to manufacture coffins for an Italian firm. The production of pianos is also under question. Some authorities feel that Ukraine does not need a piano manufacturing facility. In 2008 it had become an automobile servicing centre.The manufacturing of banduras has ground to a standstill. Apparently there are still 2 makers in Chernihiv who still make banduras in their own homes and charge $850 US (1999) per instrument.
In 2007 the price of a Kiev concert bandura from the factory is currently $2000 US.
More disturbing is that all the banduras in the museum collection at the factory have been stolen. Some of the instruments were truly unique. Some have surfaced for sale at an asking price of $6000.
Bandura models
The following are the most common banduras made by the Chernihiv factory with their 1988 price in roubles in order to compare the instruments.- Children's bandura (48 R)
- Prima Chernihiv bandura (86 R)
- Concert Chernihiv bandura (220 R)
- Hand made Concert Chernihiv bandura (350-420 R)
- Hand made Concert Chernihiv bandura with Shevchenko Bar relief. (450-550 R)
Sources
- Deko, O - Majstry charivnykh zvukiv - Muz. Ukr 1968
- Deko, O - Majstry charivnykh zvukiv - Muz. Ukr 1984, - Second edition