Hryhory Kytasty
Encyclopedia
Hryhoriy Trokhymovych Kytasty (January 17, 1907 – April 6, 1984) was a Ukrainian
émigré composer
and conductor
. In 2008 he was honored with the Hero of Ukraine
state decoration.
oblast. After completing initial music studies at the Poltava Musical College, Kytasty studied at the Kiev Muz-Dram Institute named after Mykola Lysenko
from 1930-35 in Kiev
. He completed his studies there in Choral conducting majoring in Operatic choral conducting. He learned to play the bandura
quite late in his life.
and continued to refine his playing of the bandura
. In 1937 he became concertmaster and in 1939 the assistant conductor.
During this time Kytasty's first arrangements and compositions began to be played and recorded by the Capella.
With the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, the Kiev State Bandurist Capella was disbanded and its members were mobilized to the front. Although recruited, H. Kytasty was able to avoid being sent to the front.
who had survived, formed themselves once again into a professional choir during the German occupation. In 1942, Kytasty became the artistic director of this reconstituted Bandurist Capella which became known as the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus
. During the course of the war the Capella toured Western Ukraine and Volyn and was later taken to Germany to perform for the Ost-arbeiters. In Germany, after initially being incarcerated in Hamburg, they were released to perform for the Ostarbeiters housed in special work camps in order help raise the productivity of those who worked in near slave like conditions.
It is in Germany that the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus finds itself at the end of the War. Because of the brutal manner in which Ukrainian artists were treated under the Stalinist regime, and the fact that many bandurists had suffered directly under the Soviet regime, the Chorus as a group decided not to return to Soviet Ukraine and in 1949 emigrated to the United States. Another significant reason for emigration was justified fear of persecution for collaborating with the Nazis during the occupation.
as a professional ensemble, the members settle down to employment in Detroit within the automobile industry.
In 1920 H. Kytasty toured Europe as a co-director with W. Bozhyk of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus. Although the tour was an artistic success, it did not allow the group to a professional status. Upon returning to the USA Kytasty left the Chorus and moved to San Diego. In 1964 he left San Diego and moved initially to Minneapolis and then Chicago
, finally settling in Cleveland. In this period he directed various church choirs and bandura
groups. In 1967 he returned to the artistic directorship the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus which he continued to direct until his death in 1984.
H. Kitasty is buried at a large Ukrainian Orthodox cemetery behind St. Andrew's Memorial Church in South Bound Brook, New Jersey
. His grave can be found in the front row on the left side of the cemetery (opposite the parking lot).
Kytasty's arrangement of the Ukrainian folk song "A mij mylyj umer" was recorded by the Kiev State Bandurist Chorus and released in 1937 (#5168).
Before WWII Kytasty recorded as a member of a bandura quintet an instrumental Polka with D. Pika, V. Savchenko, S. Minialo, and O. Kostetsky. This recording was released a number of times in 1937 and 1940 (record # 5169 and 5149).
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
émigré composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
. In 2008 he was honored with the Hero of Ukraine
Hero of Ukraine
Hero of Ukraine is the highest state decoration that can be conferred upon an individual citizen by the Government of Ukraine. The title was created in 1998 by President Leonid Kuchma and as of August 25 2011 the total number of awards is 265. The award is divided into two classes of distinction:...
state decoration.
Early years
Hryhory Kytasty was born in the town of Kobeliaky, PoltavaPoltava
Poltava is a city in located on the Vorskla River in central Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Poltava Oblast , as well as the surrounding Poltava Raion of the oblast. Poltava's estimated population is 298,652 ....
oblast. After completing initial music studies at the Poltava Musical College, Kytasty studied at the Kiev Muz-Dram Institute named after Mykola Lysenko
Mykola Lysenko
Mykola Vitaliiovych Lysenko was a Ukrainian composer, pianist, conductor and ethnomusicologist.- Biography :Lysenko was born in Hrynky, Kremenchuk Povit, Poltava Governorate, the son of Vitaliy Romanovich Lysenko . From childhood he became very interested in the folksongs of Ukrainian peasants and...
from 1930-35 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....
. He completed his studies there in Choral conducting majoring in Operatic choral conducting. He learned to play the 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...
quite late in his life.
The Bandura and the Kiev State Bandurist Capella
After graduating in 1935 he joined the Kiev Bandurist CapellaKiev 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 continued to refine his playing of the 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...
. In 1937 he became concertmaster and in 1939 the assistant conductor.
During this time Kytasty's first arrangements and compositions began to be played and recorded by the Capella.
With the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, the Kiev State Bandurist Capella was disbanded and its members were mobilized to the front. Although recruited, H. Kytasty was able to avoid being sent to the front.
The Ukrainian Bandurist Capella in Europe
The members of the Kiev Bandurist CapellaKiev 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....
who had survived, formed themselves once again into a professional choir during the German occupation. In 1942, Kytasty became the artistic director of this reconstituted Bandurist Capella which became known as the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus
Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus
The Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus is a semi-professional male choir which accompanies itself with the multi-stringed Ukrainian folk instrument known as the bandura...
. During the course of the war the Capella toured Western Ukraine and Volyn and was later taken to Germany to perform for the Ost-arbeiters. In Germany, after initially being incarcerated in Hamburg, they were released to perform for the Ostarbeiters housed in special work camps in order help raise the productivity of those who worked in near slave like conditions.
It is in Germany that the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus finds itself at the end of the War. Because of the brutal manner in which Ukrainian artists were treated under the Stalinist regime, and the fact that many bandurists had suffered directly under the Soviet regime, the Chorus as a group decided not to return to Soviet Ukraine and in 1949 emigrated to the United States. Another significant reason for emigration was justified fear of persecution for collaborating with the Nazis during the occupation.
The Ukrainian Bandurist Capella in North America
In 1949 H. Kytasty emigrated to the United States, settling initially with the rest of the Chorus in Detroit. After numerous attempts were made to set the Ukrainian Bandurist ChorusUkrainian Bandurist Chorus
The Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus is a semi-professional male choir which accompanies itself with the multi-stringed Ukrainian folk instrument known as the bandura...
as a professional ensemble, the members settle down to employment in Detroit within the automobile industry.
In 1920 H. Kytasty toured Europe as a co-director with W. Bozhyk of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus. Although the tour was an artistic success, it did not allow the group to a professional status. Upon returning to the USA Kytasty left the Chorus and moved to San Diego. In 1964 he left San Diego and moved initially to Minneapolis and then Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, finally settling in Cleveland. In this period he directed various church choirs and 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...
groups. In 1967 he returned to the artistic directorship the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus which he continued to direct until his death in 1984.
H. Kitasty is buried at a large Ukrainian Orthodox cemetery behind St. Andrew's Memorial Church in South Bound Brook, New Jersey
South Bound Brook, New Jersey
South Bound Brook is a Borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 4,563.What is now South Bound Brook was originally formed as a town within Franklin Township...
. His grave can be found in the front row on the left side of the cemetery (opposite the parking lot).
Compositions and Arrangements
Kytasty is renowned for capturing the spirit of the Ukrainian post war emigration, reflecting the needs and aspirations of the Ukrainian community in the Western Diaspora. Initially in the WWII period he composed and arranged songs which reflected the struggle of the Ukrainian people against communist dictatorship and tyranny. Later when it became apparent that the Soviet Union would not flounder soon, his compositions became more subtle and reflected a longing for once homeland. (Yak davno), (Ne shkoduyu). His instrumental bandura works demonstrate an excellent knowledge of effective devices on the bandura. His compositions are considered to be nationalistic.Recordings
Hryhory Kytasty's first recorded arrangement was "Oj nastupyla ta chorna khmara" recorded by the Kiev Bandurist Chorus directed by Danylo Pika in 1939 (record number B8691). The reverse of the record has "Oj za hory zza lymanu" arranged by M. Mykhailov (record number B8692).Kytasty's arrangement of the Ukrainian folk song "A mij mylyj umer" was recorded by the Kiev State Bandurist Chorus and released in 1937 (#5168).
Before WWII Kytasty recorded as a member of a bandura quintet an instrumental Polka with D. Pika, V. Savchenko, S. Minialo, and O. Kostetsky. This recording was released a number of times in 1937 and 1940 (record # 5169 and 5149).